Dear Friends:
    Frank Nice posted an abstract about women's surprise at the difficulties 
they encounter with breastfeeding. 
    Does anyone remember the "Giving You the Best that I got, Baby" video 
from Maryland WIC? There is a section in there entitled "Expect some difficulty" 
that was put in as a response to what women said in focus groups. I remember 
at first being shocked, but now I feel differently.
    Breastfeeding IS difficult for many; the cesarean section rate is 30.2% 
now in the US; inductions account for 25% of prematurity. Technology is 
routine; women that actually go into labor on their own and aren't given any 
synthetic oxytocics are so rare nowadays. Most women don't even see breastfeeding, 
much less handle a new baby before they have their own. Industry and the 
healthcare system are plying women with undermining messages that reinforce the norm 
of artificial feeding. None of this makes it easy for the new mother starting a 
new relationship.
    So why the surprise that the beginning of breastfeeding is quite a 
challenge? 
    I'd love a campaign that says "Doing anything new is difficult at the 
beginning, like riding a bicycle or making bread. The end result is worth it, for 
you and for your baby. There are things you can do to make the learning curve 
more gentle. Please find a breastfeeding buddy to help you through this new 
time."
    Consider this analogy. How many of us have fallen in love and moved in 
with a dear partner? And then, what about that first year? "Oh it was perfect. 
We never disagreed. We were in perfect harmony the whole time. We always got 
along splendidly. Our lives together that first year were completely smooth 
sailing and easy.".........NOT!! (tongue drilling hole through cheek here.) 
    What gets us through that intense first year? A girlfriend or female 
relative who listens, says "Yes, living with a lover can be really difficult", and 
suggests hanging in there and learning to adapt.
    I just thought that what REALLY gets us through that first year is the 
megadoses of oxytocin that come with the wonderful novelty of lots of hot 
sex.....
    warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI
_http://www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com/_ 
(http://www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com/) 
www.myspace/AdonicaLee



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
Mail all commands to [log in to unmask]
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask])
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask])
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]