For many moms, breastfeeding their baby is a tender and rewarding experience. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to do it.
When Sierra Strangfeld, a salon owner from Neillsville, Wisconsin, gave birth to her first child, she wasn’t able to breastfeed her due to the baby’s tongue tie. So, when she learned she was pregnant with her second, she was really looking forward to breastfeeding. But a diagnosis of Edwards’ Syndrome at 20 weeks meant her son wouldn’t survive and she wouldn’t have a chance to breastfeed him.
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Edward’s Syndrome is a genetic disorder.
Also known as Trisomy 18 , the condition is associated with abnormalities in many parts of the body. The babies affected by it have slow growth in the uterus, and birth defects include a small, abnormally shaped head, and a small mouth and jaw. Because they are susceptible to many life-threatening conditions, many babies with Edward’s Syndrome die before birth or within their first month.
Sierra wanted to hold her baby.
She insisted on delivering her son, who she called Samuel, via C-section so that she’d have a chance to meet and hold him. He lived for three hours before sadly passing away.
She decided to do something to honor Samuel’s memory.
Although it was heartbreaking to say good-bye to her baby, Sierra wanted to do something to honor his memory. That’s when she decided to donate her breast milk to mothers and babies in need.
Initially, she planned on pumping until Samuel’s original due date in mid-November.
Samuel was meant to be born on November 13, so Sierra wanted to pump until then, which would have resulted in 1,000 ounces of breast milk. But she soon realized that she wasn’t producing enough milk, so she reduced her goal to 500 ounces.
The day she donated her milk was emotional but rewarding.
“It was the first time I stepped foot back in the hospital since having Samuel,” she told People . “But, walking through the halls, I definitely felt Samuel wrap his arms around me. It was a sense of healing.”
She has started a non-profit called Smiling for Samuel.
In a Facebook post that has been shared over 5,000 times, Sierra included a link to merchandise that can be purchased and whose proceeds will go to her non-profit, Smiling for Samuel.
