HOLLAND, Mich. — When Naomi Timmerman was 33 weeks pregnant, she had an emergency cesarean section delivery of her son, William.
Because he was so little, William couldn't feed like other newborns. He had a nasogastric tube to feed at the start. Eventually, Timmerman was able to try breastfeeding.
"We had to always follow up with a bottle, and then whatever he didn't take through the bottle went through his NG tube," said Timmerman. "So, every feeding was a long process."
Timmerman delivered at Holland Hospital. She was able to talk to their lactation consultants when needed to help guide her through the tough process with her preemie baby. William spent 11 days in the NICU before heading home.
"I remember crying to my husband a couple days after," said Timmerman. "I said, 'Why would they send us home with such a small baby? I don't know what I'm doing.'"
Thankfully, she was not alone. Timmerman joined the Breastfeeding Connections support group at Holland Hospital.
"I'm really glad I went to the breastfeeding support group," said Timmerman. "Every time, I learned something new. It was encouraging to know that I wasn't the only one struggling."
Breastfeeding Connections helps mothers and babies get support after birth until the families no longer need it.
The space is supportive, questions are encouraged and there is guidance from board-certified lactation consultants.
"If you don't have that support team, friends, family, you can get it at our support group," said Elaine Glanville, a lactation consultant at Holland Hospital. "It's quite amazing, because breastfeeding is a journey. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not."
At one point, Timmerman began to have an oversupply of her breastmilk.
"I thought, what a great way to give back in the way that my own son was able to receive," said Timmerman. "I was already freezing milk when he was still in the hospital. I got set up with Bronson's Mother's Milk Bank, which is where Holland Hospital gets their milk from. And I think I've donated over 12 gallons of milk."
Lactation consultants support patients with personalized coaching that continues after discharge.
"We want to meet the needs of our breastfeeding moms," said Glanville. "Even if your journey isn't exclusively breastfeeding, or you're pumping and supplementing with formula, it still looks as a success story for our breastfeeding moms."
The support group also features parent advocates to give emotional and mental health support.
"The moms develop a bond when they're at the support group, we get to know the moms," said Glanville. "They go home as breast friends. Just sitting in a group with other women and just going, 'Oh, they're tired too. Oh, they haven't showered either.' You know, it just gives you that support that you can do this."
The support group at Holland Hospital meets on Tuesdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. Any new mother, regardless of whether they delivered at Holland Hospital, can join.
You can learn more information on Holland Hospital's website.
William is now six months old and thriving.
