Could you please share when you first learned that you were expecting a child? Where were you and where did you find out this news? Who did you tell?

I was at home, it was me and my partner, and I was sitting there and I was like, "I think I'm pregnant". And he was like, "yes". He was super pumped. I made the appointment, I called my OB and we scheduled the appointment to confirm for February 28, 2022. And it came back that we were and I was already ten or -- no, I was like eleven weeks or so on the ultrasound. I was like, already far. So we didn't expect to be that far along. He was already developed and bouncing around on the ultrasound and that was crazy. I was like, "oh wow, we're here". But it was super exciting. We both have been wanting a child for a long time together, so it was definitely it was a good feeling.

What kind of support did you receive or did not receive from your family community, different health care providers or other resources?

My family has been super supportive through the entire process. I come from a big family of eight siblings. I'm the 7th of eight, so they are all super excited and supportive. My sisters did his baby shower with the girls with my oldest daughters, and dad, and his parents are super helpful too. But for nursing support, we deliver it at Swedish in  Issaquah and they have a good lactation and doula support team that comes in and make sure he's latching correctly or doing right positions for feeding. So that way it can be the most effective process because if you don't have a good latch, it can really be very painful. So I think that's cool that certain hospitals offer that to you when you're nursing.

If you're breastfeeding, how does this experience impact your relationship with your baby and your family?

I think it does create a wonderful bond between mother and child that when you're just looking down at them and they're grasping at you and I think it creates a little nice bond. I think for dads it's like they support you because they know it's best for the baby, but I think dads wish they could be more involved so that's what pumping comes in hand. So get a nice breast pump machine or hands free one, whatever, just so that dad can be involved because sometimes he does feel left out. Other than that, it creates a nice bond between everyone, between you and baby.

From your experience, why is breastfeeding important in the black community?

Breastfeeding is very important in the black community just because, one, I think that the stigma is that we're not going to do it because it's an inconvenience or we don't have time or the patience, and that's not true. I think our ancestors and have been doing this for generations and generations. And now we get to feed our children only from our breasts, not other people. But I think it's very important, just not only for you and the bond between you and baby, but it's the healthiest for your child. You know what they're getting. Because it's everything that you're putting in your body broken down. I think it's very important. It's worth a try.

What kind of breastfeeding support, if any, did you or did you not receive from your family community and or healthcare provider?

My family and everyone was really supportive. My healthcare I delivered as Swedish and they did offer lactation counseling and lactation support, but I kind of just was my third time around, I kind of knew what to expect. And his dad was super supportive too. Very encouraging to keep going because it does get frustrating sometimes and it can be very painful, but I think it's all worth it, at least stuck to it.

How does the experience of breastfeeding impact your relationship with your baby?

It creates a very close bond, I think, between the mother, mother and son this time around. And it just gives you, I think mentally you feel better overall knowing that you're doing this for your child because it's the best for them compared to formula. Formula, of course it's great if you cannot produce breast milk or you have health issues, then absolutely do formula. But I think it was very empowering just being a mom and seeing the bond between us as a developer.

Could you tell me a little bit about how this breastfeeding journey has been for you this time around?

This time around, I think it was very frustrating and I felt sometimes overwhelmed just because I think he wanted to nurse a lot. Like he would eat and nurse for 30 minutes on one breath and another 30 minutes on the next, and then an hour later you wanted to nurse again. So he just ate more frequently and longer than what I was used to and it was painful this time around. So it was very challenging in the beginning, but I think once I got used to his eating routine and eating schedule, I could prepare myself better and be more like, okay, he's going to nurse at this time and he's going to want to nurse again. But overall I think it was great. It was just different. I think maybe because he's a boy, he's my first son, so I think every child is different. But I think once we got over that bump, it was a smooth transition.

How did the experience of breastfeeding impact your relationship with your family?

I think it was very cool for my older kids to see because they were so little, they didn't get to see themselves nurse and see how I mothered. And so I think overall it was a very fun experience. And then of course, I would pump and give them a chance to feed as well, or do supplement formulas and let them feed to have that bond. But overall I think it was very cool for the older.

From your experience, why is breastfeeding important in the black community?

I think it's very important because, one, I don't think it's an expectation of us to do it. That's not something we would do, and I think it's very important because it provides the best nutrients for your child. I think just overall healthier and in the black community, I think we should just do it and stick to it, despite the stigmas and things that have put out there.

What wishes or intentions do you have for your child that you like to share?

I wish that Isaiah would nurse again. He kind of stopped on his own at six months, but I was just informed that it could be a teething hormone. So I hope that he grows into a healthy, strong young man, and that's what I hope -- that his brain grows strong and everything develops normal and that he stays healthy.

Do you have any advice for other black families who are raising kids?

Stick to your gut. Follow your intuition, because moms, they always know best. You know what's right. There is no handbook on how to raise children, so you just kind of stick to what you were taught and what you know is best in your own gut feeling. Just never go against that motherly instinct.

Do you have any advice for black pregnant moms pertaining to breastfeeding?

Try it. Give it a shot and go for it and stick to it. It is a challenge, even if you want to nurse at night only and then do bottles during the day, but just try it. Even if you don't want to, just try it because it's overall a great bonding and connection with your children.