Can people give me some for instances of past negative
>experience (NOT INCLUDING traumatic birth, which is understood).
>Thanks all, Judy Knopf
>
Hi, Judy,

By "past negative experiences", I mean babies' heads being pushed into
breast so they cannot breathe.  I have seen babies really react to this
situation and push themselves back from breast.

When I show Moms how to bring babies to breast with head extended
sufficiently to allow wide gaping of jaw, nose is always free.  But Moms
frequently say that they've been doing exactly the opposite and pushing
head forward - because that's what they thought they were supposed to do!.  An
infant's airway is a more basic need than food and
they will not put themselves in a situation which on previous occasions has
threatened their oxygen supply.  Babies certainly seem to remember from
one experience.

Handling a baby roughly when bringing to breast could also be a negative
experience. I've had mothers relate stories of their babies being
harshly spoken to and handled roughly when the nurse felt the babies were
being "stubborn"!

--
******Joan M. Fisher, RN, BN, MEd, IBCLC******
***********Ottawa, Ontario, Canada************
          [log in to unmask]