---Women don't trust their bodies to provide milk in those first few days.
Most cannot hand express colostrum, which really surprises me, although I
think they are just not comfortable handling their breasts.  I show them how
to do it, and they usually are filled with relief that something is "there."
Many feel that they "run out" of colostrum, though.  Where does that come
from?  Or they PUMP "just to see if milk is there" and get just drops, and
that convinces them that they have no milk and the baby is starving!
AARGH!!!----

Sometimes a visual is what is needed here.  This is where I find the marble of the "belly balls" most 
usefull.  You teach the hand expression (takes 5 minutes) they see the colostrum (even just the 
drops) and then you show them the the size of the baby's tummy.  One woman actually said- well, 
I can make _that_ much milk- no problem.  And then you talk about how babies do better with 
smaller amounts early (swallowing and breathing as well as tummy size).  

  My favorite hand expression story was the father who was insisting his wife feed formula.  She 
kept telling him in Spanish that her milk was enough.  He kept arguing with her.  Then I taught her 
the hand expression, just to show him the breast was not empty.  A huge, yellow arc of gold came 
out- about a foot onto the bed, not just the drops I usually see.  I was surprised at the amount- 
but he was even more surprised.  The mom took it in stride.  She repeated herself in Spanish- my 
milk is enough.  It was one of those happy moments in a breastfeeding support career:-)

Warmly,

Charity

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