I like to tell moms that Mother Nature intended babies to be exclusively 
breastfed thru the 1st year (with introduction of solid foods in addition to 
breast milk at 6 months), no pumping, no bottles, cups, spoons, syringes, etc.  
WE invented these things, not Mother Nature.  The IDEAL is breast only.  We 
all strive for the IDEAL in other aspects of our lives, so why not with 
breastfeeding?  Unfortunately, due to modern society, many mothers are not 
able to IDEALLY breastfeed thru that 1st year.  Hence, the introduction of 
breastfeeding paraphenalia, which should only be used if and when a mother is 
not able to exclusively put her baby to her breast.

*Mothers should breastfeed as exclusively as possible, within their particular 
lifestyle.*  *Babies should receive as much mother's milk as possible, given it's 
mother's particular lifestyle.*

This is why no one else can tell a mother when to introduce a bottle (or cup, 
spoon, syringe, etc.) or when and how much to pump her breasts.  Only she 
knows her lifestyle and how much she can exclusively breastfeed.

When a mother is offered encouragement/support in this manner, her anxiety 
and guilt is lessened when she realizes she is nursing as IDEALLY (exclusively) 
as SHE can within her lifestyle.


Pam Hirsch, BSN,RN,IBCLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shpeherd Hospital
Barrington, IL     USA

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