You ask:
"How can breastfeeding work if a baby is swaddled 12-24 hours a day? How
can healthy relationship be built if a baby is restrained?"
I am a trained, experienced, sold out breastfeeding
supporter/advocate/professional. When my last baby was born (after a
beautiful, home waterbirth (which needed some oxygen to mom and baby as a
minor intervention - full disclosure), never separated from mama, all the
help in the world and he by week two clearly had reflux symptoms including
crying after breastfeeding, I could finally understand why mothers want to
give up and feel rejected when something that is supposed to be wonderful
was making mom and baby cry. I did not ever consider giving up; it is not an
option for me. I did however wonder how long I could survive without being a
basketcase.
My baby was initially swaddled and in the side /stomach position all but a
few hours a day. I didn't keep track but if he was not nursing, he was
probably swaddled. He was my first child that I could not sleep with. He
could not do it. He only slept if swaddled tightly, on an incline (or in the
Amby). It broke my heart. I had always slept with baby in the crook of my
arm and nursing.
He has grown out of that and now at almost 8 months, sleeps with us like my
others did, nurses happily at night and can be parented like my other two.
The sling alone, my arms alone, skin to skin alone, medication alone, none
of it worked without the swaddled, side position and swinging (I got carpel
tunnel) combo. The rest of it (shsh ing , sucking was not used 24/7), was
used when necessary.
So, yes, 20 hours excessive BUT it is possible. And my baby still gained and
had output despite an undiagnosed significant posterior tongue tie.
This is purely anecdotal, so take it for what it's worth. Also, I have not
really known anyone else to use it as much as I had to. We still connected
and bonded and he is quite a fun baby. As a matter of fact he has been
sitting up, crawling and cruising earlier and more than my first two
children. He is almost walking at not quite 8 months.
Also notice on page 120 he says: Many calm babies do well with no swaddling
at all. While this is something that works with every baby (I have yet to
see one it doesn't work with), it is not NECESSARY for every baby. If your
baby does not need it, you wouldn't use it. You can't calm an already calm,
happy baby!
Micky
www.mochamilk.blogspot.com
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