Friday, January 22, 2010
Fruit of the boob
5:40 PM
My friend Melissa recently bought a new home, and I drove out to go visit and see it. We grabbed a cup of tea and sat down in front of the beautiful picture window facing her back yard. I immediately noticed that there were gorgeous fruit trees growing out there, along with some wild raspberries along the fence. How lovely! I smiled and commented with enthusiasm about how much they must enjoy having that lovely fruit out there for them to enjoy any time. How much her children must enjoy snagging a fresh snack while they play!
Melissa frowned. "Oh, we don't eat it" Oh dear! I asked if there was a bug problem or something. She mumbled some vague things about how hard they are to take care of, she just doesn't know how, store-bought is so much easier. Plus, they put extra vitamins in those boxed fruit snacks and stuff, so why bother with the stuff growing out there. How strange, I thought! I told her I had some experience with growing things, and would be happy to lend a hand, but she just brushed me off, and repeated that she was just unable. Unable, or unwilling? Surely, there are plenty of people, books, or websites she could have turned to for some help if she was really having a hard time knowing how to care for the trees.
Melissa had sun and rain provided by nature, an able body, and even a shed with some yard tools. What was her problem? Was she that lazy? Was she just assuming it was more work than it really was? Sure, there might be some weeds or bugs now and then, but surely all that lovely natural fruit out there was worth a little trouble! How many people would love to have that for their family to enjoy! I sighed over the waste, and tried not to cringe when she tossed her kids some packs of squishy fruit snacks.
How many other women waste the beautiful, natural food they were given to bless their children with? Instead of choosing fruit snacks over fresh fruit, many choose formula over breast milk. So many claim that they were unable. Unable, or unwilling? If your garden has some weeds or bugs, it does not mean you are completely unable to garden! Some people have gardens plagued with rocks, weeds, and bugs, and they still manage to overcome. Put your gloves on, dig in, and make it happen! Research and ask for help if necessary. The rewards will be reaped for a long time.
It hurts my heart when people waste their beautiful and natural abilities. We wouldn't want our children to give up on something important, so why give up so quickly on feeding them in the way that God/Nature gave you and your precious child? It sends a silent message saying "You're just not worth the effort". Although most parents deeply love their children and wouldn't intentionally say that to their child, not giving breastfeeding a true effort IS suggesting that you feel that way. What other areas of parenting will you do half-heartedly? How many other ways will you give up on your child when they really need you to persevere?
Please, if there are a few bugs in your trees, or weeds in your garden, don't give up. Don't just let that beautiful fruit rot away. A fresh homegrown apple beats fruit snacks any day! Apples and breasts are not "better" than fruit snacks and formula. They are natural and normal. Anything else is artificial and deficient. Put your mind to it, get some help if you need it, and know that you and your child will be richly blessed for that effort in the end.
(I'm sure that some people are bound to gripe and complain that they are in the 2% of women that are truly unable to breastfeed. Obviously, those with a valid reason are not being attacked here. I do believe there are far more people claiming to be "incapable" than there really are. Whether or not you are one of those people is for you to examine in your own heart. If you really did try your best and were still unable, then there's nothing to feel bad about)
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39 comments:
very nice! i love ur thinking!
Well put, as always.
I also want to thank you for the last paragraph. As a momma who has had to stop nursing so that I could go on medication to keep myself healthy, my heart was hurting a little bit - I thought you were calling *all* of us who had to make the choice to use formula wasteful. After the disclaimer, it's obvious you weren't, and I thank you for acknowledging that some of us have valid reasons.
Nice :o) Well said!
I love it! I was one of those people with a garden full of weeds with both my boys. I went through pretty much every breastfeeding problem there is.. Guess what, they both nursed. I didn't give up. Even being a "young" mom I knew what I needed to do. In my mind, there is no excuse to not try.
I think we all know there is a big difference between those who tried and couldn't continue for medical conditions or whatnot and those who make a conscious choice to just not do it or who quit for no real reason. AS usual, love your writing!
