Rant
Please go read the Yarn Harlot's post: http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2006/06/29/the_power_scares_me.html
I will wait.
Back? okies.
My thoughts: Lil bit is 14 months. She is still breast fed from 1 to 4 times a day. I get flack from friends and co workers about it, and I am wishy washy about the issue. I worry about spoiling Lil bit, but know that the nutrition and anti-bodies are still good for her. I feel a little bit of shame when I "give in" to breast feeding her any time but the nightly feeding, feeling as if I should be working toward a goal of weaning her.
WHY do I feel that way? My guess is peer peer pressure. WHY is it anyone's freaking business how long I breast feed my child, other than me, and my husband (who honestly has no opinion). My lactation consultant has been encoraging me to keep up till Lil Bit quits on her own, or she is at least 18 months, saying that it is best for the immune system that way.
Anyways, most women should be so lucky to have problems like mine, huh? My best friend has tried to breast feed twice, failed twice. So, I read every book I could get my hands on, read online articles, and took a class. My mother laughed at me, saying that it came natural to her, and it was no big deal.
I have Lil bit C section, am on pain killers, and surprise surprise: Lil bit wants to sleep, not eat. They bring me the baby, and say that if I need help call. I was like:HELP. It would take 45 minutes to get her to wake up and eat, and then 45 minutes for her to eat the colostrium. They brought her every 3 hours whether she wanted to eat or not. When the milk did come in, they told me 15 minutes on each breast, and I felt that I was doing something WRONG because she would eat for 5 minutes on one breast and be full. By this time, they were letting her room in, so I would try to get her to eat in another hour. I read later that some women are quick drops, and some babies are quick drinkers.
At this time I questioned my mom. She said all of this should come natural??? I found out that they didn't bother with colosurm back then. I didn't get fed for the first three days of my life!! GO figure, mom had no problems! I would have probally eaten just about anything at that point.
A lot of people complain about WIC, that they give the women free formula, and of course the women pick that. WIC has been a God send for me. They have let me borrow books, given me a pump, and have a lactation consultant to talk to. As I said before, she is STILL encouraging me to breastfeed. WIC has even given me little "prizes" for breastfeeding. I have a bib, a tote, a T shirt, and a coffee cup all telling me what good start breastfeeding is.
Things I wished they would have told me about breastfeeding:
1) Newborns sometimes would rather sleep than eat colostrum. Keep working at it, when the milk comes in, it will be a whole new ball park
2) When they say 15 minutes on each breast, that is an average.. Mileage will vary. Just because your child only eats for 5 minutes at a time doesn't mean she is going to starve.
3) Yes, keeping charts of the baby's feeding times and diapers might be a bit much. If it keeps you mind at ease go for it, but the doctor doesn't want to see it.
4) Breast feeding takes more calories from you than being pregnant. Breast feeding babies eat more often than bottle fed ones. It is NOT a sign of weakness that you are STILL exhausted after the second month. If you need help GET IT.
6) Breast feeding is HARD exhausting work, that no one else can do for you. Sure they can bottle feed the baby, but that means you have to pump it first. The work is totally worth the effort though
5) Everyone has an opinion, and will voice it. Do what is right for you.
I am so glad that I did breastfeed, but at the same time I don't push the idea that it is the ONLY way to go. To be honest, I push slings a whole lot more. I think that there would be a lot happier babies out there if all babies were sling trained. To this day, if she gets cranky, as a last resort, I will put her in a sling. She will quiet instantly.
I will wait.
Back? okies.
My thoughts: Lil bit is 14 months. She is still breast fed from 1 to 4 times a day. I get flack from friends and co workers about it, and I am wishy washy about the issue. I worry about spoiling Lil bit, but know that the nutrition and anti-bodies are still good for her. I feel a little bit of shame when I "give in" to breast feeding her any time but the nightly feeding, feeling as if I should be working toward a goal of weaning her.
WHY do I feel that way? My guess is peer peer pressure. WHY is it anyone's freaking business how long I breast feed my child, other than me, and my husband (who honestly has no opinion). My lactation consultant has been encoraging me to keep up till Lil Bit quits on her own, or she is at least 18 months, saying that it is best for the immune system that way.
Anyways, most women should be so lucky to have problems like mine, huh? My best friend has tried to breast feed twice, failed twice. So, I read every book I could get my hands on, read online articles, and took a class. My mother laughed at me, saying that it came natural to her, and it was no big deal.
I have Lil bit C section, am on pain killers, and surprise surprise: Lil bit wants to sleep, not eat. They bring me the baby, and say that if I need help call. I was like:HELP. It would take 45 minutes to get her to wake up and eat, and then 45 minutes for her to eat the colostrium. They brought her every 3 hours whether she wanted to eat or not. When the milk did come in, they told me 15 minutes on each breast, and I felt that I was doing something WRONG because she would eat for 5 minutes on one breast and be full. By this time, they were letting her room in, so I would try to get her to eat in another hour. I read later that some women are quick drops, and some babies are quick drinkers.
At this time I questioned my mom. She said all of this should come natural??? I found out that they didn't bother with colosurm back then. I didn't get fed for the first three days of my life!! GO figure, mom had no problems! I would have probally eaten just about anything at that point.
A lot of people complain about WIC, that they give the women free formula, and of course the women pick that. WIC has been a God send for me. They have let me borrow books, given me a pump, and have a lactation consultant to talk to. As I said before, she is STILL encouraging me to breastfeed. WIC has even given me little "prizes" for breastfeeding. I have a bib, a tote, a T shirt, and a coffee cup all telling me what good start breastfeeding is.
Things I wished they would have told me about breastfeeding:
1) Newborns sometimes would rather sleep than eat colostrum. Keep working at it, when the milk comes in, it will be a whole new ball park
2) When they say 15 minutes on each breast, that is an average.. Mileage will vary. Just because your child only eats for 5 minutes at a time doesn't mean she is going to starve.
3) Yes, keeping charts of the baby's feeding times and diapers might be a bit much. If it keeps you mind at ease go for it, but the doctor doesn't want to see it.
4) Breast feeding takes more calories from you than being pregnant. Breast feeding babies eat more often than bottle fed ones. It is NOT a sign of weakness that you are STILL exhausted after the second month. If you need help GET IT.
6) Breast feeding is HARD exhausting work, that no one else can do for you. Sure they can bottle feed the baby, but that means you have to pump it first. The work is totally worth the effort though
5) Everyone has an opinion, and will voice it. Do what is right for you.
I am so glad that I did breastfeed, but at the same time I don't push the idea that it is the ONLY way to go. To be honest, I push slings a whole lot more. I think that there would be a lot happier babies out there if all babies were sling trained. To this day, if she gets cranky, as a last resort, I will put her in a sling. She will quiet instantly.
posted by Teresa | 5:49 PM
1 Comments:
Oh my gosh, I had one HELL of a time getting Daughter to breastfeed. She was sooooooo tiny and sleepy, and we tried and tried. I sobbed in the hospital and finally begged for help from a nurse. She was rough with me and not very kind, but she got us going. Earlier she had basically told me I would fail if I couldn't get Daughter to latch on RIGHT NOW IMMEDIATELY HURRY UP GO...she said the breast needed 8 stimulations per day so the milk would come in. HAH! My milk ROARED in once I was home and relaxed, and we had no further problems. But I agree with you - it definitely does not come naturally to everyone!
You go right ahead and nurse as long as it's right for you and your daughter. Don't listen to anyone else's opinion, yours is the only one that matters!
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