Brennan and I had a bumpy road in the beginning of our breastfeeding journey. I feel so fortunate to have had a friend recommend Ania. I cannot thank her enough for her guidance and expertise! We are now in our 12th month of breastfeeding and going strong! I’m so grateful I’ve been able to continue to BF and make some friends along the way.

Ania helped me when my first born turned 3 months old. It felt like everything was different and Ania helped me navigate breastfeeding past the newborn stage. My second, Henry was just starting to crawl when Britt and Erica started the biweekly cafes. Having two little ones on the go brought new challenges the cafes have helped me through. Now 18 months, Henry is still nursing regularly. Thanks to Ania, Erica, and Brit I’m comfortable nursing anywhere. That confidence and flexibility makes life with two toddlers a lot more fun.

Parker has been a fighter since the moment he came into this world. He was born 6 weeks early due to me having severe preeclampsia and being hospitalized for 4 weeks before birth. He then spent 8 weeks in the NICU battling infection after infection, breathing issues, countless tests and antibiotics and feeding issues. In the NICU, he would cry hysterically when put to my breast. I only got him to successfully latch 2 times, ever. Which was a very harsh reality for me since I exclusively breast fed my first son. Parker was finally discharged from the NICU at 8 weeks old and we thought we would come home and finally get to live a normal, happy life. Parker’s feeding issues only got worse. I had to feed him completely asleep for the next 2 months because he had developed a bottle aversion from being in the NICU and having a feeding tube for 8 weeks. We also figured out after leaving the NICU that I had high lipase milk and he absolutely hated it. They only used my frozen milk in the NICU, which could’ve also contributed to him developing a bottle aversion. After getting home, we also found out he had a pretty severe tongue and lip tie, which we had revised. He started seeing a chiropractor 2x per week to help and we started to see Ania weekly as well. He also was on medication for acid reflux and I cut out dairy completely for 4 months because of his suspected dairy intolerance. After a very long go, a ton of trial and error and help from many different resources, we were able to avoid a g-tube, overcome his bottle aversion, get him to enjoy bottles, eat food like a grown boy and is now transitioned into whole milk at 1 year old. We made it the full year with breastmilk and we couldn’t be happier with a happy and healthy baby.

In having a successful breastfeeding journey with my first, I thought the second would be a cakewalk. After delivery however, I was met with a quite humbling alternative. Noah had every kind of tie imaginable and a Laryngomalacia diagnosis to boot. I was “encouraged” by his doctors (more or less pressured) to use bottles as it would be easier for him, even though it wasn’t what I had imagined my breastfeeding journey to be, or wanted for it either. I felt so defeated and let down by the healthcare system. I reached out to Ania for help and she went above and beyond for us every single time. She pointed us in the right direction of an osteopath to try and alleviate some of Noah’s symptoms, helped find an occupational therapist that would support his feeding goals. She had essentially built a care team for him from the ground up and made sure to stay in contact with each one for progress so we functioned as a well oiled machine. I’ve never felt more supported, heard or seen… even when my fears and doubts seemed like they’d take over. We owe it to Ania and everyone that she put in our path for making it this far (and hopefully further yet). I’m forever grateful for her support in making my last breastfeeding journey one I am proud of and will cherish forever.

Breastfeeding was incredibly difficult for me. I would have given up at 3 weeks if it weren’t for Anna’s support. Anna coordinated among different providers to help us make good decisions about what to try next. She made it clear that she would support me even if I decided I could no longer continue breastfeeding. She found solutions for the pain and helped my baby and me work through layer upon layer of complications. I am beyond grateful for her compassion, knowledge, and affirmation. Because of Anna, I am still breastfeeding at 12 months. It is the most beautiful thing in the world, and I will never take it for granted. It means so much that Anna would have supported us even if it hadn’t worked out. We are celebrating not only that my baby and I are still breastfeeding after a year but that we are breastfeeding on our own terms.