Esther,
Since you love the analogy thread, I thought I would add a couple to
explain why some babies do not appear to experience nipple confusion or
preference. I usually explain it to my moms like this: Imagine that I took
a dance class with Baryshnikov. If we both learned two different dances, he
would do them both perfectly, and I would confuse steps between the two
dances. Let's face facts, most of us are not Baryshnikovs (but a select few
are)! I, too, have seen situations where no matter how many bottles the baby
had, he could always go back to the breast without a problem. Often mothers
with these "resilient" babies don't have any idea how easy they have it until
the next child proves that all babies don't work that way!
Simply put, we all have different motor skill level, and some babies are
just more talented than others. It helps to avoid artificial nipples for at
least the first month because the baby basically goes through an "imprinting"
process with the breast. Usually the confusion does not take place so
readily when the breastfeeding relationship is firmly established--but there
are no guarantees!
To add a few more analogies: What happens when you rent a car that has a
gear shift in the center consol as opposed to the steering column (or visa
versa). How many times do you reach to shift gears in the wrong place before
you finally get it right?
There are some other lines. Babies don't exit the womb with signs on
their forehead that would indicate that they would be more or less likely to
be nipple confused. Also, my patent answer to the medical professional who
says, "there is no such thing as nipple confusion": If my child had a mango
allergy and your's did not, would you tell me that there is no such thing as
a mango allergy?
In a message dated 8/20/00 1:31:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<<
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2000 07:04:00 +0200
From: Esther <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Unexplained irony.......
Have you noticed that the moms who least want to breastfeed, but due to
circumstances are forced to, are the ones who have the least problems.
Back to work on thursday after sick leave to find that many babies had
been given bottles due to "perceived lack of milk by night nurse"
syndrome. Terrible latch problems with tongue thrust or refusal to
latch even after one bottle. Low milk supply due to lack of
stimulation.
In waltzes a mom who tells me that "they" say that she has to
breastfeed. She is day 3 pp, and never intended to breastfeed, however
her baby regurgitated every artificial milk he drank and has lost too
much weight. After struggling with all the other bottled babies, I have
my doubts and prepare the mom that her baby may not latch right away (
if at all). We put him in clutch position, squeeze a little milk out of
her breast ( which spurts milk across the room even though she has not
breastfed even once in the last 3 days ( Peter Hartmann please explain
that) and within 5 seconds he is latched and happily gulping with VERY
audible swallows.
Survival instinct?
Why would this mom have no problems, and so many others who have dreamt
about breastfeeding all their lives have terrible latch problems and
supply problems after just one bottle?
Are the other moms too over-motivated therefore projecting this to
baby? Help me on this one!! So much for all my theories!! Help, wise
ones!! Jean, BWC, Pat.....anyone? >>
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