I really liked how this article framed the language we use when talking
about breastfeeding. I too work with a lot of mothers who don't end up
breastfeeding for long and thought I might try throwing in the thought that
"every breastfeed makes a difference" so maybe they would get the idea that
they can try for "just one more day" over and over again ...

http://www.acornpack.com/content/language-breastfeeding-debate


Ginger Chun, LLLL, IBCLC
*Postpartum Doula, Breastfeeding Educator, Infant Massage Instructor*
www.thenurturedcenter.com
*Accredited Breastfeeding Counselor*, La Leche League USA

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in
harmony* -- Mahatma Gandhi*



On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 3:16 AM, Henya Kazatchkov <[log in to unmask]
> wrote:

> My seventh baby weaned herself last week. It was a slow, gentle and gradual
> prosses. Definitely baby-led, but Mom-encouraged. She is 20 months old.
> When I read the original post it got me thinking about my oldest.
> He was our first. After a very traumatic birth. We had no help from
> parents, were "afraid to brake the baby" and semi-comatose from sleep
> deprivation. He was allergic to dairy. It took us months to figure it out.
> He never slept lying down, only in our hands, while we walked. We were
> extremely poor. I had a whopping postpartum depression and was feeling
> suasidal. Nursing was Hell! My nipples were bloody, the baby had nipple
> confusion (yes, from just one bottle given to him in the hospital nursery
> without my consent),  The pediatrician was a lot less than supportive. At
> some point I ended up nursing by placing the baby on the bed, then standing
> over him on all fours.
> My aunts told me it is supposed to be like that.
> My Mom told me it was nothing, I bit of half of her nipple and she did not
> complain.
> Every morning I told my husband that this is the last day I am nursing.
> Only until evening. Every evening I decided that I can make it to morning.
> This went on for three months.
> Then my friend took me to the LC. It changed all. I nursed my son for more
> than year.
> Why am I writing it? Because if someone told me then, what does another day
> matter? I would have probably given up.
> And very possibly all of my kids would have been bottle-fed.
> I am now supporting a pregnant friend. She has 9 kids. The first one as a
> married 16 year-old. A "kindly" nurse told her not to bother with
> breastfeeding, becouse "it will be too much for you". All of her kids were
> bottle fed. But she is hoping to start nursing this one. And our mantra is
> - "I will try it for a few days".
> --
> Henya
> Migdal HaEmek, Israel
>
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>
> On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 8:10 AM, Karen Gromada <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi Lisa ~
> >
> > We humans are a strange species! It doth boggle the mind that someone,
> > perhaps an educated someone, could think that unnecessarily depriving the
> > infant gut/other systems of the higher levels of sIgA and other
> > immunoglobulins, lyzozyme, lactoferrin, growth factors, anti-inflammatory
> > properties, etc. in colostrum may ever be appropriate! Further, the mind
> > boggles that anyone would suggest it appropriate to deprive the mother of
> > the benefit of the uterine contractions inherent in effective
> breastfeeding
> > during the immediate postpartum when most at risk for hemorrhage. And to
> > deprive both of the opportunity to share the closeness resulting in
> release
> > of bonding-enhancing oxytocin and beta-endorphins is beyond absurd. And
> all
> > because of a some theoretical risk that does not appear to be evidence
> > based - an issue that might be just as likely, if not more so - to occur
> > without some milk removal?
> >
> > Re: the person who brought this to your attention -- did that person
> > provide research evidence that the action of some breastfeeding has been
> > found to result in severe engorgement (in mothers who plan only a few
> days
> > to weeks of breastfeeding)? Or, even if it could be provided, is it
> > ethically appropriate to ask you and your colleagues to fail to provide
> > info so a mother can make an informed choice re: role of colostrum and
> some
> > early breastfeeding for both newborn and mother, especially when
> discussing
> > a theoretical risk for some issue that may be just as likely to occur
> > anyway! (And is an issue that can be and is dealt with?) When weighing
> the
> > benefits vs. risks for newborn and mother, it seems a no-brainer!
> >
> > Hope you keep us posted on how this plays out...
> >
> > K
> >
> >
> > > Date:    Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:35:01 -0500
> > > From:    Lisa Paul <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Subject: Re: short term breastfeeding
> > >
> > >
> > > Thank you for the replies I have received so far.
> > >
> > > For some clarification, the issue of short term breastfeeding is not
> for
> > > medical reasons, or problems with breastfeeding.  It is purely for the
> > > purpose of feeding colostrum to the baby and for a mom to "try"
> > > breastfeeding.  I work with a low-income rural population and only 15%
> of
> > > our moms breastfeed for more than a month.  For many of our moms, long
> > term
> > > breastfeeding is not part of their goals, but they may be willing to
> give
> > > it a go for 3 days - 2 weeks, supplementing with bottles all the way.
> > >
> > >
> > > It has been brought to my attention that perhaps this is not a
> > > beneficial teaching, and may be causing other issues postpartum, like
> > > increased engorgement.  As I researched, I wondered if short term
> > > breastfeeding would be a *solution* to postpartum engorgement in women
> > with
> > > no goals for breastfeeding.  Is there a place in our prenatal education
> > for
> > > 3 days to 2 weeks of breastfeeding?=20=20
> > >
> > > I liked Pat's story about the doctor who insisted moms breastfeed in
> the
> > > hospital.  I wonder how she advised them to wean.  So many of the moms
> I
> > > work with have a hard time getting milk established, it is hard for me
> > > to imagine that short term breastfeeding would be difficult to stop!
> > >
> > >
> > > Again thank you for your input.
> > > Lisa Paul, ICCE
> > > Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
> > >
> > >             ***********************************************
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Karen Gromada
> > www.karengromada.com/
> >
> >             ***********************************************
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