Liz says

<But for any given feed, by this mom and this baby, her milk doesn't stand
in a nice polite queue waiting its turn to come out -- and she should just
consider all the milk as "good".>

Has anyone ever used the word "homogenized" in any way, either positive or
negative, to form an encouraging explanation to moms?? They
usually recognize this term from the grocery, or from dairy labels. Without
a farm background, they may not have a basis to understand exactly what it
means, but I think this (or formula!) often forms their basic concept of
"what milk is supposed to be like."

I have often said to a mom "Your milk is not homogenized like milk you see
in the grocery. Nature has a better plan . . . . ." From there I can add
whatever simple explanation I think may benefit her in her situation at the
moment.

 I find many mothers who either don't remember or have never been told a
thing about the MER. I feel strongly that it empowers a mom to know about
the MER, how to trigger it, and how breast compression may stimulate or
simulate it. I may jokingly explain "Nature has a neat way to help signal
your breast to push (or squirt) the double-calorie milk forward, etc. etc."
Because, cream does in fact have more than double the calories of either
protein or carbohydrate fractions of the milk, regardless of whether the
milk is "queued up" after a long interval between feeds/MER's, or randomly
mixed or newly made. Regardless, the double calorie milk truly does get
moved forward by the MER and I see moms taking satisfaction in knowing that!


It also amazes me to hear the variety of answers I get when I ask what, if
any instruction her hospital (out of the half dozen or so in our locale)
gave her about whether to use one breast or both etc. etc. at a feeding, ho
long etc. and what she learned from any classes or her relatives, etc. etc.
and how has this been working for her. Knowing this background gives a great
opportunity to fill in any further helpful understanding for her particular
situation. ("not enough milk", relative oversupply, OAMER, etc.) without
actually putting on the labels of "fore" and "hind" (even though I
personally believe that is often the case).

K. Jean Cotterman RNC-E, IBCLC
WIC Volunteer LC, Dayton OH.

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