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Subject:
From:
Kathy Rubin <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 24 Apr 2000 18:46:50 EDT
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I agree with all of the great ideas of how to explain baby's needs to new
parents and have used many of them myself. I will add my 2ml worth of
suggestions also:

Parents DO seem to "get it" when you explain things from the baby's point of
view....i.e., having been continuously rocked, held and drip fed 24-7, it is
inhuman to expect the baby to have to wait for feedings. I also explain that
this is a transitional time from the security of the womb, and so it is
natural for baby to seek similar situations and to feel settled by them (ie,
OK to hold the baby, it is not spoiling but rather recreating the security
baby felt in the womb).

Also, since we have lots of formula being given to our breastfed babies,
despite our best efforts, I explain that a formula feeding is like eating
Thanksgiving dinner....we tend to overeat (here I demonstrate with the bottle
that is usually on the counter--then throw it in the trash when done with my
demo!!--how baby is force fed with a bottle and is unable to control the
flow, so typically overeats). Then with that overly full belly, what do we
want to do after that big, heavy, hard to digest meal...the parents
invariably answer "sleep" and start to see how formula interferes with the
breastfeeding pattern.

I explain how the body does not know the baby took xx ccs or ounces, so does
not know that it is behind in production. Then to compound the problem, the
baby sleeps an unnaturally long time, so the breast gets even less
stimulation than it should have, leading the body to think it is making
enough when in reality it is not (from mom, that is).

Then to continue the food analogy that parents can relate to, I say that
breastmilk is like eating Chinese food (in the US, we have an expression that
when you eat Chinese food, you are hungry an hour later--no offense to
anyone...it is a common US expression). I explain that this is because
breastmilk, like Chinese food, is light, healthy and easy to digest!!! Again,
this is something that the parents can relate to in their own lives and so
conveys the normality of the situation.

Hope these analogies help someone else.

Kathy in NJ RNC APNC IBCLC

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