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Suzanne's Breastfeeding Website
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Suzanne's Breastfeeding Website
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I found this beautiful picture at breastfeeding.com |
By now, most people know that breastfeeding is best for both mother and child. Honestly, I always had a hang-up about breastfeeding, as I've seen from others as well. I never breastfed my first child. I didn't even want to try. Just the idea of having a baby suck on my breasts was a turn off. |
| I was uninformed about the health benefits for both my baby and me. With my second child, I learned a little bit more about birth and babies and decided that I would like to try and breastfeed my baby. I had no information about it. When my son was born, the nurses helped me with latching on and positioning. I was apprehensive about all of it. During my one-day hospital stay, each time I nursed my after pains became very strong. I didn't realize that nursing was helping my uterus contract and get back into shape. No one explained it to me. |
| During the first few days at home with my new baby, I did not look forward to nursing him. Nursing became very painful for me. I would grit my teeth in pain as he nursed, not knowing that he was not latched on properly and was not taking the entire nipple and areola in his mouth like he was supposed to. My nipples became sore, cracked and bleeding. I called the lactation consultants at the hospital who gave me advice about relieving the pain but no suggestions about what was causing it. I never thought nursing was supposed to be painful. I guess they misunderstood between discomfort and pain. I was in PAIN! |
| I developed a fever and flu-like symptoms and went to the emergency room after consulting with my doctor over the phone. They ruled out a uterine infection and determined that I had mastitis - a breast infection where the milk ducts plug up. I was given a prescription for antibiotics. When symptoms did not improve, I was given more antibiotics. Within this time, my husband suggested that I just stop breastfeeding and use formula, as we had with our first baby. One doctor I saw told me I should keep nursing, even on the sorest side...which was very difficult so I agreed with my husband and I stopped nursing and put my son on formula. |
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I pretty much convinced myself that I was one of the type of women who just couldn't breastfeed. |
| When my third child was born, I didn't even consider breastfeeding. Within a few months of my daughter's birth, she began having severe diaper rashes. We tried all of the remedies to cure diaper rash and switched our daughter from disposable diapers to cloth diapers. A local pediatrician I took her to told me she was allergic to the formula so we switched her to soy formula. When her rash still didn't improve, we switched her to a hypoallergenic formula called Nutramigen. The rashes subsided some but really didn't completely go away until she was weaned off the formula at 11 months. |
| After seeing what my daughter went through with the rashes caused from formula, I was determined to find out more about breastfeeding. I borrowed the Le Leche League's book "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding". While reading this book, I realized why I had so much difficulty with my first attempt at breastfeeding. My son was not latching on properly and that caused all of our problems. I was not centering the nipple in his mouth and making sure he took it and the areola into his mouth. I attended a breastfeeding class at our local hospital and spoke to lactation consultants. I felt like I was now prepared to try breastfeeding again. |
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| When my fourth child was born, I was still apprehensive about that first nursing...fearing the same pain that I had with my second child. The nurses were much more helpful this time around, and I felt more informed and confident about what I was doing. During the first few days, yes, there were some uncomfortable moments, but not really painful and nothing like what I experienced with my second child. My nipples still got sore and a little cracked during the first few days. But when my milk came in during my 3rd day, I knew we were doing it right. |
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| I nursed my son for 17 months. The only reason he weaned was because I was expecting my fifth child and he would nurse and say "all gone". I had no letdowns anymore...no fullness in between nursings. Apparently, because of my pregnancy, the milk dried up. I breastfed my fifth baby with the same success as the fourth. I wished I had nursed all of my children! When the milk returned after the birth of my fifth child, my weaned son decided he wanted to nurse again. So, at 27 months, he resumed nursing. I then tandem nursed both of my youngest children. |
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A mother's milk is the perfect first food for a baby. It is designed specifically for the purpose of nourishing the child. I also noticed a different bond I had with my breastfed babies versus my formula fed babies. We implemented the family bed with our two youngest children so nursing at night was simple. I never had to rise and warm bottles. I just rolled over. We all slept better and were happier because of it. |
| Breastmilk provides a child with life-long benefits - immunities for their health and special chemicals to help with their brain development. Breastfeeding can also keep a child well and reduce their risks of certain infections. Breastfeeding benefits the mother as well. Nursing stimulates oxytocin, which helps contract the uterus to reduce bleeding and return the uterus to normal size after birth. Breastfeeding also reduces a woman's chance of getting breast cancer. As I have noticed, the bond between a breastfed baby and mother is amazing. It cannot be duplicated. | |
| I have been on both sides of the fence on this issue. When my children drank formula, I knew that breastfeeding was better but I convinced myself that formula is just as good. Everyone else around me bottlefed so it wasn't strange to me. By the time my fourth baby was born, I knew more and more people who were breastfeeding so that support was very important. My sister-in-law was nursing her daughter when my first breastfed son was born. She was also the one who lent me her Le Leche League book, for which I am very grateful for. My husband was also supportive, though just as apprehensive as I was in the beginning. He grew up in an era where no one breastfed. He remembers hearing jokes about breastfeeding, and rude comments and saying made about nursing in front of people. We have both relaxed a lot more about this, though I am still working on him understanding the value of extended nursing. | |
| Sometimes, I still am uncomfortable nursing in public. I have never been approached or commented to about nursing but I have heard such horror stories. I have nursed my child on demand whenever I could. |
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| Nursing can be done so discreetly...and, no, not by covering the baby up with a blanket! The shirt only has to be lifted enough for the baby to nurse...it covers the top of the breast and most people don't even know I am nursing! There are also many places that sell nursing shirts - - special shirts with a slit or buttons for easy discreet nursing. The more mothers nurse in public, the more accepting it will become and only those who remain ignorant will have a problem with it. | ||
