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Our second World Breastfeeding Week post shows Petty Officer 1st Class Ali Blackburn, PADET Kodiak, Alaska, with her 16-month-old daughter, Quinn.
"Quinn was born at just 6 pounds and lost even more due to some initial problems. We also had trouble getting her to latch at first. My husband was the first one to ever feed her with a tiny tube and syringe. We had a lactation consultant visit us at home every week as we tried to get Quinn up to a regular weight. She was tiny to begin with, just fitting into preemie clothing, but by the second month and many successful feedings later, we could see her chubby, little baby rolls starting to overtake her. #Breastfeeding Quinn has been one of the closest bonding experiences I’ve ever had with another human being. It’s also very empowering to know I gave life with my body and I’m continuing to help sustain her as she grows. Women’s bodies are pretty amazing when you think about it!
"I’ve found the Coast Guard and Kodiak community as a whole to be very supportive and family-oriented. Throughout the pandemic (yes, I had a pandemic baby) and after maternity leave ended, I struggled with #postpartumdepression, but I felt that I was always able to find support networks within my community through other moms or service members. The lactation consultants were lifesavers, always encouraging me and troubleshooting our struggles with beginning nursing. I would encourage new moms to find a source as valuable as somebody like that; they were amazing coaches when I felt there was nobody else to help me.
"I encourage all mamas, in and out of uniform, to read and inform yourself of ALL that comes with being a new mom or taking care of a new baby. The depression hit me out of the blue after what seemed like a pretty beautiful and smooth introduction into motherhood. I want people to look out for the new moms in their communities and I encourage our Coast Guard personnel to be pillars of support for each other in what can be an incredibly exciting (and sometimes scary) new chapter of life."
DID YOU KNOW?
Depression is the most common of all mental illnesses, and it affects twice as many women as men. Postpartum depression occurs in 10-20% of new mothers. Up to 50 percent of all cases of postpartum/postnatal depression go undetected; and without treatment, postpartum depression may continue and get worse. Being supportive and ensuring the mother gets the appropriate medical support is imperative to ensure her long-term care and well-being. Read more here: https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/Depression/
| Date Taken: | 08.03.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 01.12.2022 12:33 |
| Photo ID: | 7008211 |
| VIRIN: | 220803-G-AE983-648 |
| Resolution: | 2048x1366 |
| Size: | 326.94 KB |
| Location: | KODIAK, AK, US |
| Hometown: | THOMPSON FALLS, MT, US |
| Web Views: | 171 |
| Downloads: | 9 |
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