----- Original Message -----
From: "Dr. Leeper" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 5:05 AM
Subject: [LACTNET] Care plan after long-term low supply due to infrequent
removal
**Hi Kathy,
> I sometimes tell this inspirational story to moms...because I really
> cannot
> explain it physiologically. Why didn't she involute after 3 months of
> stasis???? I believe it must have been "mind over matter". She KNEW she
> could make milk.
**This is my point: mind is just SO important! Have a mom now, that I saw
almost two weeks ago. Much had gone wrong in their first two weeks and she
was crying when she was visited at home by my collegue-volunteer and with me
in my practice as well. I gave her a clear view of several possibilities,
drew up some kind of policy with her to get a sort of new start and said
that if it wouldn't be enough, she could supplement with ABM as a temporary
solution whilst working towards full supply/production. Few days later, mom,
dad and daughter were here all three and it was about the same story, still.
Baby sound asleep, so no chance to practice latching. Stressed the
importance of feeding the baby, so dad goes to the hospital pharmacy for ABM
and gets handed a weaning schedule as well... grrr! :-(
Mom phoned me yesterday, one and a half week after their last visit with me
and has two questions: how to get her daughter to the breast and how to
wean?
You see... when it comes to mindset, this is just simply NOT gonna work. In
line with my ad-analysis: BUT is a word that turns the meaning around, so
saying "Yes, I want to breastfeed, BUT..." in fact means "I don't want to
breastfeed"... "Yes, I want to breastfeed, so tell me what it takes to
achieve that and make me a do-able plan, because I'm tired and can't go on
like this" is a whole different cup of tea. Again, I explained a lot, but
also said that it is important to first make a decision as to what the
wishes are. Dad is not very supportive, so I fear a bottleneck there...
So although I still wonder about the receptor theory as to when no more
receptors are laid down, I still think you can guarantee one thing with low
supply: with a bad policy, you won't get it up and you're heading for early
weaning. With a good, knowledgeable plan, noone can promise you success, but
it is the only way to make sure that you know you've done all that can be
done. It's a mom's right *not* to do what needs to be done, but then be
frank and admit you're not willing to do it. It's the "Yes, but" again:
"Yes, I want to be a world champion in X, BUT I don't want to Y"... well, so
you *don't* want to be a world champion. That's fine, but then don't tell
your neighbour you wanted to breastfeed but couldn't despite the fact that
you did everything. I always come up with many analogies to illustrate
things and to encourage patience towards learning the proces as a dyad, and
even though that gives an "aha"-feeling on a regular basis, translating it
into personal behavior seems to be very difficult for many parents. What is
it, in our society, that makes investing and surrendering with heart and
body and soul so difficult...? Am I being naively and weirdly passionate,
showing lion mom's behavior? ;o)
Warmly,
Marianne Vanderveen, Netherlands
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