I breastfed my oldest for about one year and about that time she weaned herself and I was happy with that! I am still breastfeeding my 11 month old (twice a day) and she is beginning to wean herself from those feedings as well. Both experiences for me were successful and easy.

I had no problems teaching the babies to nurse and I was able to stay home so I had no need to pump or use formula. I was also able to feed anywhere, by covering the baby and myself. I never felt or heard any criticism and this allowed me to keep my same schedule and activities. With my youngest, the times I breastfed allowed me to read to my 4 year old so she felt “included” at all times. Breastfeeding was very easy for me and I enjoyed the time to cuddle my children and watch them grow. They grow up so quickly!

I would encourage everyone to give breastfeeding a try and advise you to find someone you can go to for questions and help, if needed. The first 4-6 weeks are challenging, but after that it levels out and it is much easier and less tiring.

Jennifer C., Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
 
I became a breastfeeding peer counselor in 1995.  At the time, I had one child whom I’d nursed, and was home with her.  We entered the training together!  Mothers were welcome to bring their children to the sessions.  It was empowering as a young mother with a toddler in tow to accomplish the training and feel useful in areas other than diaper changing and grocery shopping!
 
I’ve talked to women who nursed for many months, while others felt they’d done well to nurse for a few weeks.  Over the course of time I’ve been a counselor, I gave birth to three other children whom I also nursed exclusively.  It was then with great understanding during those years that I spoke with women about sleepless nights and babies latching-on well.  I’ve been assigned women who were expecting twins, women whose babies were premature or required surgery, and women dealing with issues I’ve never personally encountered, such as custody suits and personal health crisis. 
 
I feel that, for as many times as I talk a woman through positioning her newborn at the breast, nursing within the baby’s first hour of life, or stress the importance of feeding on demand, there are as many occasions—if not more—where I am the one to benefit from our meeting.  I feel better able to speak with women who have premature babies having spoken to the mother with a premature infant in an out-of-state hospital and other children at home.  I know more about breastfeeding multiples, having spoken to an inspiring mother of triplets.  I learned about the role breastfeeding a child plays during that child’s custody suit. 
 
One mother I’d been assigned lived a few blocks away, and I’d often see her about the neighborhood with her baby in the jogging stroller. When expecting her second child, she was again assigned to me.  I spoke to her recently. We now have children in kindergarten together!
 
What I love the most about talking to these women is the ever-present reminder that breastfeeding is a unique experience and presents different women with different issues, but brings the same smile to our faces when recalling our children at the breast.  I love sharing that thrill of her baby’s great weight gain upon return from their first visit to the pediatrician!  I love reliving the warmth and simplicity, as well as the questions that accompany nursing, for I now have four children and miss the days they spent at the breast.
 
 
 Polly T., IBCLC, RLC
 
In December of 1995, I gave birth to my third child, Jeanenne, 5 weeks premature, 4 pounds and neurologically impaired. She spent 2 weeks in the NICU and came home on bottle feeds due to her low muscle tone and high risk condition.
 
I was a WIC client and was offered the services of the Lactation Consultant at the WIC office. The consultant, Sue, offered her knowledge and expertise in getting my daughter to breastfeed. She even stopped by my house to deliver a double electric breast pump on New Years’ Eve because she knew how important it was for me to provide breast milk to my baby. Jeanenne had great difficulty in learning to breastfeed and my pump became my best friend. I always offered the breast to my daughter, but ended each feed with supplemental breastmilk bottles.
 
In April of ‘96, Sue asked if I would be interested in taking the peer counselor class to help other moms through difficult times and to encourage the continuation of breastfeeding. At that point, I felt that I "owed" Sue some time for all that she had given me! At our fifth class, Sue had "gadget" day and an interesting item appeared. The Haberman Feeder was discussed and we decided that Jeanenne would be the "guinea pig.” With in 48 hours, my 5-month-old baby was nursing like a pro!!! The first person I called, in tears of joy, was Sue. I never thought my little girl would learn to breastfeed, and was actually jealous of the other moms taking the peer counseling class when they were nursing their babies during class.
 
