<< In a message dated 4/20/2005 7:08:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
[log in to unmask] writes:

Click on Podee and Pacifeeder links, but enter at your own risk! (Ditto for 
clicking on other links under this topic.) These holders are really "pushed" 
for mothers of multiples, especially re: higher-order multiples. What a 
socializing experience mealtimes are for these babies...



Dear Colleagues:
I can't imagine having more babies than I have arms to hold or breasts 
at once. I can't imagine how much work goes into raising 3 or 4 or 5 babies 
at once. I can't imagine how it feels to have a bunch of babies crying, and 
have them all be mine and I have to stay and take care of them.
The mothers I have seen with multiples are so busy and chronically 
overwhelmed that if using a Podee sometimes helps her, I say go for it. >>


Sorry, I should have included more info with my earlier bottle-feeding-devices post and sorry if this is veering off topic. However, I want to clarify. I'm working with mothers of twins/higher multiples (MOT/MOM) or researching that area so much that I forget others are not so immersed! The problem isn't the "sometimes" helping the overwhelmed MOT/MOM -- whether it is a feeding device, a swing, etc.; it's the overuse or abuse of such aids/devices. There's a photo of what appears to be twins on a blanket and one of quadruplets in a stroller being fed via the device, however, there's no mother in the photo holding/cuddling another one or two multiples as she feeds them. OTOH, see the difference in the device use in the photo at the bottom of the page: www.babybottlecradle.com/  

Mothers of multiples are looking to Babywise, sleep conditioning during early infancy, and these kinds of "hands-off" devices (and in many instances being encouraged by MOM organizations) to help help them cope. These mothers do not get much encouragement to be "high touch" as much as humanly possible, because others warn them that the babies will "get used to being held" and then what will mom do? 

In addition to the MOT/MOM, my concern is each baby. Being part of a set does not negate the needs of the individuals within it for a one-to-one relationship with mommy. Obviously, a mother cannot do for two, three, four or more babies what she can for a single infant, but she shouldn't be discouraged from trying as possible and then adapting/compromising as the situation warrants. Just wanted to clarify and remind that there can be a fine line between device "use" and "overuse" and "abuse" for special situations.

Sorry to go on and thanks for letting me expand on this!

Karen
www.karengromada.com/ 
Mothering Multiples: Breastfeeding and Caring for Twins or More

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

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html