| A pet peeve of mine is breastfeeding and working mothers. I was working on a temporary assignment when my fourth child (first breastfed baby) was born. I returned to work 3 weeks after his birth. I felt ready to return to work but I know I should have taken off more time to further establish our nursing relationship. I returned to work for both financial reasons and my work responsibilities. At first, I used a Medela spring hand pump to express milk for my son to drink while I was at work. I stocked the freezer as much as I could before returning to work. I worked 5 hours a day, plus an hour of traveling both ways. I was allowed one half-hour break during this time. Before my son's birth, I would use the half-hour to eat my supper. When I returned to work after his birth, I had to use this half-hour to express breast milk. The first time, I expressed in the bathroom, using the toilet as a seat and the stall for privacy. The hand pump was noisy and I tried to suppress the pumping when someone came in to use the bathroom. A co-worker of mine knew what I was doing and mentioned to me that she used to pump in a separate room in the nurse's station. Together, we approached our supervisor and asked about places to use for pumping. She told me I would use one of the spare offices that weren't being used (they were only used during the day and I only worked in the evening.) I would pull the shade and tape a sign to the outside of the door "do not disturb". | ||
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The Medela Lactina pump I rented. |
I rented an electric Medela pump. Boy, what a difference that made! I was able to express both breasts at the same time. It was much more comfortable also. | |
| Sometimes, the office was occupied so I was able to use the nurse's station when needed. Having only the half-hour break, I pumped rather than ate my supper. I would sneak in a snack here and there but not the supper break I used to have. I realized this was a sacrifice I needed to make in order to continue nursing my son. BUT, what bothered me was the fact that the smokers who I worked with not only got their half-hour supper breaks but two additional 15 minutes "smoker" breaks so they could go outside and smoke their cigarettes! That bothers me to this day. Here I was, expressing breastmilk to nourish my child while I was away at work but had to give up my only break to do so while smokers received additional breaks so they could smoke. It just doesn't make any sense. I believe that employers should provide the time and adequate place for nursing mother to express their breast milk. | ||
| A couple of months after I returned to work, my husband would call about halfway through my work night and tell me that our son just drank the last bottle. I did not want to supplement with formula, especially after seeing the effects it had on our third child. I also did not feel it was appropriate to start any solid foods because of the digestive and allergic concerns of feeding babies solids too soon. I would often leave work early to go home and nursed me son. I had always pumped on a regular basis on the weekends and during the day while my husband was at work in order to supply him with the breastmilk for our son while I was working. But I wasn't able to keep up with the demand. When I was solely nursing my son, we didn't have a problem. A pump will never work the same way as that fuzzy little head so I wasn't able to pump out more than 6 to 8 ounces at a time, often less than that. He would drink that amount during his first feeding while I was at work...and he often ate several times before I came home. I talked with my supervisor and we decided that I could reduce my work hours to 15 hours a week...Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; five hours each day. That helped some but I was still unable to keep a supply going in the freezer. My husband and I discussed it and we decided it was best for me to give my notice and stay home with my children again. My six-month temporary assignment was about to expire anyways but I did have an opportunity to renew it. I declined. | ||
| I never needed to pump again. I was always available to nurse my child and I feel, if the situation allows, this is the way it should be. Even if a baby is drinking expressed breastmilk, there is still some evidence that the use of a bottle may encourage early weaning and other problems. | ||
| I have to admit that tandem nursing was not always a joy. There were times when I felt that I want my body back! Somedays I felt like a nursing merry-go-round...first one, then the other, then the other one comes back, etc. Sometimes it might have been just competition between the two! The baby always got to nurse first. That wasn't always agreeable by my older child, but it worked out. I really enjoy nursing...I love to hold my children close. I love to look into their eyes and they into mine. We've had our ups and downs. I've been bit and sometimes they pull away before de-latching. OUCH! But I wouldn't change a thing and I do not look forward to the day when my youngest decides to wean. I would have nursed all five of my children had I had the knowledge and support that I needed. I was told that I didn't fail...I was failed; by society, by the nurses and my doctor, and, yes, even by my family, including my husband. I didn't have the information and encouragement I needed and that led to the problems I encountered with my second child. | ||
| I believe all babies should be breastfed. I think babies should be breastfed for as long as they want. Suzanne Arms, a well-known and well-liked author, stated at a presentation that I attended that "boys need to be nursed for 4 years." Not SHOULD be nursed by NEED to be nursed. I agree. Society may not be ready for this but I am doing what I know in my heart is best for my child. The worldwide average age of weaning is 4 years. Here in America, most barely make it to the first year. I've heard a lot of stupid things about extended nursing, including comments that nursing past the first year was somehow "sexual", both on the part of the mother and of the child. Obvious, these kinds of ignorant comments come from people who don't know what they are talking about. THEY are the ones with the hang-up about it and are associating it with sex. It is totally inappropriate to state such things. Extended nursing has benefits to the child that exceed the continued nutritional values. Bonding and nurturing are also very important. My daughter Kira often used to ask to nurse when she had a boo-boo. It comforted her. I felt honored to be able to provide that kind of support and comfort to my child. It's something I could do that no one else could do for them. No one can replace or substitute our bond and the importance of that bond cannot be measured. | ||
| I don't know how long my youngest child will nurse. I believe in child-led weaning. Regardless of their age, I know I will be sad when that day finally comes. I know we will grow in other ways but there's something really special about the nursing relationship. I wish all parents could experience it. | ||
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A good reason why breastfeeding needs to be protected by law!! Click on the link below. |
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I now own a Purely Yours breast pump and am very satisfied with it. I bought it from mother-nurture.com | |
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Seuss for Nursing Mommies... |
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