In a message dated 1/2/01 9:02:35 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< The baby gets bottle fed, finger
fed, cup fed or whatever and then the baby won't latch on. After struggling,
(I have read horror stories about days and hours of struggling), the moms
figure it isn't worth trying anymore and think I can "at least give milk out
of the bottle." So they continue to pump. It may not even dawn on them to
keep trying to gentle the baby back to breast."
Marie,
I agree with what you've written on this whole epidemic; I see it all the
time and it's discouraging. Just got a call tonight from mom with 3 day old.
already pumping and bottle feeding because baby won't latch (given bottles in
hosp) and said she fust wants to get breastmilk into her baby, it doesn't
matter how. We'll discuss this more at home visit tomorrow, but this
reasoning is pervasive; especially when moms stop trying to put baby to
breast because I think they, the moms, get hooked on bottle feeding and don't
think baby could possibly latch on now.
I always tell them what I've seen happen, babies latch on after weeks of
alternative feeding (even bottles) because they were consistently offered the
breast, even if just for comfort or skin contact. I then point out that one
never knows which day/week baby will "get it" but most do and if a mom gives
up too soon it could be the the next day or even the next feed when baby
would've latched. This helps keep some moms going (along with tons of
support and empathy for their hard work) but others can't hear it which of
course is so frustrating.
But the pumping issue is out of hand, IMHO, and please don't get me started
on the kind of pumps moms have and absolutely refuse (many, not all) to rent
a more efficient one and then end up with low supply, etc. I just was
thinking earlier before I read your post that moms need a good
article-perhaps I'll write it- on pumps, who needs one, when to get, under
what circumstances to make sure it's a hospital grade and not a single
electric or single set up, etc, etc.
Sorry to rant but Marie's post hit a nerve, especially tonight. Thanks to all
for listening.
Barbara Latterner
Brewster, NY
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