Wow, I am utterly shocked! I can't imagine having food growing in the yard and then buying some old produce or processed food from the store. Poor children.
That was so beautifully put! You expressed things I think about constantly. I know there are a lot of people out there who will be outraged by a post like this, but oh well. That is what is great about your blog, you say so many things that others (including myself) think but don't often say b/c it is often an unpopular opinion.
It concerns me deeply to look at the changes that we need to make as a society and the disconnect that exists from what is available for free, right there wanting to be put to use and appreciated. Hopefully people will become more aware of this bounty while there is still time to make a difference.
I love this blog! I am new to it. As a "die hard" nursing older mom(42 with a still nursing 17 month old), it really makes me feel good and gives me hope that breastfeeding will gain momentum in this country. Thank you for helping to empower women!!!
Brilliant! I love it! Very creative...
And I am also saddened by the same thing. I was a low income 19 year old mom, didn't know anything about breastfeeding, didn't bother reading about it, refused help from the lactation consultant, experienced engorgement, poor latch, blisters, raw and bleeding nipples, and still managed to nurse my daughter well into toddlerhood. If more people were told that they CAN get through the initial problems then maybe they would stick with it... it is so very very rewarding in the end!
When my sister who is trying to get pregnant told me - I just can't even think of a baby sucking on my boob it is just not for me. Stunned I said your right it is not just for you it is for this baby you want so badly yet you want to not give it the best start it deserves? What the hell? Well said as always.;)
You know that percentage has me reading the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding again. Just to quote it. I thought it said 3% of the world's population of women CAN NOT physically breastfeed (or make ANY milk at all). Any rate you could be right. Like I said I am still looking for the quote. Anyone know of the page it's on send my a note please.
This of course is outside of medications and illnesses. However, there are resources and other medications you can try that is safe. I suggest Medications and Mothers Milk for, of course, medications. As for illness, double check and seek an IBCLC that has a great background in illnesses. Only saying this because of the newest resources for mothers who have HIV.
I personally would be really mad if I had an illness that states I could not breastfeed (from a doctor), then find out later that I could have :).
I completely agree! :o) I always hate hearing someone say they switched from breastfeeding to formula because formula is just easier and breastfeeding is too hard... what is hard about just instantly feeding your baby? Especially when it is just so good for the baby! And for you too! :o)
Maybe picking the fruit from the trees is just not modern... at least that's what a friend of mine once said about breastfeeding =/
I have to say that I also had lots of ''weeds'' in the garden...my supply was late coming in and I had low supply for weeks...I basically ended up pumping or nursing constantly. All this while I was recovering from a long labor and c/s--I felt exhausted emotionally and physically and felt like such a failure when I needed to supplement...It worked out for us, and my little guy is a ''boob man'', but the only reason it did is that I have a supportive partner and family. My partner took care of our other kids and the house, and I had a nice long maternity leave. I also had a cnm who spent hours on the phone with me or helping us in her office. There are so many women who find themselves in the same situation, taking care of two or more children, trying to manage a busy household, with little to no support. Whenever I read articles like this, I think--why are women's emotional and physical needs not considered to be valid? IMO, if a woman is feeding and caring for her child, who are we to judge? There are so many reasons that a woman might be unsuccessful with breastfeeding or--gasp--not even try to breastfeed...yes, there should be more support for breastfeeding women, but how about we stop judging mommas who have made different choices and live different lives than us?
There is a problem in our society in that it is not well set up to support motherhood.
In the past, and in some places around the world, breastfeeding and living life are not an issue. Mom ties baby on to her body, and goes about her life taking care of the other kids, harvesting, weaving, cooking, whatever.
Here, many of us are expected to, (or expect ourselves to) be separated from our babies for long periods of time, and juggle a million things without a place for baby and breastfeeding into the equation.
