Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Breastfeeding Advocate, Author and Breast Cancer Survivor Kathleen Huggins

by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor on April 21st, 2007

Kathleen Huggins, RN, MS, IBCLC is the author of The Nursing Mother’s Companion: Revised Edition and The Expectant Parents’ Companion. She’s also the co-author of two other books The Nursing Mother’s Guide to Weaning and Nursing Mother, Working Mother, revised editions of which were released last week. Ms. Huggins is a registered nurse, certified lactation consultant and early childcare expert. For many years she worked as the director of a breastfeeding clinic in California. In an email interview with me, she starts off by sharing her recent history.

KH: Four years ago, in addition to directing the breastfeeding clinic, I opened a maternity/nursing boutique in downtown San Luis Obispo. After just a couple of weeks, one morning I found a lump in my left breast. Being very familiar with both of my breasts, I knew what this meant. After two surgeries, six months of chemo and two months of radiation, I returned to the clinic. Only weeks later, the Board of Supervisors closed my beloved county hospital, promising to keep all of the county clinics open. Just a few weeks later, they gave all of the clinics to another entity including my breastfeeding clinic. Very soon, I was notified by the new owners that my services at the clinic would no longer be needed. Although disappointed, I still had my store and periodically got to work with nursing mothers and babies.

B123: You co-authored The Nursing Mother’s Guide to Weaning with Linda Ziedrich and Nursing Mother, Working Mother with Gale Pryor. How did your collaboration with these women come into being and what has your experience working with co-authors been like?

KH: Linda Ziedrich and I, as well as the publisher, decided to update Weaning a couple of years ago. Every 4-5 years I like to refresh what ever I write. I was also asked to join Gale Pryor, daughter of Karen Pryor (famous author of Nursing Your Baby) in updating Nursing Mother, Working Mother. She is a wonderful writer and I thought I could be helpful in updating information on pumps and pumping. So a new team was born! Linda Ziedrich is my editor on everything I have ever written. She is so very thoughtful, a great writer and weaned three babies. I simply felt Linda would be a great co-author and she has been. I think we worked on both of these books for about six months or so.

B123: In your work at the breastfeeding clinic, what are some of the concerns that come up most often for nursing mothers and babies? What do you wish more women knew before they started breastfeeding?

KH: In the breastfeeding clinic, I worked with mothers who suffered with latch on problems, insufficient milk production, and colicky babies. Interesting you should ask about what I wish more women knew before they started breastfeeding. That is my next book, “Twenty Five Things Every Breastfeeding Mother Should Know.” I will be writing this book with a friend and Lactation Consultant, Jan Ellen Brown. For now, all I will say is that breastfeeding is one of the most important things that can a mother can do for her baby.

B123: What’s the most rewarding thing about helping nursing mothers and babies?

KH: Perhaps I manage mothers and their struggles with nursing differently than others. I am committed to making a difficult situation with a mother easier until the mother-baby pair have worked things out. I don’t send mothers home with a strenuous plan. I simplify things. They typically go home with just one goal and then I see them again very soon. My reward is that they leave happier than when they came and they feel hopeful that they can work issues out with their babies.

B123: You are one busy woman! How do you find the time to juggle all of your responsibilities?

KH: Well, it’s not that hard for me. I have loved, secure children that have been little trouble! I have helped them discover their passions and they grew up to be successful. My husband Brad takes care of me! And, I must admit I have housekeeper once a week!

B123: Can you tell us some of your personal history of being a nursing mother/working mother and about weaning?

KH: I never ever considered doing anything else but nursing my babies! But who knew what a life altering experience that would turn out to be. With my first child, Kate, I suffered with severely damaged nipples, most likely from poor technique. Soon after, I developed mastitis, and a large abcess that required hospitalization with an incision and drainage. I remained very committed and continued nursing during a period (1970’s) when we were less knowledgeable about breastfeeding management. At four months post partum, I returned part time to graduate school. I did not pump during our separations and I am certain that my milk supply faltered and Kate’s weight gain slowed to a rate that concerned her pediatrician. Still I continued and Kate weighed only 17 pounds at one year. On the other hand, her father and his family were small people. Soon after, I decided to end my marriage. In a last ditch effort to work on the marriage, a counselor suggested that perhaps things would improve if I weaned. Out of guilt, over the course of a month or so I weaned Kate by her 18th month. Of course, nursing had nothing to do with a failing marriage and to this day I regret being pressured into weaning prematurely, that is before either of us was ready.

When my son was born, nine years later, I was reluctant to seek out help even though he was severely tongue-tied and could not remove any milk from my breast. My goodness, I could not admit to anyone that Kathleen Huggins was struggling. After several days of being home, a new Lactation Consultant dropped by to see me. She held John and said, “My goodness, your nipples must be killing you! The next day, my pedi-dentist clipped his frenulum and my initial troubles were over. Soon, he developed severe colic with bloody stools. He nursed every 30-45 minutes for comfort. I adjusted my diet until I was down to nothing! Driving down the street with a screaming baby, I said aloud, “What can this be? All I am eating is bread and water! Well, dummy, maybe it’s the bread.” Within 24 hours my miserable baby was cured as he was in fact allergic to wheat. I was committed to nursing John until he weaned. When he was three he spoke of weaning, but he continued nursing to sleep until his fifth birthday. I am convinced his normal nursing period is the reason he is such a kind and generous young man.

B123: You spoke of your extensive treatment for breast cancer in 2003. Is there anything you’d like to share about your experience with breast cancer?

KH: I remember a few key things. I do know that one day the tumor was not palpable and the next day it was. I do remember being a bit angry that after yearly mammograms, this rather large tumor never showed up. Now there are new digital mammograms and I hope that women seek these out in addition to soaping up their breasts EVERY day and getting a good feel. I am certain that is why my tumor was stopped at stage two.

I was never afraid for some reason. I knew I would be fine. I sought out the best breast cancer center in Northern California. I reassured my children and crying friends that I would be fine. I remember a study that I was told in Nursing School (196?) about women who had a positive attitude. They did well. I did well.

B123: What do you think are the greatest challenges or opportunities in the breastfeeding community today? What would you like to see happen with breastfeeding legislation and breastfeeding research in the coming years?

KH: One of the reasons that our county has the second highest breastfeeding rate in California is that a few of us dedicated our lives to this. It starts out with great prenatal classes, teaching moms what they need to know including when they need to get help. The hospitals are the next link–great breastfeeding assistance as well as identifying mothers and babies who may be at risk for difficulties. They need to go home with who to call for help. We have had a Breastfeeding Warmline for the past 25+ years. If needed, moms who call can get hands on help from a local, affordable clinic. Also, the pediatricians need to be breastfeeding supporters.

Legislation is very difficult. I took part in an attempt to rid hospitals of formula “gift” bags. We lost and that was a hard pill to swallow.

B123: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me. Any last thoughts you’d like to share?

KH: Well, I still see mothers in my store on weekends when the clinic is closed and a mother is in crisis, but my work is not as much as it once was. But I will tell you this: rarely a night goes by that I don’t dream of being in my clinic supporting a new mother. Yes, I miss it.

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