-- [ From: Phyllis Kombol * EMC.Ver #2.5.1 ] --

Another story about less than stellar reasons to start: We'd be married
almost 10 years and trying awhile  to have a baby when I got "fed up
with" all the extra pounds from college and masters program (parent-
child  nursing, emphasis on infant health, no less), and decided to go
to weight watchers.  Got to my goal wt. (proud of all my hard work),
started working for the company as receptionist and then leader... and
discovered I was pregnant (!).  I was annoyed at "friends" who laughed
and said "Oh, now you'll just put back on all that weight" and I was
determined not to.  Followed the ww pregnancy/nursing plan (mostly, it
was a little overly generous), and gained 35 lbs, had baby and let him
eat the extra lbs so I was back to goal wt by 6 mos.  He nursed till
about 11 mos, then got too interested in other things and I was "ready"
to let him wean, following the usual wean by a year routines.  I was a
baby nurse for many years, indoctrinated in hospital/formula routines
and bf as a choice but bottle is fine philosophy but also over the years
had become more well educated in all the scientific stuff about
breastfeeding and had even gone to a local 2-day course taught by 2
IBCLCs so I knew a heck of a lot more than most nurses.  Second baby
came along soon (only had one period between #1 and pregnant again) and
by then I nursed because I loved getting to eat all that extra food but
also because (being basically lazy) I then knew it was alot easier and
better sleep at night (we'd figured out a sort of family bed by then,
too).  She nursed 8 mos, then I thought weaned herself.  In retrospect,
I believe it was nursing strike from pain of fluid in ears, as I's
allowed her to have formula 3-4 days during a separation @ 4 mos. and
now know she has mild milk intolerance that began a pattern of ear
infections from then on.

In retrospect, I knew a lot, but still not much...still the same today
because the more I learn, the more I realize how little I knew/know.
Sometimes I share the wt. loss thing with moms, just to letthem know, we
all start for our own reasons, then continue because it works so well
and is so right for mom & baby both!  I also keep trying to use my own
personal history as a breastfeeding helpful MSN who was still pretty
uneducated to influence my current employer who still wants in-hospital
LCs to be IBCLC AND RN, but I keep arguing that IBCLC is the only
credential needed to be LC.  In the latest disc. on the topic, when the
statement was made that they'd want someone w/ my credentials, I
suggested that even w/ MSN-infant health I was prone to give out much
less than appropriate bf management advice...perhaps knowledgeable
consumers would rather have IBCLC who is NOT RN since we-all medical
professionals have such a long history of giving BAD advice. (sigh)--
Phyl, RN, MSN, mom,  AND IBCLC  (and ww lifetime member still/again @
goal)  :-)