YES, mom's feelings DO matter. But when you become a parent, sacrifices must be made. Difficulties must be overcome. Their needs must often come before our own. There are a LOT of areas in life that a woman can cut back on to take some pressure off. It may kinda suck, but that's life. Something that is vital to the normal development of human offspring isn't something to intentionally or thoughtlessly skimp on though.
If a woman found bathing her child to be too difficult or tiresome, and only ever just wiped the kid down a little, we wouldn't say "aw, go easy on her, at least she loves the kid". We'd say "hey, do your job!" If a person is too busy to even meet the very basic and natural needs of a child, then they need to seriously re-prioritize.
I don't mean to demonize other mothers. But I do wish to say that hey, if its hard, keep trying! There will be a MILLION more times that parenting is hard, you can't just give up. If one were to judge the human race's ability to breastfeed based on what is blabbed on TV and all over the internet, they'd conclude that 90% of women can't breastfeed. That is NOT the case, and all the lame excuses give other new moms major doubts and undermines their faith in their own bodies. People who choose not to try need to just own up to it and be honest with themselves and others, instead of perpetuating this sick picture that breastfeeding is nearly impossible for all but a lucky few.
Are you not putting up opposing comments because your not secure enough in yourself and your own decisions? Formula fed babies being compared to not bathing your child??? You may have mental issues that need to be looked into! You are no better than any formula feeding mother just because you used your boobs!! You must be really lacking in self confidence to only allow comments that stroke your ego. And OMG! what are you going to do if your son marries a woman who has no desire to breastfeed? What if your daughter has no interest in breast feeding her own child? Wioll you be as degrading on them as you are to strangers? Your kid isn't going to love you more just because you used your boobs. There's alot more to raising a child than breastfeeding!
Honestly, part of being a mom doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your entire notion of thinking. I had zero desire to have children, but became pregnant on an IUD. Rather than terminate I chose to have my child. But I did NOT want to breastfeed. I just didn't. I don't understand why people are so hard on women who just don't want to breastfeed. We have an alternative. My children (I've since had an extra couple :) ) are thriving. Should you be forced you eat Tofu because its healthy and good for you? Or can you make a decision based on how you feel and what makes you feel comfortable? My guess is you won't understand my thinking but it is about choice. While I think it is great that you enjoyed breastfeeding I don't even enjoy the sexual aspect of my breasts, much less a little one suckling from me. I did give it a day or two shot when my youngest was born because I saw my friend and her child and it looked so natural, so after she left (she was visiting my newborn) but when I tried it, it felt so unnatural. I wish I could explain it better but I do think sometimes, it is what it is. It looks lovely and certainly it is great for your baby, but it wasn't for us.
My dream is a culture in which infant formula is available only by prescription to babies and mothers who *need* it and that there is adequate education and support to assist mothers in learning to breastfeed effectively.
As a mama who nursed three kids through gardens full of weeds (c-section, late milk supply, plugged ducts, recurrent mastitis, cracked bleeding nipples, etc) I can attest that the benefits for the mother and baby far exceed the inconvenience of pulling the weeds.
People often comment on peaceful my nearly 2 year old is and how easily she communicates with us. They wonder if we used sign language. I just tell them we never needed to - that it's easy to understand her needs. Our breastfeeding relationship helped me learn how to understand her nonverbal communication and now that she has words we're able to combine the verbal with nonverbal and do just fine. :)
I love formula. My children loved formula. My children are never sick. My oldest is 11 and never even had a cold. Ever. He never missed a day of school due to an illness. He is "gifted" and started reading at 3. My other two children are 5 1/2 and 17 months and they are never sick. They have no asthma, no food allergies, no illnesses ect. We have wonderful bonds and relationships. Jeez I held my kids 24/7!
