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Subject:
From:
"Jan Barger RN, IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 16 Dec 1998 07:40:22 EST
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Yesterday afternoon I saw a mom who has been calling me off and on with
various questions about bf, most of which could be answered over the phone.
Finally she said, "Jan, I really want to come in a see you!"  OK -- set up a
time...  Her concern?  Baby wasn't breastfeeding "well."  She would 'sputter'
at the breast, and wouldn't take it after about 5 minutes or so....and would
come off and on....

Punkin is 4 weeks old; birth weight 8-13, weight yesterday in my office
10-11.2.  Baby sometimes has green stools.  Well, you all know what is coming
-- forceful letdown, fantastic milk supply.  (Yes, she eats Marmite -- she
can't get Vegemite here..).  Baby latched on, suckled beautifully and fast --
came off a couple of times to catch her breath, and indicated when she wanted
to go back on.  Then after a total feed of about 5 to 7 minutes, she indicated
she was completely finished.  Mom said, "well that's about normal."  Popped
her back on the scale -- her weight was 10-14.8.

So we talked about nursing on one side per feed, watching the baby for her own
cues, and respecting the fact that yes, she is getting plenty at one short
feeding, and she doesn't need to "force" the baby to the breast for a longer
feed.  That it would probably behoove her to nurse at least twice on one
breast before going to the other breast to make sure she got plenty of high
fat milk.

Mom's major concern -- all the BOOKs tell her she has to breastfeed at least
10 to 15 minutes on each side, or the baby is just "snacking."  (And we all
know how "dangerous" snacking is.)  (Yes, she's also read, though doesn't
totally buy into [praise the Lord], Ezzo).

She walked out, totally reassured that her baby was doing fine (even though
the baby's weight prior to seeing me was obviously excellent!) with the 5
minute nursings, and that baby was getting enough, and that books and
prescribed schedules set down by men that had never met her baby weren't going
to work.  She had to know her breasts, her storage capacity, her milk supply,
her baby, and all of the individualities that went along with her.

Rules, I told her, have no place in breastfeeding.  Unless you count the
'watch your baby' as a rule.  Relax, enjoy her, and have a Merry Christmas!

So, sometimes the scale helps.

Jan B.

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