Happy National Breastfeeding Month!

Happy International Breastfeeding Week!

This year is a little different, but in the BEST way. Here at Carolina Sotomayor Reiki, we decided to celebrate each and every breastfeeding mom with a gift. We created the Let’s Reiki the Boobies Guide, a PDF sharing Carolina’s personal breastfeeding story, original healing breastfeeding affirmations, how to write your own affirmations, and links to a special Reiki guided meditation video and audio. You can listen or watch the meditation while nursing or pumping to help relax and support your lactation and heart chakra. The Reiki energy is intended to support your heart chakra, which is located in the middle of your chest. This chakra is associated with how we give and receive love, our love relationships, heart, lungs, and shoulders. The more relaxed and support we are, the better our bodies can do what it needs. It is my hope this special guide will encourage you and your breastfeeding relationship. 

You can download the guide now here! https://www.carolinasotomayor.com/reiki-for-breastfeeding 

I knew I wanted to breastfeed when I became pregnant. I did not know anyone who had breastfed in my family, except my very best friend, Melissa, in Miami. So I took a breastfeeding class. I got the silver healing nipple covers, pump, flanges, and bottles. I thought I was prepared. After all, I only had to put baby to my nipple, and he would know what to do, right?
Ha-ha! My pregnancy, birth, and hospital experiences were traumatic and rocked me straight into postpartum depression and anxiety. Luckily, I had the unconditional support of my husband, Ryan, and postpartum doula, Shannon Barnett of Omaha Birth & Babies . Over the past 3 years, 7 months, and 21 days of nursing and pumping, I have clung to the feeling of feeding my baby, holding him, and knowing this was something only he and I could do.

Breastfeeding helped me heal. It made my once constantly busy mind and body sit still. I camped out on the sofa, watched TV, held my baby, and focused on nursing. I did not care that close family members told me to stop. I told them to get onboard or be quiet. I kept nursing even when I was sleep-deprived, when we had to supplement with formula, when I wanted to quit while triple feeding, when I cried while pumping on the hour commute to my job, when I had mastitis seven times, when my allergist told me to stop, and when I realized that this was going to be my only baby.

I kept nursing on the good and bad days because I promised myself I would never quit on a bad day. The next day was always better. Breastfeeding has been the hardest thing I ever done, and it is a decision I have hourly, at times. Nevertheless, I am forever grateful for the healing it gave me, and the bond I have with my son.

Here’s what made the difference: I made a decision at the beginning that I would breastfeed for as long as I wanted to and not let anyone influence my decision. I would breastfeed for as long as it worked for my Ollie and me. It has been hard. It has been complicated. The most important thing is to do what is best for you.
How good of a mother you are has nothing to do with your choice to breastfeed, how much you produce, or how long you choose to breastfeed for. You are an amazing mother, just as you are. You are the exact mother your baby needs. No one can be a better mother to your baby than you. You are love. You are loved. You are a cherished being.

I want you to know I am proud of you. I am grateful for you.