I just have to share with you the story I heard yesterday.

Back in August I received a call from a new mom desiring a home visit
because she needed some help with a newborn who wasn't latching well.
Went that afternoon, spent 2 hours, mostly just affirming mom for her
patience in working with her smallish, 36 hrs old (5# 4oz) term
daughter.  Showed her a few tricks, ie, how to use her expensive breast
feeding pillow, change her position to facilitate latch, etc.  Talked
about infant's role in regulating breastmilk production and encouraged
her to follow baby's lead in timing feeds rather than clock.  All of
this with a 16 month old toddler eluding grandma and wrecking havoc on
the environment.

Later shared a few more technical articles with mom and dad (adult
gastro MD) about breastmilk production, following cues, etc.  Thank you
Jack and Kathy D.

Mom had indicated she wanted to breastfeed for probably two months and
then she would be going back to her professional sales rep career
because she couldn't imagine staying at home with two munchikins.  Turns
out the older child was adopted, had had RSV at 2 weeks, GI problems at
4 weeks, you name it and he's done it.  This surprise pregnancy was
welcomed but also seen by all of the family as having the potential to
really be the undoing of the mother.  They report that she has always
been "high-strung", had poor mothering herself as a child, and had never
seen herself being a "full-time" mother.  She'd "needed" to be out of
the home for at least half time because it was too hard to deal with the
first baby on a full-time basis.

About 5 days later f/u showed that baby had successfully established
breastfeeding, mom had experienced moderate fullness without
engorgement, and was allowing infant to self-regulate.  She still had a
"mother's assistant" coming in for 3 hours every day to help her with
the older child.  Five week follow-up mom was ecstatic that she hadn't
had a period yet, thus was avoiding the return of her PMS problem, and
was wondering when she should anticipate return of menses.  We discussed
LAM and how to achieve it.  She thought it sounded like a wonderful side
effect of breastfeeding, one worth trying for!

Now for yesterday's story--the "Latest" word is that Mom has cancelled a
planned trip in February, because she can't imagine terminating the
breastfeeding relationship which she finds to be so wonderful and easy
to maintain. She does not plan to return to work anytime soon because
she can't imagine being away from her children!  The maternal hormones
are spilling over into the relationship with the much desired, but very
difficult, adopted son too!  Whole family sees it as a miracle and
bringing about a totally new personality in this mom.

So whenever we have hard times, stupid interference in bfdg, or other
reasons to rant, think about the wonderful benefits and keep on keeping
on.

OH, by the by--first baby was raised ala Ezzo and BABYWISE!  Referenced
my previously described method of helping to break the trust in that
method by describing Levitical proscriptions on mother's activities
after childbirth to this mom during that first 2 hour session because I
had been clued in by the sil that this was part of the scenario.  There
has been no effort made to follow Ezzo with this child, and the rigid
control issues with the older child have been subsiding as the parents
have seen the benefit of the more relaxed approach with newborn.

Melinda Hoskins, MS, RN LC2B
Visitation Supervisor, Family to Family Connection
Carson City, NV, where the winds have started and we've been promised a
rapidly moving cold front.  What it will bring remains to be seen.
Already the temp has dropped 10 degrees in the last hour.