My seventh baby weaned herself last week. It was a slow, gentle and gradual
prosses. Definitely baby-led, but Mom-encouraged. She is 20 months old.
When I read the original post it got me thinking about my oldest.
He was our first. After a very traumatic birth. We had no help from
parents, were "afraid to brake the baby" and semi-comatose from sleep
deprivation. He was allergic to dairy. It took us months to figure it out.
He never slept lying down, only in our hands, while we walked. We were
extremely poor. I had a whopping postpartum depression and was feeling
suasidal. Nursing was Hell! My nipples were bloody, the baby had nipple
confusion (yes, from just one bottle given to him in the hospital nursery
without my consent),  The pediatrician was a lot less than supportive. At
some point I ended up nursing by placing the baby on the bed, then standing
over him on all fours.
My aunts told me it is supposed to be like that.
My Mom told me it was nothing, I bit of half of her nipple and she did not
complain.
Every morning I told my husband that this is the last day I am nursing.
Only until evening. Every evening I decided that I can make it to morning.
This went on for three months.
Then my friend took me to the LC. It changed all. I nursed my son for more
than year.
Why am I writing it? Because if someone told me then, what does another day
matter? I would have probably given up.
And very possibly all of my kids would have been bottle-fed.
I am now supporting a pregnant friend. She has 9 kids. The first one as a
married 16 year-old. A "kindly" nurse told her not to bother with
breastfeeding, becouse "it will be too much for you". All of her kids were
bottle fed. But she is hoping to start nursing this one. And our mantra is
- "I will try it for a few days".
-- 
Henya
Migdal HaEmek, Israel

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On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 8:10 AM, Karen Gromada <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hi Lisa ~
>
> We humans are a strange species! It doth boggle the mind that someone,
> perhaps an educated someone, could think that unnecessarily depriving the
> infant gut/other systems of the higher levels of sIgA and other
> immunoglobulins, lyzozyme, lactoferrin, growth factors, anti-inflammatory
> properties, etc. in colostrum may ever be appropriate! Further, the mind
> boggles that anyone would suggest it appropriate to deprive the mother of
> the benefit of the uterine contractions inherent in effective breastfeeding
> during the immediate postpartum when most at risk for hemorrhage. And to
> deprive both of the opportunity to share the closeness resulting in release
> of bonding-enhancing oxytocin and beta-endorphins is beyond absurd. And all
> because of a some theoretical risk that does not appear to be evidence
> based - an issue that might be just as likely, if not more so - to occur
> without some milk removal?
>
> Re: the person who brought this to your attention -- did that person
> provide research evidence that the action of some breastfeeding has been
> found to result in severe engorgement (in mothers who plan only a few days
> to weeks of breastfeeding)? Or, even if it could be provided, is it
> ethically appropriate to ask you and your colleagues to fail to provide
> info so a mother can make an informed choice re: role of colostrum and some
> early breastfeeding for both newborn and mother, especially when discussing
> a theoretical risk for some issue that may be just as likely to occur
> anyway! (And is an issue that can be and is dealt with?) When weighing the
> benefits vs. risks for newborn and mother, it seems a no-brainer!
>
> Hope you keep us posted on how this plays out...
>
> K
>
>
> > Date:    Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:35:01 -0500
> > From:    Lisa Paul <[log in to unmask]>
> > Subject: Re: short term breastfeeding
> >
> >
> > Thank you for the replies I have received so far.
> >
> > For some clarification, the issue of short term breastfeeding is not for
> > medical reasons, or problems with breastfeeding.  It is purely for the
> > purpose of feeding colostrum to the baby and for a mom to "try"
> > breastfeeding.  I work with a low-income rural population and only 15% of
> > our moms breastfeed for more than a month.  For many of our moms, long
> term
> > breastfeeding is not part of their goals, but they may be willing to give
> > it a go for 3 days - 2 weeks, supplementing with bottles all the way.
> >
> >
> > It has been brought to my attention that perhaps this is not a
> > beneficial teaching, and may be causing other issues postpartum, like
> > increased engorgement.  As I researched, I wondered if short term
> > breastfeeding would be a *solution* to postpartum engorgement in women
> with
> > no goals for breastfeeding.  Is there a place in our prenatal education
> for
> > 3 days to 2 weeks of breastfeeding?=20=20
> >
> > I liked Pat's story about the doctor who insisted moms breastfeed in the
> > hospital.  I wonder how she advised them to wean.  So many of the moms I
> > work with have a hard time getting milk established, it is hard for me
> > to imagine that short term breastfeeding would be difficult to stop!
> >
> >
> > Again thank you for your input.
> > Lisa Paul, ICCE
> > Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
> >
> >             ***********************************************
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Karen Gromada
> www.karengromada.com/
>
>             ***********************************************
>
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