Phyllis writes:
Maybe this is one side effect of being a pump-dependant society?
~~~ I think you're onto something here. The practical reality is that when
moms pump for separations that are often long and repetitive, they do not,
cannot, pump how a baby would usually nurse. Most moms back at work need to
know how little they can pump, how long an interval can they get away
with, and not lose their supply. When home their baby might go to breast many
more times than they would be able to "get away with" pumping and still keep
a supply. So, a mom of a 2 month old pumps every 3 hours, while later goes
to every 4 for example. (That same baby at home might, if allowed, still
be nursing every 1.5-3 hours, with short times at breast for any number of
healthy reasons other than to move 4 ounces of milk...) This pattern may
keep supply from dwindling down, may get mom enough milk to put in baby's
bottles, but the composition of the milk might be different. If research shows
that volume taken in by the baby is the determining factor in weight
gain, then most babies would be fine when nursing, they would nurse differently
on different moms with different letdown timing, or different storage
capacity-meets-baby's digestive comfort. It is possible that taking the mother
and baby unit apart and placing a pump, a machine between them, that the
subtleties of needed response, the particular way a mother and baby fit
together, are interrupted. Some babies can work around this mismatch and perhaps
for others, it starts falling apart somehow...? Just musing.
Peace,
Judy
Judy LeVan Fram, PT, IBCLC, LLLL
Brooklyn, NY, USA
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