When Lynnzie Tyrrell finally became pregnant after facing fertility challenges, she knew exactly what she wanted.
“I wanted to have the full experience,” she said. “I wanted to breastfeed and do all the things.”
From the moment her son, Grant, was born, everything seemed to fall into place. He latched immediately, nursing felt natural, and Tyrrell believed they were off to a great start.
But just two months in, that changed.
At Grant’s well-child visit, he had fallen below the 0.1 percentile on the growth chart. Although he appeared content after feedings, he wasn’t gaining the weight he needed.
“I remember thinking, ‘I’m doing everything I know to do,’” Tyrrell said. “I just wanted a second opinion before giving up on breastfeeding.”
That decision led her to Lakewood Health System’s lactation program and to Amy Monson, RN, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
Finding the real problem
After evaluating Grant, Monson quickly reassured Tyrrell that she wasn’t failing.
Instead, Grant simply wasn’t transferring milk efficiently.
“He wasn’t removing enough milk,” Tyrrell explained. “He was burning more calories than he was taking in. He’d nurse just enough to feel content, but he wasn’t getting what his growing body needed.”
Together, they developed a plan.
For several weeks, Tyrrell made frequent trips to Lakewood — sometimes every other day — as Monson helped troubleshoot every challenge. They tried different feeding techniques, monitored Grant’s weight, supplemented with expressed breast milk when needed, and slowly encouraged him back to nursing.
“It wasn’t just one solution,” Tyrrell said. “Amy always had another idea. If something didn’t work, she’d say, ‘Okay, let’s try something else.’ She never gave up.”
Monson said Tyrrell’s determination made all the difference.
“I can teach families different techniques and help create a plan, but they’re the ones doing the hard work every single day,” Monson said. “Lynnzie never gave up. Every week there was a little more progress, and watching Grant eventually return to full-time breastfeeding was incredibly rewarding.”
Eventually, Grant returned to breastfeeding full time.
Today, at 21 months old, he’s a happy, healthy toddler who loves monster trucks, tractors, farm animals and exploring his family’s farm south of Staples.
A team that never stopped believing
For Tyrrell, the encouragement she received made all the difference.
“I never once felt like I had to give up breastfeeding. Amy believed we could make it work, and because she believed it, I believed it too.”
She also appreciated how Monson communicated with Grant’s healthcare team, including her family physician, Dr. Ryan Kroll, making sure everyone stayed informed about his progress.
“It truly felt like everyone was working together for Grant.”
The support extended beyond one lactation consultant.
“If Amy was helping another mom, one of the OB nurses would step in to help weigh Grant or answer questions,” Tyrrell said. “It really is a family up there. Everyone is so supportive.”
That flexibility even meant scheduling evening weighted feedings around Grant’s bedtime routine.
“We came in around 8 p.m., turned the lights down, used his sound machine — just like we did at home — because that’s when he nursed best. They were willing to do whatever it took to help us succeed.”
Determination and a strong support system
The journey wasn’t easy. There were long days of pumping, bottle feeding, nursing and little sleep. Throughout it all, Lynnzie’s husband, Jaden, stood beside her.
“He told me, ‘You tell me what you want to do, and I’ll support you,’” she said. “Whether it was pumping, nursing or something else, he was there every step of the way.”
Family members offered encouragement as well, even when others suggested formula might simply be easier.
“I didn’t care how much work it was. I wanted to nurse him. I knew we could get there.”
Looking back, she’s proud she trusted both her instincts and the support surrounding her.
“My first goal was just to make it to six months,” she said. “When we got there, I thought, ‘Let’s make it to a year.’ Now Grant has mostly weaned himself, and I’m just grateful we made it.”
Advice for other moms
Today, Tyrrell often shares her story with new mothers, including her own sister-in-law, who recently welcomed her first baby.
Her advice is simple.
“When it gets hard, just keep going,” she said. “It’s going to be hard. It’s not meant to be easy. But it does get better. It gets easier, and one day it just becomes part of your routine.”
She also encourages every new mom to seek support when they need it.
“If anyone asks me about breastfeeding, I tell them to go see Amy,” Tyrrell said with a smile. “Without her, I don’t think we’d still be breastfeeding today. She gave me the confidence, the knowledge and the support to keep going.”
For Monson, stories like Lynnzie’s are exactly why she is passionate about supporting breastfeeding families.
“One family’s success reaches far beyond just one baby,” Monson said. “The education and confidence parents gain gets shared with friends, sisters and future generations. That’s how we strengthen breastfeeding support throughout our communities.”
One of Monson’s favorite moments is seeing families return months or even years later with healthy, thriving children.
“When I see a toddler like Grant, I always tell parents, ‘Look what you accomplished,’” she said. “It’s such a powerful reminder of everything they worked so hard to achieve.”
Even now, whenever Tyrrell visits Lakewood for her own appointments, she makes a point to stop by the OB department with Grant.
“I love showing everyone how well he’s doing,” she said with a smile. “They were all part of our journey.”