4 / 52
Lux: I needed to order new ballet shoes and tights for her–the old ones had gotten so little! She convinced me to throw in the components of a white swan costume. She asked me every day when I thought the package would arrive. She’s so proud of the elegant long tutu.
Alma: mid-yawn! Caught it at last.
Joan: Delighting in a crazy confetti colored Italian cookie from the North End.
This week I’ve been thinking about the basketwork of nursing. If nursing for nine months, or a year, or whatever you manage, is a finished basket you can place on your shelf and smile fondly at later, now is the rough work of pulling it together. Binding reeds and callousing soft fingers. Weaving in and out exactly the same way over and over, picking it up again and again before you’re through. Dropping your soft body into the mold of new habits with gusto: drinking so much water all day, yet gasping for still more as soon as you begin nursing again. Shifting time from twenty-four to three hour cycles (or much, much less, early on). Stretching achy shoulders, massaging small hot pockets of pain here and there, losing half your wardrobe, adjusting to the milky smell that surrounds you when you wake up each morning.
With Lux and Joan I always thought I’d stop nursing at nine months. But then I reached nine months and everything mentioned above had become so normal, that settled in and did it for three more months!
4 Comments
Kate
I am your doppelgänger down in NJ — my third girl was born 12/1. I don’t much like nursing — but I can do it, so I do it. It has been so crazy finding time to sit and nurse this new baby I’ve been tempted to quit. But I want to have made that basket, you know? Plus, what else am I realistically going to do this winter besides some quality basketwork? Keep up the beautiful writing.
Rachael Ringenberg
My New Jersey doppelganger! So good to have. Thanks for commenting–nice to hear it resonated with you since you’re in the same spot. Nurse on mama.
Connie Chung
Love these pictures of the girls! Joan is getting so big. I always look forward to reading your beautiful writing.
One of my classmates in med school is a new mom and everyday at lunch leaves to go pump. Reading your thoughts on nursing helps shine light on what nursing must be like for her right now as well. I’m often fascinated by her ability to juggle motherhood and our workload. Short of offering to babysit, I always wonder how I can help her out. Any wise input would be greatly appreciated!
Rachael Ringenberg
Hmm I think the nicest support you could offer is food/drink. She probably doesn’t always have time to grab a snack or a drink before she pumps. Nursing moms seem to crave sugar for energy–random treats are always appreciated!