Erin Zee had a joyful anticipation of breastfeeding her son after he was born, but instead, she ended up in an intensive care unit for nearly a week after giving birth. 

Yet, in the midst of uncertainty, nurses and lactation consultants worked with Zee to express milk from her breasts before missing that crucial window of establishing a milk supply. Two milk banks also supplied Zee with donated breastmilk to feed her son while the two were apart. Several nursing mothers from her church also donated milk to ensure the baby had enough. 

Through it all, she was able to still provide breastmilk to her son, Theodore, and is now happily breastfeeding him at 9-months-old. 

“Obviously, nothing went as planned in our birth, and to be able to still breastfeed was such a blessing,” Zee said. 

Not only for nutritional and immune system benefits, Zee said the bond formed between mom and baby through breastfeeding is unlike anything else. 

The hard work from Spartanburg Regional nurses, lactation consultants, her family and her friends paid off to see Zee’s desire to breastfeed fulfilled. Zee is still in awe of how despite such challenges, breastfeeding still became a reality for her. 

“Don’t give up. It can work out even when things don’t go as planned,” she said to encourage other moms who are considering breastfeeding. “It’s a labor of love.” 

Zee’s full circle moment came months later when she had the ability to donate some of her own milk supply to the Mother's Milk Bank of South Carolina so that other moms in difficult circumstances can benefit from donations the same way she did.  

“I ended up with an oversupply with all of the pumping I was doing at the beginning and filled up a deep freezer with milk,” Zee said. “It was such a blessing to be able to donate to the milk bank to help out and give back.” 

Supporting your breastfeeding goals 

At Spartanburg Medical Center, we are here to support your breastfeeding goals. From birth, support starts at the bedside. You are surrounded by an amazing team of doctors, nurses, neonatal specialists and lactation consultants. This team is dedicated to your every need. 

We know that birth, while beautiful, can be stressful and we do everything we can to reassure you and teach you how to be comfortable in your new role as a mother. 

We strongly encourage breastfeeding because of the proven health benefits for both mother and child. Breastfeeding gives babies the healthiest start in life. Breast milk acts as a baby's first vaccine, promotes brain development and protects the mother's health. 

At Spartanburg Medical Center, we work with new moms to teach them the techniques necessary for successful breastfeeding – nipple latching, burping, pumping, positioning, etc. Our lactation team provides you with the tools you need to begin you and your baby's successful bonding and breastfeeding experience. 

The benefits from Spartanburg Medical Center's Lactation Center do not end when you leave the hospital. When you get home, and life with a newborn (and no sleep) becomes all too real, we remain with you every step of the way. 

Don't hesitate to contact the Lactation Center. The staff is always available for phone consultations at 864-560-2297. No question is too small or “silly.” We welcome your questions, and we're only a phone call away. If you need more in-depth support, schedule a free consultation with one of our certified lactation consultants.   

Take advantage of breastfeeding supplies. The Lactation Center sells nursing bras, nursing tanks, hands-free pumping bras, breastfeeding pillows and nursing scarves. It also offers breast pumps and accessories, replacement parts, hospital-grade breast pump rentals, scale rentals and specialty items to help with your breastfeeding needs. With practice, patience and the right advice, you can discover what works best for you. 

Get your partner, support person or family involved. It takes three to breastfeed: mom, baby and your support person. A support person does anything that helps mom squeeze in some extra sleep. Whether it's changing the stinky diaper at 3 a.m. or making sure mom has enough pillows to keep comfortable during those exhausting feedings, all the small things really add up. 

Find the support system that works for you. From follow-up calls from the Lactation Center to scheduling an outpatient appointment with a consultant, we have many outlets to make breastfeeding work for you and your baby. Once your baby is two-weeks-old, all breastfeeding mothers are invited to attend our support group, Table for Two. This group meets every Wednesday and addresses a wide range of issues that you and your baby can encounter until they are 1 year old. 

Breastfeeding is demanding, but the rewards are limitless. Wherever you are in your journey, know you are never alone. 

For more information on Spartanburg Medical Center Lactation Services, call 864-560-2297. 

Breastfeeding Week is recognized from Aug. 1 through Aug. 7.