In a message dated 10/2/2005 12:06:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
So they need to arch and scream and flail around, and they need their mother
to listen to those emotions and talk soothingly and stroke them and continue
talking in a reassuring voice. And maybe cry with the baby, because she
probably has some feelings about the birth too! Often the mothers either
want to stop the crying (with a bottle or soother or vigorous rocking) or
they feel rejected and give the baby to someone else or put him down in a
crib (and comment that he stops crying when he's in the crib). But if she
can be there for him through these intense emotions, often the baby
eventually calms down and is then ready to nurse (some will calm down, nap,
and wake up again ready to nurse).
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Dear Friends:
Teresa writes about babies needing to express their feelings and I have
observed this also. I have observed it enough that I have identified a
pattern, a triad of cathartic behaviors: when baby is put s2s, baby starts some
self-attachment activity, then has an emotional release, then rests. This cycle
can repeat for as many as 5 times; this is the most that I have observed so
far.
This baby went into overwhelm mode. There was no pattern of cathartic
triad cycles. He completely freaked out. I encouraged the mother to listen to
his story, we used soft gentle tones and murmurs with him, we were patient and
supportive and truly listening. His cries escalated, he got mottled and red,
there was no rest period....after about 15 minutes, we stopped.
Perhaps, as you say Teresa, this boy had a lot to say and a lot of
emotion to release. However, I have been working with babies having
somatoemotional release for a long time, bolstered by my training in craniosacral therapy,
and this boy acted totally different to any I have seen before. The mother
started out gallantly, willing to listen to his story, but it became too much
for her. The baby never got to that point of the release "breaking" (like a
fever breaks) and I didn't see the point of continuing..............
However, I can see the wisdom of what you say, Teresa and thanks for a
thoughtful response.
warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE
Maternal-Child Adjunct Faculty Union Institute and University
Film Reviews Editor, Journal of Human Lactation
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com
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