I do NOT feed my children crap. I feed them organic and locally grown food as much as I can. I do not give them sugar or processed foods or additives until they are three. I know it is not proven that what I eat matters when i breastfeed, but unless I was financially able to eat only organic food myself, I did not feel good about them drinking anything out of my body. I fed them organic formula instead, and was able to see exactly what was going into my child and how much. I've never regretted my decision. I also don't degrade woman who eat total crap and then feed their babies milk from their unhealthy additive filled bodies. I don't make other moms feel bad because of the decisions they make with their children. Nicely written though I suppose.
I really liked this post. I am a young mother and I chose to breast feed. It was not easy, and it was not always fun. My daughter came home at 4lbs 1oz with latching issues because of what happned in the hospital. While we were in the hospital my daughter had to go under the bili-lights, was forced to sleep and lay alone and cold for over 12 hours before it dawned on them that a 4lbs baby would not be able to hold her body temperature in an open isolete. They moved her to an incubator and while she was still under the bili-lights, but that was not the worst offense they committed against my tiny, lovely, new chid. They robbed her of me, they robbed her of my gift to her, they would not allow me to breast feed her while she was in the lights. They told me that she needed to poop and that I should think of the formula as sort of a medicine, they would allow me to come in and touch my baby every two hours, told me that I should do that and pump. Why not just let me hold and feed my child? She was really good at it, she had taken naturally to it before they forced the formula on her. The results are that when my precious little girl was finished under the lights, she refused to nurse, she had been confused about what was going on. My baby had been forced to be without me for over 24 hours, deprived of my breast that entire time and for 12 hours of that time, she was cold, and somehow managed to have a bowel movement all over herself.
I was fortunate enough to have a mother that supported me and was able to get a lactation consultant to come out to help my baby with her latch issues. I really believe that she just had to be reminded of what my breasts are for. Today my daughter is 10 mos old, and while I have ended up having to supplement with formula because of the rocky beginning and some other issues, mainly I just can't pump well. I still nurse her as often and as much as I can.
I am hoping that I will have a better experience with my next child, and will not allow nurses to dictate to me if, when and what I can feed my baby.
hahaha I have to laugh at the comment from the mom who fed her children organic artificial baby milk because she couldn't afford organic foods for herself.
What did you eat when you were preg. and growing those children?
How do you think babies in 3rd world countries survive? Their moms have the worst nutrition ever, yet their babies only start to die after they are weaned.
If you decided to give your children fake milk then go ahead but don't use such a silly excuse to feel better about your decision. It just makes you look dumb.
I totally agree with your blog, once again! And a comment left here only proves that there are common misconceptions that no one bothers to correct or even research themselves. You could eat Big Macs for every meal every day and your child would still get a far superior nutritional food than artificial "milk" made in a factory. Unless there are medical reason why you can't (like you said those are few and far between) there is NO EXCUSE for not breastfeeding. We wouldn't be here if our ancestors had said "ew. I don't want to do that!" What has turned us into such a selfish society that we don't even think our children deserve the best that OUR BODIES MAKE! It's made perfect, readily available and babies are born knowing what they want! To the parents who say "my children LOVED formula!" have you ever sipped or even smelled the crap? It's always surprises me that even after solids are introduced and formula fed babies taste sweet good food they still drink their bottles! Which is another thing- who the heck wants to take a precious, sterile newborn clothe and swaddle her, hold her away from your body (or in your arms but through layers of clothes) and shove a rubber nipple in her mouth that dispenses water mixed with a powder based on milk for a baby cow? This always dumbfounds me.
*steps off soapbox* Sorry- this is a subject that I'm passionate about as a mother to a nursing happy 17 month old. :)
I've got to call the anonymous formula-lover out, here.
I'll say the same thing here that I said on facebook, in hopes that Ms. anonymous will be checking back:
I'm sorry. I exclusively formula fed my oldest, and will be switching from supplementing formula to exclusively formula feeding my son. I *HATE* formula, and don't see how it's possible that anyone could "love" it. It tastes AWFUL. (Yes, I've tasted it. I'm not giving my children something that I've not put in my own body.) It SMELLS awful. ... See MoreIt makes THEM smell awful. All in all, it's AWFUL. But for some of us Mamas, it's a necessary evil. (I need to be on meds that are far more dangerous to my children than formula is, otherwise they'd both be self-led-weaning babies.)
