Hi all,

I originally sent this just to Judy Ritchie in response to her post, snd she
suggested I share it with all of you, so here goes:

My daughter really showed no rooting reflex at birth, even though it was a
complication-free, 5-hour, drug-free, vaginal, hospital birth. I had a wonderful
Rastafarian LDR nurse, and my doula was from Jamaica, and they swapped stories
the whole time, so it was quite peaceful. My daughter Emily was placed on my bare
stomach/chest as soon as she came out, and was left there for about 10-15 minutes
before they did all the things hospitals have to do: warm the baby, weigh the
baby, put that horrid stuff in the baby's eyes, do the PKU test on the baby. She
looked up at me while on my stomach, we tried to nurse, she just wasn't
interested. We did have terrible trouble until we went to see a very talented LC
on day 5. Yes, I pumped colostrum with a cheapy little electric pump, it can be
done. Emily did root on others after a few days, once she got the hang of it. One
of my fondest memories if of my father, shirt unbuttoned, undershirt pulled down,
saying playfully to my then 6-month old, "I can't help you. I don't have any.
Wait 'til Mom gets out of the shower!"

And on the other hand, one of my friends/neighbours weaned her son at 4 months,
though she had never exclusively breastfed. I would babysit him occasionally when
she worked, and though I offered him a bottle of abm, the only way he would ever
take it (well into the 2nd year, I might add) was lying as close to my breast as
possible, kneading the breast, occasionally letting go of the bottle with his
mouth, and, I swear, rooting. I still believe he could smell the milk I was
producing for Emily and he must have had a memory of it from his mom. He never
demanded to be bottlefed this way (cradle-style) from anyone but me. He also
never demanded to be carried in a sling except with me, or to fall asleep with
anyone except me and my daughter, who is 6 weeks older than he is.

Just sharing these fascinating tidbits. Hope you don't mind.

Best,
Natalie Rawlings Kraut
LLL Leader, Plantation, FL
Area Conference Supervisor, LLL-FL

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