LLL Love Multiplied
Alison Curtis
Titusville, Florida, USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 12 No. 6, November-December 1995, p. 186
We provide articles from our publications from previous years
for reference for our Leaders and members. Readers are cautioned to
remember that research and medical information change over time.
To say I was in shock would
be an understatement. Imagine my surprise when the carefully orchestrated
home birth of our anticipated ten-pound-plus boy turned into the at-home
hot tub birth of two beautiful little girls. Erin Jeanette, followed
by our "bonus baby," Elizabeth Lorena, slipped their way into our lives
in September 1994. Thirteen minutes is not a lot of time to change your
thinking from single to double.
We felt so blessed, but also
dazed and confused. Since I breastfed my older two children, Lee, now
six, and Colleen, now three, and had halfway finished my LLL Leader
Accreditation, of course the twins would be breastfed. But I must admit
I was quite overwhelmed by the prospect—after all this wasn't in the
plan! My dear friend and LLL Leader, Kari, came to my rescue once again.
She had helped me when my son was four days old, plus a number of other
times over the years.
Now she really sprang into
action. On the second or third day (it's all such a blur now) when the
babies were sleeping too much and the diaper count was getting scanty,
Kari arrived. For the next two to three days, she sat with me, handed
me babies, kept track of wet and soiled diapers, and helped to syringe-
and spoon-feed my milk to my two little sleepyheads until they became
more proficient at nursing at my breast. I felt so relieved she was
there. I was tired, overwhelmed, and literally couldn't think. Kari
breezed right in and became my "doula." Every new mother should have
someone so knowledgeable and caring.
My husband really showed
his true colors at this incredible time, too. I feel so much closer
to this wonderful man. The night after the birth, he lay awake on the
bed with me all night gazing with love at our two little miracles. He
was nothing but encouraging. I was really moved to watch him patiently
syringe-feed one baby at a time. What a proud papa!
My mother-in-law stayed with
us the first week or so; my mother flew in from California as soon as
she heard. Between the two of them the house was immaculate, the laundry
was done, and there were always extra arms to rock babies. Whew!
Another dear LLL friend and
Leader, Sandy, helped by bringing me an electric pump to keep up my
milk supply for the syringes needed to feed the babies when they wouldn't
nurse. She was an endless source of support and was downright gleeful
at having twins in our Group. She is our local WIC breastfeeding coordinator
and on the day I took the girls to the clinic to check their weight
gain, she couldn't have been prouder to show all her co-workers breastfed
twins.
The women in my local LLL
Group also were a marvelous source of support, meals and clothes. One
LLL mother, Chris, a mother of six-year-old twins herself, brought me
books and magazines about twins. Pat, my Area Coordinator of Leader
Accreditation, called and helped me complete my accreditation by phone.
Otherwise I might never have become a Leader!
My twins are now almost four
months old, exclusively breastfed, and gorgeously healthy! I can't imagine
feeding them any other way. My kitchen space is limited even without
bottles to clutter it up, and my time with my older children is at a
premium without cleaning, sterilizing, mixing. Nursing Erin and Elizabeth
is the easiest aspect of their care.
La Leche League is invaluable. I hope I will be able to help others
as much as I have been helped.
Last updated Friday, October 6, 2006 by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:29:42 UTC 2007.
