Breastfeeding after surrogacy

I had a rough time with breastfeeding with my own 2 children so I was determined to pump for at least 3 months after delivering Sweet baby J  last June. I pumped for him while we were in the hospital together but I really wanted to nurse him. Not for bonding but so I could get to nurse a baby and have it work out even if it was just one time. I feel like it would have been good closure on the pregnancy too. His parents were not comfortable with me doing that, understandably, so I was fine pumping for them.

Being a surrogate is giving a gift and it was one of the most profound and rewarding things I've ever but it doesn't have to end with the birth. Being a director for Get PUMPed! I get to meet a lot of families with needy babies. Becoming a donor was even more rewarding than I had anticipated. With my first 2 children I would have been a recipient of Get PUMPed! as we had so many issues and only after my surro babe did we figure out why. Long story short, I need to be a part time pumper and SNS nurse due to an issue I have with my breast tissue. I felt like a failure, like my body, which was meant to provide nourishment to my babies, had failed me. Over the last 6 months I've had the privilege of feeding 20 babies including my surrogate baby J. With about 4,500 oz. pumped and donated I achieved my goal. I would have loved to continue longer but my busy schedule and family life was calling me back and I couldn't spend 5 hours a day pumping any more. I had lost all the baby weight thanks to pumping, I got over and healed from my mommy guilt from my 2 previous breastfeeding flops and was able to help babies thrive. Babies who were in the same situation that my own children went though, babies who were adopted and born addicted to drugs making them formula intolerant, one of my nieces and even one other surrogate baby. There are 20 different stories I could tell you about the babies I've helped over the last 6 months but I can tell you I feel whole again and that mommy guilt is gone.

Last week I ran into one of the families I donated my milk to. The baby is older now and was running all around but she came running up to me and grabbed me so tight. I'd only met her a few times before but it was like she knew. Her mom and I almost cried when it happened. That baby is big and healthy partly because of me. It was almost as rewarding as surrogacy... almost.

look at that colostrum content over the 4 day period. 

taking this to a family in need

Meals on wheals!
I had to pump in the car while we were on a fishing rip