At least once a day Sam and her husband say to each other, “GWT.” That stands for Good Work Team. As parents of two little ones, they’re in the thick of it. And they know that a little encouragement and recognition of all the hard work that goes into parenting can make a big difference.
When nothing feels right . . .
Parenting has been a journey for Sam and Kenny. After their first baby was born, Sam battled postpartum anxiety for over a year. She felt alone and overwhelmed. Nothing felt right. Breastfeeding was a challenge and after struggling with latching, she switched to exclusive pumping and bottle feeding. Sam’s postpartum anxiety left her feeling like life was out of her control, but pumping offered a sense of order and stability, especially when it was time to return to work.
Sam refers to her hormones as “they,” as in, “They are really strong today.” She paints a vivid picture of how out of control you can feel when it comes to your own experiences and inner world. She emphasizes how deeply this can color your everyday life.
Second chances – getting better together . . .
The experience of postpartum anxiety can make preparing for a second child even more daunting. It’s hard to know what you’ll experience. Keenly aware of this, Sam didn’t want to set her expectations too high. But after delivery, she worked up the courage to try direct breastfeeding again. And this time, it worked.
“It all felt redemptive,” Sam told me. “My labor, my breastfeeding, building an oversupply of milk.” Having faced such obstacles after her first baby, having things click with her second felt like a chance for a do-over. More importantly, Sam’s postpartum anxiety didn’t return with her second baby. “I had some sad days, but it was nothing like before. And I learned to open up when I’m feeling that way – to name it and accept it. That helps.”
Good work team . . .
Sam became a milk donor with Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast after her second baby. This too felt like part of her healing process from her earlier parenting struggles. “I’m Portuguese, and feeding people is a big part of how we express love. Being able to donate milk to feed another baby—many other babies—gives me such purpose. I love knowing that I’m contributing to society. I’m contributing to my local community. And these babies are so tiny that even a very small amount of milk goes further than you might think.”
I asked Sam what she might want to say to the parents and babies who receive her donated milk. She said, “You are loved. You are doing a good job. And you are warriors.”
Good work team!
Get Involved . . .
Inspired by Sam’s generosity? There are so many ways to make a difference for families in need.
