Liz poses a really good question -- what DO we say to those moms who want
some assurances that IF they follow all your suggestions that the milk will ma
gically start pouring out in abundance....or at least SOMETHING will happen.
The only person I know (on this earth) that makes that sort of
prognostication is Gary Ezzo of Baby(un)wise infamy: "If you follow the program you baby
WILL sleep through the night by 8 weeks. If the baby doesn't, it is because
you are doing something wrong...not having enough couch time, letting the
baby nap too long, too short, letting him fall asleep after feeds instead of
using the sacred feed-wake-sleep cycle...." and so on. All blame to the mother
because SHE isn't doing it RIGHT.
So I do think we need to be careful that we don't fall into the same sort of
trap of making the mom think that if she tries just a little harder, pumps a
little longer, works to get the baby at the breast a little more forcefully,
drinks more milk, eats more oatmeal, etc etc that it will all work out OK and
mom will have an abundant supply.
I think we need to be with mom every step of the way, cheering her on,
trying new strategies, offering more suggestions, but always being open to the
possibility that this mom, regardless of what we do, may NOT be able to increase
her supply 100%. Or that if she does, that 100% may not be enough to
totally feed the baby.
My Jill -- the lactational mystery of the 21st century -- quadrupled her
supply when she went on Reglan. But going from 4 cc to 16 cc per pumping wasn't
exactly enough for her baby to survive.
(And for those of you who know me and know the struggles we went through --
I really don't want to revisit the whole painful episode, so.....for those of
you who don't know the story, and are just SURE that we/I did something wrong
and overlooked the obvious....let's not go there, OK?)
We need to be sensitive to what mom can cope with -- what is going on with
her at home -- how much effort she is able to put into it, and also be able to
say with her when it is appropriate, "enough is enough."
Yes. Many women -- aye, MOST women can relactate or induce lactation. Many
men can also. Most people also have a pancreas that produces appropriate
amounts of insulin. Some do not. Most people have 20/20 vision. Some have to
have assistive devices to see clearly. Most people get pregnant easily --
some when they aren't even trying!! -- And some need major help. And some
have to adopt.
My point (you knew I'd get there eventually) is that I think we need to help
mom uncover every possibility, try all the tricks of the trade, but
recognize that there are just some women who aren't going to produce the milk we want
to see.
We aren't going to make guarantees. We are going to work day by day,
feeding by feeding, and applaud every baby step along the way. And we'll be there
to hold and love her when she feels that she has done everything SHE can do
and simply can't go there any more. And we want to be the sort of lactation
consultant that she can call and we'll grieve with her over her lost dream;
not the sort that she doesn't want to face because "I knew you'd be mad at me,
but...."
Jan -- where after 8 inches it has finally STOPPED snowing in Wheaton, the
sun is coming out and it is GORGEOUS!!
**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.
http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489
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