There are many reasons moms will exclusively pump.  One good reason - sexual
abuse.  Having been a survivor of molestation (by a step-father) and 2 rapes
by age 18 myself (I no longer survive - I LIVE!) had I had that option as a
19 yr old single mom I may very well have chosen that route myself.  The
idea of putting a baby on the breast was a very sexualized one to me and to
my family (a family who believes that nursing a baby past 3-6 mo. is far too
long).  I was "grossed out by it, and thought it was a sexual act you were
performing with your baby.  "However, lucky for baby boy and me, I was
beyond dirt poor and couldn't afford ABM so breast was what he got.  And I
learned over time that it wasn't about sex.it was about love, nurture and
feeding.  I came to be a very 'out' breastfeeder - never used a blanket to
cover myself or baby and for those who stared or made comments, I would
stare back or tell them they were bothering me so go away!  I tend to have
the tiniest bit of an 'attitude'.  LOL!  Those who know me would say -
"Tiny????  Now that is an understatement!"

 

Worked with a couple of moms whose first BF experiences were so bad that
they were terrified to even think that it might be OK with baby #2.  So, to
save everyone trauma, they pump exclusively.  Often those moms went through
circumstances with the first baby that could have been avoided or corrected
by a GOOD IBCLC.  

 

Other reasons are societal.  I have worked with many moms who feel that
pumping gives them more freedom to come and go and not be as attached to the
baby - the old "baby will tie you down if you breastfeed" mentality.  Keep
your independence ladies - let dad do the feeding too, go out, take your own
time, leave baby with a sitter so you and hubby can have lots of one on one
time.etc.  So they pump and, while many are very close to the baby, others
can feed, and the attachment is more distant than if breastfeeding were the
feeding mode.  

 

To me it is a sad testament to our society - sexual abuse, lack of
appropriate help, the desperate (apparent) need for distance between us and
our babies and the strong message of make those babies independent right now
- that more and more moms are choosing this route.

 

But, it is what it is.  We can only do so much to assist these parents.  I
would imagine many of the exclusive pumpers (by choice not necessarily need)
would be very defensive in their choice - so it is imperative that we work
with them gently and without judgment.  Offer the information and education
- and let them make that choice.  You never know what may happen. 

 

Hope this gives some reasons why.I am sure there are many more out there.

 

Warmly,

Jaye

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
Mail all commands to [log in to unmask]
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask])
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask])
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]