Kathy D and others,

This is exactly the point that I try to make to moms who say that they want
daddy to help or someone else to feed the baby to help them out:

> "once you start using formula, your breasts make less milk.  Therefore, if
> you
> want to keep up your supply, you'll have to remove the milk yourself.  Ergo,
> it makes more sense just to nurse the baby, because it isn't worth the
> hassle if you have to pump every time you use a bottle"

       The whole point I tell moms is that if you have to go through the
hassle of pumping everytime someone else "helps"  by feeding your baby, is it
really a help??? It is a lot easier and more enjoyable to feed the baby than
to be connected with a machine while someone else is enjoying YOUR baby!!
(esp at 3 AM). Moms seem to get the point. When they say that they want daddy
"involved" in the baby, I look dad in the eye and say, "If you do not feel
involved, then you are not doing enough to help"!!! Then, I suggest that
daddy takes over the task of giving the bath. Mommy's job is to feed, and
dad's job is to bathe; neither is allowed to interfere with the other (even
if mom does not like the way daddy does the bath, it is his realm). If dad
really wants to bond with the baby, and help out the mom, this is a perfect
opportunity. Some actually take me up on this idea, tho not enough.
Kathy Rubin in NJ
IBCLC, RN, BC (Maternal/Infant), APN, C (Family Nurse Practitioner)
PhD student hopng to study lactation issues someday

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