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Fri, 4 Nov 2005 12:51:06 -0500 |
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More observations about moms who "pump abuse". I am currently a
breastfeeding counselor in a group that visits mothers in the hospital
before discharge. Invariably they all ask either in the hospital or during
the first follow-up phone call (no later that three days old or the day
the after the baby comes home)when they can start pumping. Sometimes they
even bring up to me that they are concerned that at day 3 or 4 they can't
pump out any milk yet! Their concerns are 1. stockpiling milk for return
to work 2. how soon father or grandma can give the baby a bottle. Even
mothers who are planning to stay home for six months or longer have an
anxiety about pumping and storing up milk. It seems as though one message
has gotten through loud and clear "breastmilk is best". But the other part
of breastfeeding--the at-breast nurturing and bonding--is not as well
embraced. With all of the cultural discomfort western women have about
their breasts and breastfeeing (not to mention years of child behavior
experts warning against "spoiling" by physically catering to a baby's
every supposed whim*) it seems to be a very attractive option to just pump
and give the milk in bottles. Mom then feels good that her baby
is "getting the best", but her personal level of involvement is kept at
arms length since giving a bottle involves less interaction. (This is a
good solution, however, for abuse survivors who want their baby to have
their milk but just cannot handle the physical demands of breastfeeding. A
topic for another time!) The other aspect is that we as a culture are
gadget-happy. Every mom puts the Pump-in-Style on her baby gift wish list.
Owning an expensive pump seems to be a growing norm. Most of the popular
baby books mothers recommend have checklists of items to buy before baby
is born and breastpump is on the list.
*this is not by any means my personal view, but after the pumping question
comes the inevitable "if I feed on demand and hold him all the time, won't
he get spoiled?" query.
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