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Subject:
From:
Winnie Mading <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 20 Dec 2004 10:23:26 -0600
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I have pondered on this many times.  I feel there are several aspects to it.

 

1-Nursing a baby is a new sensation for the mom.  It is even different from
nipple play during lovemaking.  Some perceive this as "pain" especially if
they have heard so many times that nursing is painful.  One person's pain
may be another's "weird" sensation, "annoying" feeling etc.  Some are
surprised at the strength of baby's suckling, especially initially.  Once
this "newness" is past, nursing is quite comfortable when baby is on
effectively.

 

2-Is it influenced by our culture, not just in making moms expect pain, but
in how we treat our breasts.  Perhaps we are intended, anthropologically to
expose our nipples to the elements.  In many "primitive" societies,
breasts/nipples have been exposed to sun, wind, etc.  Is there some
"toughening" occurring with this which most modern women don't get?

 

It is important when assessing breastfeeding to go beyond "Does it hurt?" or
"How does it feel?" When a mom says "It's OK." She may be saying that it
isn't worse than she was led to expect or no worse than her last one where
she may have actually had nipple damage.  If she indicates some discomfort,
we need to get more description before assuming it is either normal or a
sign of need to improve the latch.  There is a big difference between, "It
feels like knives stabbing into my breast the entire time." and "The first
few sucks feel like a strong tug, then it's fine for all the rest of the
feeding."  How the nipples feel is an important assessment, but just one
piece of the picture.

 

winnie  


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