I work with many, many working moms, even in the corporate setting. If the
mom is going back to work before six weeks, we start about 2 weeks before
she returns to work, otherwise, I suggest that when baby is six-eight weeks
old to start introducing bottles. We do it very simply, mom pumps first
thing in the morning, she pours off one ounce and freezes the rest. If she
is returning to work within 2-3 weeks, then she'll have about 14-21 bottles
in the freezer, depending on if she pumps daily, most do as they like to
know there is a stash available. Then dad (or grandma or whoever) feeds the
baby the one ounce by bottle during dad's special time with baby, usually in
the evening. It's pretty hard for the baby not to take one ounce. I
explain that if we ask dad to feed baby a 8 ounce bottle (or a 4 ounce),
that he would try his hardest and both he and the baby would be frustrated.
If dad feeds the baby when the baby ISN'T HUNGARY, after 5-7 days the baby
accepts the bottle, we know he'll accept the bottle, dad feels important (as
well he should!), and everyone is assured that there's no cause to panic. I
explain that a hungry baby isn't very cooperative, so it should be during a
playful time, mom shouldn't be around (take a walk or a bubble bath), and
don't keep changing nipples on the bottle. Usually, if the baby takes a
pacifier, that would be the nipple of choice, otherwise, choose one nipple
and stick with it for the whole week, unless it obviously is the wrong fit
for the baby.
Very rarely do I have a baby to rejects the bottle with this gentle
introduction. I assure mom that babies are so very flexible, that they
adjust to just about everything. Worst case scenario, baby can be started
on an infant cup, not the spill-proof kind, or a spoon, or medicine spoon.
We laugh when we talk about these options, but then mom knows the bottle
isn't her only option. I think only one young baby needed to go to the cup
in the last few years. If the baby is closer to 5-6 months, I encourage the
mom to even think about the cup as the first choice.
Jacie in the Great Southwest!
=========================================================================
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 12:32:58 -0400
Reply-To: Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Sender: Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
From: Gene & Dana Haas <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Mr. Ezzo needs a change of heart
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
I think that our church showed the videos of these people a couple of
years ago and I remember bristling at the BF info. Since I believe that
only God can change a human heart, maybe the best (but not only) thing
that we could do for the bearers of this misinformation is to pray that
God would soften them to the facts. This is serious business in my
opinion.
I know of at least 4 women in my church who have stuck to the scheduled
feeds of 6-10-2-6-10 for all of their children by about 4 weeks of age.
They are not hard and fast in that they don't ignore baby crises or
growth spurts. Maybe they are just doubly blessed or something but all
of their babies have been exclusively breastfed, have thrived to be
pudgy BF babies. I was speaking to one of the women a couple of weeks
ago, and asked her how many times she feeds the baby in a day. The baby
is 6 months old and nurses about 4 times a day and sleeps all night (and
has for a while). Wet and dirty diapers within normal amounts. Baby has
only just started solids a few days ago. No time restrictions are
placed on feeds. Most of the other women's babies have had about the
same "success". They all have at least 3 children. These mothers are
very attentive to their babies. It is puzzling to me and I don't seem to
be able to convince them of the issues because their babies are doing so
well. They never supplement. I would like, someday after I have finished
this degree (BScN), to interview these 4 or so women and find out what
their feeding practices and rationale are, get stats on baby's growth
patterns etc and submit it somewhere.
I too am a devoted Christian and I am disturbed by what people "preach"
claiming to represent God. It was He who created our breast physiology
in the first place.
I also would be interested to know how to access the info re: EZZO
method by Dobson and Sears.
Dana Haas R.N.
Kitchener, Ontario IBCLC in waiting........
=========================================================================
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 05:55:40 -0500
Reply-To: Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Sender: Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
From: Diane Wiessinger <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: using "nipple confusion"
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I know one mother whose baby had become almost exclusively bottle-fed
during the early weeks before she passed an undiagnosed placental fragment,
and who had stopped accepting her breast. She decided if nipple confusion
was real, she was going to confuse him *big time*. She bought every kind
of bottle teat she could find, and used a different one at every feeding,
also offering her breast. Whether it was time, patience, a milk supply
that finally existed, or good psychology, it worked. She's now a LLL
Leader...
Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC, LLLL Ithaca, NY
=========================================================================
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 12:25:17 -0500
Reply-To: Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Sender: Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
From: "Katherine A. Dettwyler" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: ezzos overseas
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Perhaps Ezzos have not gotten to England/UK yet, but they are in Eastern
Europe and the far East. I think they brag about being present in more than
50 countries, world-wide.