I had no idea that what I chose to do back then would hardly be
acknowledged in 2003! My husband and I drove 1 1/2 hrs for 3 Saturdays
(missed pushing class!) in 1975 to attend a Lamaze Class. My OB said, "Oh,
Lamaze...yeah I have heard of that!" After the unmedicated birth of Evan,
he made the comment that it "seemed to work for you!" NO enema, NO shaving
and YES it did work for me. Guess we were his guinea pig couple...2 years
later when I was again expecting, an RN offered in-office classes.

I also had to find someone to teach me basic first aid and infant CPR. The
Red Cross thought that I was nuts wanting to know all that info, but were
willing to educate me for a price. And believe me, with 3 active children,
that knowledge has certainly ben useful. I have been complimented by ER
staff on the many bandages and splints that have been applied to various
body parts over the years.

No rooming in was offered in the hospital and I actual fought and signed a
waiver to do so with my last (1981) for the only night we were there. I had
him at 2PM and was home by 8AM the following morning. They thought I was
out of my mind for wanting to go home so quickly and strongly advised
against it. Whatever.

I exclusively breastfed my first for 8mths, he weaned at 28mths, when his
sister was 2mths old. I nursed Larisa until she was almost 4 and she weaned
when her baby brother, Jared was 3mths old. I breastfed non-stop for about
11 years, no AIM ever passed their lips and solids were not offered until
about 8-9mths!!

We practiced the family bed as well. And yes, it can be done on a full
size!! I would like to thank LLL for being there for me, offering a
different slant on the world of parenting, one that I accepted
wholeheartedly. Coming from an abusive background was terrifying to me as I
prepared to become a parent. But I did it, I broke that horrible and
degrading cycle!

 I am proud of the way I have parented my children. I am proud that I
ventured into unknown territories. I would like to think that a lot of the
prenatal education that is now offered is in some way because of my
stubbornness and efforts. I stood up and said this can be done and I am
doing it.

SO YES, there were breastfed babies in the 70's and 80's and I am their mom!

Ellen

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