I call shenanigans.
I have read all of the posts on this blog and it is obvious that it is VERY Pro-Breastfeeding. Why, then, are these people who are so against it, reading Woman Uncensored in the first place? Are you LOOKING for a fight?
Great job WU!!
I will freely admit I was unwilling. I do not regret my decision that I made for my family and I do not feel that I am giving my son something inferior or that I am denying him anything that is so important that years down the road it will impact his entire life. My reasons for my decision made sense for my family. I understand why many choose to breastfeed, but for our family we choose formula.
I love formula because my children loved it. There was no fussing about it. No hiring people to come over my house and help me force an unwilling child to breastfeed. I never had to worry if my baby was getting enough. My baby got to get well needed sleep because he got enough formula throughout the day. It isn't that I can't afford organic, it is with our lives the way they are, it is not possible to only eat that. Believe me I do a lot better than most woman do though. Oh, and I also ate mostly organic during my pregnancy with my second and third child. I carefully examined each and every ingredient that I consumed. More than I can say about a lot of pregnant and nursing mothers. I also took into consideration that I saw most of my breastfeeding friends with unhealthy babies and children. Maybe it was a coincidence, but their kids were ALWAYS sick! It is not that I "gave up" or didn't try hard enough or thought that it was "too hard"...I simply felt that it was not what I wanted for MY kids. My very healthy intelligent non asthma, non allergic kids.
I was not looking for a fight. I think it is great that people who want to can and do nurse. I just feel it is so unfortunate that mothers can look down on other mothers, and I was hoping that by posting my thoughts maybe it could be understood that I love and cherish my babies even though I chose not to breastfeed. That is all. Honestly :) I like to read mother blogs and came across this one.
One part of the problem is that giving up on breastfeeding is made convenient by our society. The formula makers are filling a void - the void left by the breakdown of families and small, tight-knit communities and the increase of "independence" and the trend of living far away from family and friends... nowadays, most people tend to judge young couples who still live with the parents of one of them, saying they need to "be out on their own" and "cut the cord." Well, having additional family members at home could really help us new mothers! We'd have examples of breastfeeding if we lived among other women for several generations - it would just be normal to us and we'd never think there was an alternative, and when we had trouble, we'd have support! People need to stop viewing motherhood as a time to do it all alone, and we need to somehow reclaim our lost tight-knit communities. We live in a time when we prop bottles for our babies and put our elderly relatives into homes where other people take care of them - why? I so wish we could reclaim the close extended family units and the tight-knit communities of times past.
If there was a device made that bathed babies for the parents, I would bet there would be those who'd buy and use it. Again, it is about the marketing of convenience...
"Because you used your boobs?" What an almost vulgar way to put it. Nursing a baby is about far more than "using your boobs." However, somebody who "uses her boobs" to breastfeed is putting them to their God-given use, at least.
Also, most little girls who are raised in a breastfeeding culture will likely end up breastfeeding their own children, and they will have their own mothers to turn to for support. My mother breastfed me for only 2 months and stopped because she got bad advice (weaning due to mastitis). But she went on to nurse all 3 of my younger brothers for 12-14 months each. I grew up seeing it as normal - so it is just what I did. There was no question to me that I would do anything other than what was normal.
