No one knew if he would be able to do it. Despite having lost 50% of their ability to breathe and be paralyzed due to a terminal illness has managed to give birth to a healthy baby and is determined to breastfeed.
With 29 years, and two weeks after learning that she was pregnant, she received the blow: he was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), the disease that took his mother, grandmother and other relatives.
A story of struggle and courage
In just five months, Amanda Bernier went from being an active woman to being completely paralyzed and needing a respirator. From the 24th week of pregnancy She was admitted to the hospital ICU for 4 months, until 39 weeks his daughter Peanut was born by caesarean section, due to a breech presentation.
After the birth, she returned to her ICU room, where the nurses helped her with breastfeeding her baby, leaving her to stay with her when children are not allowed in that unit.
Because she was still in the hospital bed, they tried different positions to breastfeed and luckily the little girl clutched her chest without problems, as if she knew what she should do ... because babies know it, it is the power of instinct.
Despite her cracked and sore nipples at the beginning, she persevered in her attempt and began producing milk to breastfeed her baby.
After she was discharged from the hospital, a week after giving birth, it was her aunts who helped her put her baby to her breast and also to express the milk with a breast pump, because she wants to leave reserves for when she is no longer there to feed his daughter.
Breastfeeding, your way of connection
One of Amanda's big concerns was how she would relate to her baby while paralyzed. I couldn't change her diaper, or massage her, or play with her like the rest of the mothers do with their babies, but breastfeeding has been her connection point, the bond that held her together with her little girl.
And no, it's not a better mother for breastfeeding. It is because despite the great difficulties that arise, he has the firm conviction that wanting is power. She knows it is the best gift she can leave for her daughter when she is gone.
