I just had a nice couple come by to see me yesterday with their 2 week old baby.  They again demonstrated the importance of support groups, timed, frequent contacts or some other way to help mothers continue to breastfeed.

 

YES - we have the "second day" feeding frenzies - usually also the day goes home after a vaginal birth in the US - 

There are some great resources for parents that address this: 

                <http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/second-night.html> http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/second-night.html  - Jan Riordan’s handout – which is great

                <http://www.secretsofbabybehavior.com/2011/02/baby-science-first-72-hours.html> http://www.secretsofbabybehavior.com/2011/02/baby-science-first-72-hours.html - giving moms a good perspective on what is “normal”

               As well as the new 8th edition of the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding – this is SO GREAT when a mom has it and calls, because I can refer her to the particular pages of HER baby – but also point out that it will “walk with her” as her baby gets older…

 

Then we have the changes in the second week – mom’s worried that she’s “feeding too often” that “baby will never sleep” that “I can’t keep this up” and at the same time, baby is eating MORE often and longer – and her engorgement is gone (so she believes her milk is gone) and she starts with the pacifier

 

THEN we have the second month – she’s started work (in the US it’s 6 weeks unless there’s a c/s or other medical issue)….

 

My point is, we can’t prepare mom for all these changes – either prenatally or in the short time in the hospital.  AND the misinformation from family, friends, co-workers and the media (books, magazines, the internet) is rampant and conflicting.  

 

This couple came just because the baby was not latching on the right side “well” – I did NOTHING other than put her in my recliner and NOT use positioning instructions, pillows, etc.  She latched on perfectly!  However, the OTHER “nothing” I did was sit with the couple and talk to them while baby nursed….and nursed….and nursed….and nursed – taking pauses, then going back to feeding.  

 

Near the end of the visit, they asked me about pacifiers – so I gave them the “AAP recommendation at 1 month or when breastfeeding is well established” and then MY precautions about avoiding pacifiers INSTEAD of feeding.  That’s when DAD pointed out – that usually they would have assumed the baby was “done” at the end of one or two of the pauses – and would have removed her – then put a pacifier in her mouth…

 

…Moms and dads need people that will BE THERE and LISTEN and encourage them to figure out what needs to be “fixed” rather than a bunch or “thou shall” checklists (even though they THINK that’s what they want!).  

 

Again I repeat – moms and dads need sources of good websites – but they also need a person or group that will help them work out THEIR OWN solutions…

 

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC

Vacaville, California, USA

 

 

 

 

 


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