Feeding your baby is one of the most common concerns for a new mother, along with adjusting to your transformed body. I was no exception. After being married for seven years, my husband and I decided to have a baby. We were blessed with a daughter who looked just like her dad from her facial expressions down to the arch of her brow. My pregnancy journey was smooth at first, but I encountered sudden challenges. I was put on bed rest at 21 weeks and later admitted to the hospital for medical supervision for two and a half months until shortly before giving birth. I spent Christmas, New Year’s, and my birthday in the Antepartum unit. I looked forward to my wheelchair ride every day to feel the breeze of the wind and the heat of the sun. 

 A humbling and vulnerable experience that many will truly not understand unless they have encountered it. I even spoke with the Neonatologist about NICU life if I delivered early. My beautiful baby girl arrived healthy at 38 weeks, fulfilling all my dreams during those weeks of bed rest. However, I faced unexpected difficulties in the first few weeks due to her undiagnosed lip tie. With the support of my husband, a breast pump, a nipple shield, and a Lactation consultant, I was able to breastfeed and pump at work for 14 months. 

My experience sparked a strong interest in lactation and supporting other mothers’ breastfeeding journeys due to my unique experience along with switching specialties to Maternal-Newborn care. This led to the birth of Linding Joy | Lactation Care. Our mission is to edify, equip, and educate families as they prepare for their lactation journey and advocate for themselves when faced with breastfeeding challenges.