You asked for a reaction-

My gut hurt for that baby!  I am sure (I hope) that the producers taped a series
of the most extreme interactions between this mom and baby on that particular
day.  However, what we saw was a series of very negative interactions between
mother and child - especially, but not exclusively, during breastfeeding.

Mom was continually complaining to the child (who could understand every word -
not like when I used to cry with my 2 month old colicy child asking him if he
hadn't read the book that said he was supposed to sleep 12 - 14 hours a day)
about wanting to nurse.

"Aren't you done?
"Mommy has to go do something...
"Not now, lets stop, etc, etc, etc.

The more the mom complained, the more the child wanted to cling - no wonder!  If
you think your lifeboat  is wanting to leave you - don't you hang on even
harder???

I agree - the breastfeeding relationship had gone on too long - not because the
child was too old - but because mom was feeling and acting so negatively toward
her child and every interaction we saw with that child was - well -
gut-wrenching - to me!

Mom and baby needed help - to get back on a positive relationship.  If long-term
breastfeeding was causing this stress - then it needed to be stopped.  But I
fear this couple (mom and baby -t he dad was fine with the breastfeeding to
continue - though that in itself made me wonder about him - surely he saw the
negative interactions between the two) need more help than a weaning.  They
needed to re-establish a positive relationship built on trust and security and
love.

Jeanette Panchula, BA-SW, RN, IBCLC, LLLL
Puerto Rico
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