I appreciate Pat's post on breastfeeding with fibromyalgia and agree with
everything she had to say about it! I think it is very sad that any mother
should be told that breastfeeding would be too difficult for her because she
has FMS. Besides the fact that it isn't true, for a mom who really wants to
breastfeed, it would be another case of having one's life dictated by a
chronic illness, which can be, emotionally, pretty tought to take.
I raised six adopted babies, with FMS. The first two, who are now 21 and
18, were only nursed part time for comfort, and bottlefed most of the time.
The last four were breastfed until they chose to wean, between 20 months and
four and a half years old. I used the Lact-Aid to provide what they needed
in addition to my milk. However, I bottlefed my fourth child, from the time
I got her, at six months old, until I finally figured out how to teach her
to take my breast, so I have ample experience with bottlefeeding, too.
Even though I had to worry about mixing formula and washing and filling
Lact-Aids, much of the time I was breastfeeding, I felt that it was more
practical for me, considering the FMS, than bottlefeeding. Holding onto a
bottle doesn't take much strength, but any static muscle use tends to be
much more taxing for someone with FMS, than something that take more
strength, but for a brief period of time. One of the biggest differences,
though, as far as how the choice of feeding affects a mom with FMS,
physically, is the baby's health. Worrying about a sick baby and being up
at night walking the floors is about the last thing someone with FMS needs!
Even though the kids I nursed long-term were usually getting a significant
amount of formula, along with breast milk, their health was much more like a
totally breastfed baby than a totally formula fed baby. The worst my FMS
ever was, was while my second child was being totally formula fed. He had
ear infections constantly, and screamed so much that I wouldn't have
believed it, had I not been there. Since I was not able to provide any
breast milk for him, myself, I found a friend who was willing to donate
enough for one small bottle a day, which made a world of difference in
Allan's health, and my FMS.
I especially found breastfeeding convenient when my fifth and sixth kids,
Joseph and Joanna, were small. By that time, it was really hard to find
time to rest. However, I learned to get both little ones in my recliner
with me, get the younger of the two latched on, and have all three of us
take a nap that way. After Joseph stopped nursing, about 3 months after
Joanna was born, he continued to cuddle up with us while she nursed, with
his little hand in my shirt. Now that they are 9 and 11, they still talk
about that time we spent, and occasionally try to sit in my recliner, like
we used to, although it is a pretty tight squeeze!
I am rambling, but there is still some connection with the FMS. I would
sure hate to have had to miss out on all of that, because someone thought
bottlefeeding would be easier for me. As time has passed, I have had to
miss out on more and more activities with my children, because of FMS. That
has made the time we had together nursing even more special. Another
concern, for any mom whose doctor tells her that breastfeeding would be too
difficult for her, is that, even if she chose to go against that advice, she
would not get the kind of support she needed from her doctor, and maybe
others around her, too. Perhaps the posts from our discussion here would be
helpful to such a mother.
Best Wishes,
Darillyn
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