Whole Living Wellness Center

May 2019

I cannot speak highly enough about Dawn Bower IBCLC's Breastfeeding Social at Whole Living Wellness Center on Wednesdays 12:30-2pm. I first saw Dawn Bower, My Lactation Consultant, as a patient. I was very hesitant to go to the actual social group. I had known about the social through the birthing classes at AV Hospital, but while I thought it was a neat idea, I was too nervous to go. It was only with Dawn's prompting that I attended. The first one I even made the excuse that I was too tired and needed sleep (ha! Like simply not going to a meeting would allow me sleep when I had a newborn!), and didn't go. The next meeting I tried to make excuses, but my husband helped encourage me to go and dropped me off and picked me up since I still wasn't driving yet after having the baby. I think I was still nervous the next few meetings and had to really push myself to go. I can't even imagine what my life would be like if I had never gone. The Breastfeeding Social is THE number one thing that helped me through my post partum. I made connections and friends through that group that mean the world to me. It's why I still try to go whenever I happen to have a Wed off now that I'm back at work. I intentionally schedule my doctor appts on Wednesdays just so I can go. The group got me through some really rough times. It also gave me the confidence to reach out to other mommy groups, including a Saturday MOPS group which has also had a huge impact on my life and sanity. Mommies - if you are afraid to go like I was, just push through it. Get outside your comfort zone and go. If you don't make a connection with another mommy at that first meeting, go again. You'll eventually feel comfortable. You'll eventually make friends with amazing women who are going through or have gone through what you have. You will lean on each other. You are not alone. Having other mommy friends has been the number one thing that has saved my sanity. It was Dawn's Breastfeeding Social on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2 that was the catalyst for the explosion of mommy friends I have now. I sincerely don't know what my life would look like right now if I had never gone. Do it. You won't regret it. Then months later you will look back and realize what an opportunity you almost missed out on because you were too nervous. It's totally normal, but push through it. And if you are having any concerns about your breastfeeding, make an appt and see her. You usually don't have to go a whole bunch of times, so you wouldn't expect a recurring cost with no end. Go and talk with her. You may receive valuable help that will solve your issues or figure out ways to work with them. And then you'll have Dawn as a continued valuable resource. I am so grateful my friend referred me to Dawn. Had she not, my life would be very different right now.