I have been going, since the 2nd or 3rd week of January, to a Breast
Feeding Support Group (BFSG).  Breastfeeding, it turns out, is hard. 
Very, very hard.  So hard, in fact, that I’m surprised the world is as
populated as it is.  I’m not sure if the problems we’ve had
breastfeeding (Raines and I) stem from the fact he was premature, or
because he had to have bottles for the first few days of his life, but
it was NOT working well at first.  So, off to BFSG we went.  Since I
couldn’t drive after the c-section, I had my Mom take me.  Looking
back, it was pretty funny.  It’s basically a room full of stressed out
girls trying to breastfeed, naked babies screaming while Lactation
consultants run around helping with the “latch.”  In this room, nipple
shields are a girl’s best friend.  None of the new moms really talked
to each other -we were too stressed out.  Except, of course, for OUR
Moms.  The Moms of new moms sat in the corner and chatted and laughed
like they were old friends.  My Mom’s last session (before she went
back to Marquette) they were all hugging each other and I swear they
were all tearing up:  “Oh TINA.  We will MISS you!”  Seriously?  Maybe
it’s the fact that I’m sitting there half naked in front of a bunch of
strangers, but I did find it a little hard to strike up a
conversation.  Before we left that day, however, Mom sat next to me and
engaged several other new Moms in conversation:  “Have you met my
daughter Shana?  Her son is the same age as your child!  Imagine that!”
OMG.  My Mom is helping me make friends.  And, just like when I was
six, it worked.  I still go to the BFSG every week, but now, I know
most of the girls.  One of the new moms (Becky – in the photo) is
Meara’s Mom.  Meara is the adorable little girl in the photo with
Raines and is his new BFF (Best Friend Forever) from the BFSG.  I’m
happy to report that Raines is now breastfeeding like a rockstar, but
we still go to group every week.  It’s reassuring to see him pack on
the pounds, but even more importantly…the group is actually FUN. 
Last week it was filled with a bunch of new girls – all stressed out
like we were – but by the end of the hour the regulars had engaged them
and we were all gabbing together like old friends.  My Mom will be SO
proud.