All Hail Jess, Breasts, And Sandwiches

My cousin, Jess (and husband, Andy--I won't leave him out!), just gave birth to a gorgeous 8 1/2 pound little girl on Sunday. With original birth plans (an unmedicated birth in an holistic setting, going home no later than 12 hours postpartum) out the window as an emergency C-Section was ordered, all I could think was, "Come hell or high water, this baby had better be a champion breastfeeder..."

And let me tell you, that little monkey did not disappoint!

Running into that hospital room, I was the only one who seemed wired. Jess, Andy, Aunt Debby, Uncle Bobby, and my other cousin, Jared, were all as mellow as could be, eating lunch and laughing. And that baby? Hey, it was Emily's lunchtime, too!

Positioning Jess in a comfy football hold, the baby latched on immediately and fed for almost an hour--so happy, so content. I showed her how to make a sandwich with her breast so the latch would be easier, comparing it to how we make our sandwiches compact to "latch" onto them. (You've got to love analogies...) Once they both settled in to the feed, my Aunt asked Jess if she wanted anything to eat..."Sure. Actually, can I have a sandwich?"

And so arrived my favorite moment of the day...My baby cousin, holding and breastfeeding her 24-hour-old baby with her right arm, eating a chicken and provolone sandwich with her left, unfazed by the entire process. Simply beautiful.