Sue encouraged me to continue breastfeeding (Jeanenne nursed until her 4th
birthday) but she also gave me something as equally important. At the age of 34, I had found my career. I loved helping moms with their breastfeeding experiences.
 
In July of 2003 I sat for the IBLCE exam and passed with flying colors. I now work as an IBCLC, RLC at a private business in western New York State, but just as important, I still work with Sue as a peer counselor for WIC (nine years and Sue still puts up with me!).  I think of Sue as my mentor and friend. She is a shining example of how well the system can work when someone truly cares about their career.
 
Being a peer counselor is a rewarding, fulfilling job. You learn, you laugh, you cry and you grow with your clients. There is always something new to experience with each and every family you come in contact with. Peer counselors encourage and empower new moms to breastfeed their babies with confidence and knowledge that they are providing their infants with the best they have to give!
 

Victoria, Peer Counselor, St. Vincent's WIC Program
 
For me the decision to breastfeed my baby was easy. I wanted to make sure that he received the best nutrition possible. I even started nursing him in the delivery room minutes after he was born. A week later, at his first pediatric appointment, my son Tayo was diagnosed wth a dangerously high level of jaundice. His bilirubin score (34) was three times the normal limit, and he was admitted to the NICU right away. It was explained to me that his jaundice was due to several factors: 1. Jaundice is usually found in babies of Asian and Latino ethnicities, and my son is both; 2. My son had a juge bruise on his head from the birth, which accelerated the rate at which the billirubin was accumulating in his system; 3. My body was not producing enough colostrum/milk to wash out the bilrubin along with the rest of his body's waste.
In the NICU, he was given formula so that he would pass the waste more quickly. I pumped and stored my breast milk. He stayed in the hospital for five days. But then his scores rose again, so I had to suspend feeding and continue formula for about a week after he as discharged. I learned that there was a substance in my milk that inhibited his ability to process the waste.
I was upset by the thought that my breast milk was no good for my baby, and I felt guilty for not being able to follow through on my promise to him. But the doctors, nurses and counselors from St. Vincent's reassured me not to give up. She said although it didn't seem like it at the time, my breast milk would be the best thing that I could feed Tayo in the long run. I just had to wait until the crisis was over. So I continued to pump and store.
Finally his scores went down, and I was told I could start breastfeeding him again. His system was now mature enough to handle the waste. I worried that after drinking formula from a bottle, he would not take to my beast again. But luckily he was happy to be back. Since then, I have been nursing him exclusively. He is healthy and happy and I feel very lucky to have my special time to bond with him.

 Jenee´ H., Breastfeeding Peer Counselor from Oklahoma

Becoming a peer counselor has been a special blessing for me. I decided before my first child was born that I would breastfeed. To me, it just made sense. After a few initial hiccups, the help of a lactation consultant, and the encouragement of other breastfeeding moms, I was able to breastfeed my daughter, Aislyn, to her first birthday. It was a wonderful experience, and I knew I would like to help other mothers enjoy a similar experience with their babies. After my second daughter, Sophia, was born, I began to research what is required to become an IBCLC. I was very disappointed to learn that the pathway would be very difficult for me. I am not a nurse or nutritionist, and there was no active La Leche League within a reasonable distance. It seemed that becoming an IBCLC was nowhere in my future. After our 3rd child, a son named Samuel arrived, I attended the infant nutrition class at my local WIC clinic. I happened to be the only mother there that day, and Sammy needed to eat during the class. The nutritionist, Emmy, was happy to see a breastfeeding mother, since breastfeeding rates were quite low in our county. As we talked, she mentioned that they were implementing a peer counseling program and were looking for qualified applicants. Since this was a time in my life when our family needed additional income, I was thrilled about the opportunity. Being paid to help breastfeeding mothers, having a job that would be flexible for my family's needs, and working toward becoming a lactation consultant was an answered prayer.

I have been a peer counselor for a little over a year now, and enjoy it immensely. The more I learn, the more I realize there is to learn. I have enjoyed many successes and mourned many failures, but the breastfeeding rate for our county is slowly improving. I get a great deal of satisfaction from knowing that I am helping mothers and their babies. I have a job that I enjoy and that I feel is meaningful. Thank you, WIC, for making it possible.