Shatoria Townsend
"I was fortunate to grow up with a family where breastfeeding was the natural thing to do. My grandmother breastfed my mother and my mother breastfed
all of my siblings including myself. When it became time for me to be a mother I automatically knew I wanted to breastfeed my twins. My breastfeeding
journey is vastly different than those in my life and even my second breastfeeding experience is different than my first. My first pregnancy I gave birth to
twin boys at 27 weeks via emergency cesarean. My Maternal Fetal Medicine team shared with me I would be delivering at 28 weeks regardless how
things progress. The short time I was pregnant I shared I wanted to breastfeed. Within that time, I did not receive education, tools or resources
surrounding breastfeeding. I was admitted 31 days prior to delivery. During that hospital stay no one provided any resources or education for
breastfeeding; or even how breastfeeding for a NICU/preemie mother of twins required a unique set of skills. Every day twice a day I shared my desires
to breastfeed and was completely ignored. I found it very frustrating that taking a tour of the NICU was a higher priority than determining the method of
feeding for my boys. In the NICU tour breastfeeding was highlighted as this great practice they supported, yet I was still struggling to acquire the access.
Through determination and the support of my family and friends, I was able to exclusive pump and provide nutrition for my twins. After experiencing this
myself I vowed I would do all that I can to prevent my story from becoming someone else’s. I began to advocate for breastfeeding mothers. Through this
advocacy I began educating myself. I am now in a position in which I can begin to promote change to the breastfeeding world and challenge the systems
that oppress breastfeeding families, especially those in BIPOC communities. When I had my youngest, I still was not able to achieve all of my
breastfeeding goals, however I was better equipped to speak up and get the help needed. Even with my job title I ran into various barriers. This just
means my work is not yet complete. One day we will live in a world when every family is able to breastfeed without barriers in place."
all of my siblings including myself. When it became time for me to be a mother I automatically knew I wanted to breastfeed my twins. My breastfeeding
journey is vastly different than those in my life and even my second breastfeeding experience is different than my first. My first pregnancy I gave birth to
twin boys at 27 weeks via emergency cesarean. My Maternal Fetal Medicine team shared with me I would be delivering at 28 weeks regardless how
things progress. The short time I was pregnant I shared I wanted to breastfeed. Within that time, I did not receive education, tools or resources
surrounding breastfeeding. I was admitted 31 days prior to delivery. During that hospital stay no one provided any resources or education for
breastfeeding; or even how breastfeeding for a NICU/preemie mother of twins required a unique set of skills. Every day twice a day I shared my desires
to breastfeed and was completely ignored. I found it very frustrating that taking a tour of the NICU was a higher priority than determining the method of
feeding for my boys. In the NICU tour breastfeeding was highlighted as this great practice they supported, yet I was still struggling to acquire the access.
Through determination and the support of my family and friends, I was able to exclusive pump and provide nutrition for my twins. After experiencing this
myself I vowed I would do all that I can to prevent my story from becoming someone else’s. I began to advocate for breastfeeding mothers. Through this
advocacy I began educating myself. I am now in a position in which I can begin to promote change to the breastfeeding world and challenge the systems
that oppress breastfeeding families, especially those in BIPOC communities. When I had my youngest, I still was not able to achieve all of my
breastfeeding goals, however I was better equipped to speak up and get the help needed. Even with my job title I ran into various barriers. This just
means my work is not yet complete. One day we will live in a world when every family is able to breastfeed without barriers in place."