Jessica,
I hate those cases! I want to cry with the moms! Sadly, I see them too
often. Sometimes for the moms' natural breast structure, but more often for
surgical reasons.
I tell them the truth, breastfeeding is best, and the milk is only part of
it. I explain that in the ideal world they could go to the local milk bank
and collect the baby's nutritional needs there, but since we don't have that
option, formula it is. Yes, they are right, it is not the best choice, but for
now it is just our most available choice. Then we talk about SNS/LactAid
use, bottle feeding like a breastfeeding mom to maintain the heart of
breastfeeding even if unable to maintain the milk itself. And we talk about nursing
because nursing matters even if the milk is not flowing. We talk about even a
little milk is good, and I listen to them. I talk about the difference
between guilt and grief, the right to mourn the loss of the breastfeeding they
expected, etc.
It breaks my heart. And, I always seem to see one of these moms about the
same time I am listening to a mom tell me how much of a bother it is to
breastfeed, how the baby sleeps so much longer on formula, how much easier it is
for her and why she wants to wean her 2 week old! Life is so unfair.
Take care,
Pam MazzellaDiBosco, IBCLC, RLC
FL, USA
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