Valerie wrote:
>Engorgement is not normal.  It is related to either
>hospital policies and practices that separate mother and baby or to the
>mother's lack of knowledge of breastfeeding.

Respectfully, I cannot believe this is always true.

Anecdotally... I had a standard pit and epidural birth with my first child.
 not for lack of trying otherwise... but that's how it ended up.  We were
never separated.  We left a few hours later.  Unfortunately I let him sleep
too much and in that case I didn't know enough about nursing.  I ended up
with pathological engorgement (which until I started researching in
anticipation of my second child's birth I thought was normal) that swelled
my breasts so bad the nipples (normally quite perky according to my husband
;-) were indistinguishable.  Giant shiny balloons.  I seriously thought
they might burst.  This was only compounded by it being friday, and me
unable to find a pump until monday morning (I was waiting outside the door
as the shop opened).  Everyone I called just said it was normal and to
'keep trying to get him latched on'.

Baby two I was nervous about the engorgement.  I was assured a natural
birth and nursing on demand with a wide awake baby would cure that.  I
certainly wouldn't need a pump, that might cause more problems (so I let my
husband and IBCLC convince me).

After a completely natural no intervention gorgeous birth that I wish could
have been on a "Baby Story", she was born to nurse.  We never were
separated.  She nursed hourly and slept on my body.  Girl corrected herself
when she mislatched.  Every LC's dream baby to come check on.  She's had a
whole 4-5 bottles in her 4.5 months, all after week 4.  The engorgement was
not as bad... she was eating well, only lost 4 oz off her 7 lb 11 oz frame.
 but when I still couldn't wear a simple t-shirt by day 10 I decided heck
with their disapproval and went and got a lactina.  I only removed enough
to relieve pain and to soften, I used it three times in one week and
returned it.

Next time, anyone who tries to keep me from having a pump in the house
beforehand so I don't have to leave post partum will get an earful.....

-Wendey (studying LC in Montreal, almost Nourri Source Counselor)

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