Rob-
Breastfeeding a new baby can indeed take up a lot of one's time, but it does
not entirely exclude everything else.  I found it quite possible to nurse the
baby at the same time as reading a story to my older child, or playing a
verbal game with her, or watching Sesame Street and talking about it, etc.
Using a sling makes baby mobile, and lest some say that is not paying enough
attention to feeding-it does seem to work for the rest of the world, and
certainly is better than propping bottles, which I see in very young babies
all too often.  The issue is often that mother does not want to
breastfeed/does not want that much closeness/dependency.  I find it
distressing how often my clients don't have a realistic idea of what mothering
an infant really entails.  I have asked some of the physicians I work with to
remind mothers that this is a rather demanding time in their lives, but it is
short, and it IS worthwhile-they are nurturing their children.  We sometimes
forget that this is what parents are supposed to do.
Denise Mollenkopf, RNC, IBCLC
Florida-sunny, windy, and a bit chilly this evening-isn't El Nino strange?