Hi Everybody:
   On March 24, someone posted about something about new mothers saying they
weren't prepared for the realities of breastfeeding. While I teach about
breastfeeding and babies in every childbirth class, we have to remember that
everything in a childbirth class is important, and that most people I work
with are coming to learn mainly about labor and delivery.
    How in the world can we prepare women, many of whom have never seen
newborns, for the realities of life with a newborn? That is such a challenge.
When most women only see babies strapped into plastic trays with pacifiers
plugging their mouths, being lugged around by a very hard-working mother whose
elbow is being bent at the wrong angle by the baby's carrying tray, they have
not a clue about real life with a newborn. Forget about the breastfeeding
stuff for a moment.....take a mother ignorant of babies, batter her with
technology at birth, send her home too soon,  isolate her, and deny her  long
term help. That in itself is a nightmare. Then add breastfeeding to the
scenario = recipe for disaster!
      I bet just as many bottle feeding mothers have rough times (probably
more, because their babies are reacting to the breastmilk substitutes), but
they don't have a forum to complain. And we don't ask.
      Childbirth classes are always too short, usually given at the worst
times for learning, and conducted by passionate advocates who have too many
important things to say. Our culture  (here in the USA) is trying to condense
the wisdom of a lifetime spent in a village into a 6-8 week series. There is
just no way to do enough; we all do the very best that we can. I love hearing
how other people select tidbits to give classes; it seems like putting out an
enormous buffet and praying people will taste everything.  I guess I am
ranting...sorry. Warmly, Nikki