Happy birthday, you magical creature! Today is a day to celebrate you and all the wonder that you bring to this world. From the moment I met you, I knew there was something special about you. Your vibrant spirit and infectious energy have the power to lift anyone's mood and bring a smile to their face. You have this innate ability to light up any room you walk into. Your presence is like a breath of fresh air, bringing joy and laughter wherever you go. It's as if you have a little bit of magic in you, sprinkling happiness and warmth to all those around.
It's as if you have a little bit of magic in you, sprinkling happiness and warmth to all those around. Your kindness and compassion know no bounds. You have this incredible way of seeing the best in people and bringing out the goodness in them.
My Magical Breast: Where No Breast Had Gone Before
My body is not like most. The internet tells me my odd deformity will not shorten my lifespan, but it makes me different. It affected my breastfeeding experience, but what was truly unexpected was the way breastfeeding affected my most peculiar body.
Why should you care? And why should I reveal now my unusual quirks in such a public way? While this account may be too much information for some, my story may give hope to women struggling with milk production. So here goes.
My Peculiar Body
I appeared normal at birth. My mother told me she first noticed my defect when I was about 3 years old. My breastbone, or sternum, began to indent, creating a cavity in the middle of my chest. My mother said she couldn’t find anyone on either side of our family who had this or knew of anyone else who did. Our doctor told her not to worry.
When puberty hit, I noticed breast buds growing in my left breast but not in my right. As my teen years passed, my left breast developed normally but my right side stayed completely flat.
At age 21, my parents offered to pay for cosmetic surgery, and I decided to do it. By this time, my sternum was deeply indented and my heart was pushed to one side. (Let’s hope I never need CPR!) The plastic surgeon inserted a silicone breast implant through an incision below where my right breast should have been, and he positioned the implant sideways, so that I now had a right breast and my chest indentation was filled in. I didn’t look 100% normal—my chest was still a little sunken below my collarbone—but it was better, and I didn’t feel nearly as self-conscious.
From age 29 to 35, I gave birth to my 3 boys, and I spent a total of 12 years breastfeeding them, nursing on both sides. When I was 5 months pregnant with my first, I learned at my first La Leche League meeting that women could exclusively breastfeed twins and triplets, so I deduced correctly that one working breast was all I needed.
I loved breastfeeding and became a La Leche League leader so that I could help others meet their goals. I also served as a resource for La Leche League International for those with questions about nursing with breast implants. When controversy erupted, I even appeared on CNN to weigh in on whether breastfeeding with implants could cause later health problems in children. (Time and science found that it didn’t.)
A Stunning Discovery
In my 50s, during a routine mammogram, I received shocking news. As the technician took picture after picture, I finally said, “You do know that I have a breast implant, don’t you?” She said yes and added, “But I can’t find it.”
Eventually she found my implant on images taken in my cleavage area. She told me my implant’s location had shifted. By this time, my sternum had become so deeply indented that it nearly reached my spine. (Yes, that grosses me out, too.) Over the years, as the indentation deepened, my breast implant fully migrated into the middle of my chest. Yet even without any implant remaining in my right breast, it now appeared to be fully developed.
I was stunned to realize that my formerly “bionic” right breast was now a real breast.
How did this happen? Science tells us that a woman’s milk-making glands grow and develop during pregnancy, and after birth this milk-making tissue continues to grow (study HERE). We also know that with breast stimulation, women who have never been pregnant can grow functioning breast tissue and produce milk for adopted babies (article HERE). I was aware of all of this when my mammogram tech gave me the news, and I knew immediately that my 12 years of nursing had gradually grown a real right breast where none had grown before.
Using My Story to Help Others
How can my strange story help others? Some women plan to breastfeed only to learn that their breasts didn’t develop normally. Called “breast hypoplasia” or” insufficient glandular tissue,” in this situation, there are not enough milk-making glands to produce 100% of the milk a baby needs. (See a wonderful book about this HERE.) This might also happen in a woman with a history of breast reduction surgery (see a another wonderful book HERE) or a transgender man who has had top surgery to remove breast tissue and later delivers a baby.
It can be devastating when someone highly motivated to exclusively breastfeed cannot. Breastfeeding is a part of our sexuality, and when a woman discovers she can’t do what others seem to do so naturally, it is a genuine loss—like infertility—that deserves to be acknowledged and mourned. In my private lactation practice, I sometimes sat and grieved with a mother who had to face this heartbreak.
Part of my job in that situation was also to discuss her remaining options. Most assume that giving up on breastfeeding is the only choice, but that is not actually true. Today, when I meet women who are struggling with low milk production, I always share my story. My long-term perspective gives them a glimpse not only of their options today, but how their choices now may affect their breastfeeding future.
Breastfeeding Options
I loved breastfeeding and became a La Leche League leader so that I could help others meet their goals. I also served as a resource for La Leche League International for those with questions about nursing with breast implants. When controversy erupted, I even appeared on CNN to weigh in on whether breastfeeding with implants could cause later health problems in children. (Time and science found that it didn’t.)
Your genuine love and care for others make you such a rare and precious gem. On this special day, I want you to know how grateful I am to have you in my life. Your friendship has enriched my world in ways I cannot express. You bring so much light and love into my life, and I am forever thankful for that. I hope this year brings you all the happiness and fulfillment you deserve. May you continue to spread your magic to everyone you encounter. Never stop being the incredible person you are. Happy birthday, you magical creature. Here's to another year of love, laughter, and enchantment. Cheers to you!.
Reviews for "May Your Birthday Be a Magical Journey of Love and Happiness"
1. John - 2 stars
I was really excited to read "Happy Birthday You Magical Creature" because of all the hype surrounding it, but I was extremely disappointed. The storyline felt forced and the characters were one-dimensional. There was no depth or substance to the plot, and I found myself skimming through the pages just to get to the end. It felt like a cheap attempt at cashing in on the current trend of fantasy novels, without putting any effort into creating a captivating story. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written and engaging read.
2. Emily - 1 star
I couldn't even finish "Happy Birthday You Magical Creature". The writing was terrible and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. The author seemed to have no understanding of how people actually talk or think. The main character was annoying and had no redeeming qualities. The plot was predictable and felt like a rehash of every other generic fantasy novel out there. I regret wasting my time and money on this book, and I won't be reading anything else by this author in the future.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Happy Birthday You Magical Creature", but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The pacing was off and the story dragged on without any real direction or purpose. The magical elements felt forced and poorly developed. The romance aspect was cliché and lacked chemistry between the characters. Overall, this book was a disappointment and didn't live up to its potential. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and engaging fantasy read.