I now travel with my special pillow -- a wonderful Tempu-pedic pillow that
helps with my neck problems.

And I know one famous lactation consultant, who shall remain nameless, who
travels with five (5) pillows!

I think new parents sometimes forget that their new babies are individuals,
with personalities that they brought along with them to life -- they can be
molded somewhat, but not entirely.  Lucky are the parents whose babies fit
their expectations.  And lucky are the parents whose babies don't fit the
expectations -- because then the parents get to grow and learn and mature.

I just had a 'discussion' today with a psychologist who evaluated my 15 year
old son with Down Syndrome as part of our moving to a new school district in
another state.  He suggested that we medicate Peter to quiet down some of
his behaviors -- such as self-stimulation (humming, rocking, fiddling with a
wooden drumstick), occasional verbal outbursts (odd loud noises), and
occasional obsessive-compulsive behaviors.  I pointed out to the
psychologist that it was a really fine line to walk between saying "This
child needs medication to fit in" and saying "This is WHO PETER IS -- let
him BE WHO HE IS."

To make this breastfeeding related -- I think some parents are willing to do
anything, including medication, or letting their baby cry for hours, to try
to force their child into their narrow definitions of what a "good baby"
should be.  A good baby should only want to feed every four hours.  And if
their baby wants to be fed more often, then their must be something wrong
with them, or their baby -- not anything wrong with the 4 hour philosophy.
Wah!  :(

Kathy Dettwyler
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