The whole "choice" thing is going too far... i is getting to the point that everything is a "choice," and not only that, but if we dare to call one choice normal and the other abnormal, then we are being judgmental of that choice. It's the "every choice is equal" viewpoint. Not every choice is equal, but most people make the best choice they can at the time in their personal situation and with the info they have access to at the time.
i love the perspective you put on things!
i had my first when i was pretty young, i knew nothing EXCEPT that i wanted to breast feed. alas, i had very very little support and was working and going to school full time. from 4 to 6 months she lost interest in my breasts, but at no point did i believe for a minute the countless people saying "it just doesnt work for some". even still. i didnt know what to do, so she ended up on formula, against my better judgement. i continue to battle with this more than 8 years later.
i have 2 more girls now, and theyre both still nursing (great i might add) but the circumstances were/are completely different. a little bit of support/knowledge goes a long long way.
now, theres no way id give my children formula. even if i were to die, i would hope my husband would do all he could to find lactating women to come feed my babies.
there may very well be 2% maybe 3 (i recall the womanly art saying 2 as well, but im not motivated enough to go look) that physically cannot nurse. but for them, there are moms like us who could nurse, or donate our milk for the benefit of their children.
Why do mothers who allegedly are so infinitely comfortable with their CHOICES rely on anecdotal evidence to support their choices? I'm happy that your kids appear to be thriving on formula. However, when you ignore the scientific evidence you just look desperate and uneducated. Those are the very things that make people like me think you did not bother to look into the most important decision you'll make in your newborn's first moment of life. Who looks at studies that indicate formula-fed babies have a higher mortality rate than breastfed babies and says, "I think I'll spin that wheel of chance"? Who looks at studies that indicate formula-fed children suffer more ear infections that are more painful and last longer and chooses to risk that for her child? Gosh, if we were talking about carseats and you openly bragged about being able to afford the safest carseat on the market but chose the inferior model because, hey, it's approved by the NHTSA, hardly anyone would defend your CHOICE. Why? Because it would be indefensible. So is this.
I choose to give you the benefit of the doubt that you didn't know you were increasing your child's chance of developing childhood cancers, obesity, constipation, intestinal distress, etc., because no woman would knowingly do that.
Once again, you've struck the perfect analogy. I can see that it can make a difference with open-minded people.
Anon, whilst I respect people's educated decisions, please please stop advertising your ignorance on the issue. Your kids have never been sick? I'm going to imagine for a moment you're being truthful and state that it is nothing more than luck...chilren will be exposed to illness regardless of what they have been fed.
On some of your other points...
"There was no fussing about it"
What could be more fuss-free than breastfeeding? On the other hand you have cleaning, sterilising, boiling, mixing, cooling...duh...
"No hiring people to come over my house and help me force an unwilling child to breastfeed."
You cannot force an unwilling child to breastfeed.
Not everyone needs professional help.
The cost of hiring professional help is equivalent to the cost of a couple of tins of formula.
Implying that getting help to establish breastfeeding is akin to cruelty is a huge insult to those mothers who care enough to go through it.
"I never had to worry if my baby was getting enough"
If you knew anything about breastfeeding, you would know that, in normal situations, a breastfed baby gets precisely what they need. Unlike formula-fed babies who have a set amount thrust on them, perhaps have the choice to keep swallowing or choke, parents worry if they don't finish their bottle, or if they do finish it and want more...
"My baby got to get well needed sleep because he got enough formula throughout the day"
It's actually very important for babies' brain development to wake & feed frequently, day & night. Breastmilk is much more easily digested than formula which is why they need it more frequently. Do you also notice how drowsy you feel after over-indulging? Think about it.
You love your children, how about educating yourself on important parenting issues before making decisions? Ignorance truly is bliss.
Breastmilk is a baby's birthright. To deny a baby the perfect species specific food in the name of "your family" "just not wanting to do it" "convenience" or any of the other horrific explanations is total BULLOCKS! There are some mothers out there who would love to give their babies their own milk but can't- they are dedicated enough to seek donors or banks yet tons of mothers are just pissing away natures greatest food because they don't want a baby swinging from their breast and are so lazy that they think daddy has to share 50% of all feedings. Great Read, by the way :D
I know this is an older blog but I still wanted to comment. The anonymous lady who eats so organically and so carefully that she checks every ingredient she put into her mouth while pregnant chose to formula feed her child an (albeit organic) formula. This is intriguing to me. You were SO involved with your food yet you chose to feed your helpless infant an item that was thought up and developed in a lab by scientists instead of the FULLY, CAN'T GET ANY MORE ORGANIC THAN IT breastmilk that your body made just for your baby? This is so odd to me!
I have just found this blog. I have been following WU on Facebook for a month or so now and I am so happy to have stumbled across the actual blog! I am SO glad to finally find people who think like me and are raising their children in many of the same ways I choose to raise mine! I seriously thought I was alone on this island! Thank you WU and all the folks following you and agreeing with you! Makes me think I may actually not be crazy! LOL :)
I just had to add, as I was finishing my typing my little one began to squirm in his sleep. He grunted twice and before he was even fully awake had been latched to my breast! No screaming while I make or heat a bottle necessary!! His milk is sterile, warm and ready to go at any moments notice! :) I love it!!
Clearly if the mom lived in an apartment building, with no balcony, or in a place with extreme weather, extreme water restrictions, or whatever that prevented growing anything worthwhile then you wouldn't "judge" her for not growing her own foods.
Clearly this mom could grow her own fruit, its not a judgement on those who can't
newincs,
I agree. Is she scrutinizing what the cow is eating? What was put on the food the cow's are eating, what was in the soil and water where it was grown? (or the soybeans were grown).
She was comfortable growing kids in her womb when their very organs were forming, but not feeding them from your body once they were born and the had the protection of their digestive system between your "toxins" and them.
And there is no such thing as "organic" formula in the US, it uses non-organic vitamins/nutrients. Anything that is "required" doesn't have to be "organic"
My 20 month old was born prematurely and in spite of everything I tried, just couldn't work up the strength to breastfeed. I was lucky with my nurses because they had me hooked up to a breastpump, showing me how to do it within an hour delivering my daughter. I pumped every 3 hours, night and day and we had to feed her through bottles. Eventually, in spite of my constant pumping, my marathon sessions, pumping at work and every public location necessary, all the herbs and teas and drinking as much water as possible etc etc, my milk supply was so low that she was getting maybe 1 bottle a day of breastmilk and the rest was formula. I would cry when I pumped because I could only get an ounce out, maybe 1.5 ounces between the two breasts. I was LITERALLY planning a trip to Canada to get a prescription of Domperidone when I finally decided that if women who adopted babies could teach their babies to breastfeed then **I** could teach mine too. I contacted LLL and a LC and was told by both that it was extremely difficult and often not possible but that I should give it a shot. I was kind of irritated that they had said that to me but I was DETERMINED that my daughter, who was thriving on my milk (even only part time) was going to freaking breastfeed come hell or high water. I came home from work one day and plopped my almost 6 month old at my boob. She latched on. For about 6 minutes before she started howling and we gave her the bottle. 2 or 3 hours later, I did it again. Not only did she latch on, BUT SHE NURSED ON BOTH BREASTS. I was over the moon, ecstatic. After that, she nursed each and evry single time she was brought to the breast. I worked full time so she would have to have bottles but I would nurse her RIGHT before I left and the minute I got home. I started driving to work instead of taking public transportation so I could get home sooner.
Needless to say, when I hear someone say, well it just didn't work, I didn't produce enough bla bla bla. I want to ask...and just what did you do to try and fix that? I am PROUD to say that my monkey girl was breastfed until she was 16 months old. I had infections in both my nipples, mastitis and was closer to my breastpump then I was to my husband but I did it.
I love this. I have a friend who is having an extremely rough time with nursing. She developed mastitis and an abscess so large that it looks like a bullet wound. But she is bound and determined to continue breastfeeding. She is in constant pain, but determined to continue. She is working closely with a IBCLC who is even stumped by some of her issues, but she is determined to continue. If she can do it after everything that she has been through, I feel that almost everyone should be able to do it!! She is truly amazing.
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