tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536683374417960813.post4589890283830769154..comments2023-09-09T11:07:31.879-04:00Comments on Blacktating: Did my birth experience set me up to fail at breastfeeding?Elitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01294923997458681675noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536683374417960813.post-15234265519374940972011-07-19T15:58:03.330-04:002011-07-19T15:58:03.330-04:00I'm with you on the La Leche League! I would ...I'm with you on the La Leche League! I would never go to a meeting mostly because I doubted that the culture of the women there would support me in my not so ideal breastfeeding arrangements. Linda Blum's account of the LLL scared me off. In my research on blogs though I did find the LLL forum space to be quite free of judgement and philosophy. It definitely answered questions related to work and breastfeeding. I only found one post where a woman offered another women advice to stay home as though it was only a matter of money and greed when women work.betterworld4momsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536683374417960813.post-61383574793300715782011-07-19T15:51:21.796-04:002011-07-19T15:51:21.796-04:00I agree entirely Elita. Sometimes I also think th...I agree entirely Elita. Sometimes I also think there is too much information and it is really hard to know this person has the magic bullet for us or whether we are just going to spend more money using this or that, make the baby feel like a guinea pig, or waste precious time which an older child wouldn't mind having. I sometimes thought my baby would be 18 years by the time I had applied all breastfeeding advice! The worst though were the women who I mentioned that I couldn't breastfeed to who became rather sanctimonious and dismissive saying, "well you just had to do this and then it would have worked out". betterworld4momsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536683374417960813.post-43694246023294659532010-11-08T08:11:27.672-05:002010-11-08T08:11:27.672-05:00Absolutely, feel free!Absolutely, feel free!Elita @ Blacktatinghttp://www.blacktating.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536683374417960813.post-87173668055862778552010-10-31T09:12:23.225-04:002010-10-31T09:12:23.225-04:00I think that is a real fear: what can they do to y...I think that is a real fear: what can they do to you if you don't listen? We have all heard the horror stories of women who pushed back too much in the hospital and ended up having their babies taken by the authorities for not consenting to things like C-sections or vaccines. It is seriously scary and most moms are probably thinking it's not worth it to rock the boat too much.Elita @ Blacktatinghttp://www.blacktating.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536683374417960813.post-38798013713460660332010-10-30T05:35:41.294-04:002010-10-30T05:35:41.294-04:00I am a lil late to the conversation but I want to ...I am a lil late to the conversation but I want to add…. As a nurse who works in the hospital I want to let you know that… YOU have to demand control, answers, and ask questions. YES…. There are hospitals (not all of them) where your baby will be taken away from you and given bottles or sugar water, or sweet ease, where blood tests will be done without your knowledge. No harm is intended. No… they don’t' intend to undermine your breastfeeding efforts but they do. Some care and unfortunately…. some don't. My suggestion… be sure you or someone you trust is with your infant at all times. And if they say you can't go… QUESTION THAT!!!! Always remember…it's your baby and YOU have FULL rights to be a part and to witness every treatment, every test, every rest that happens to your baby. If you sleep things happen. I'm just sayin…. Just sharing… just so you know…Nicole SistaMidwife Degginshttp://www.nicoledeggins.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536683374417960813.post-1760990195566408262010-10-28T12:54:54.879-04:002010-10-28T12:54:54.879-04:00Disregarding the small number of cases where breas...Disregarding the small number of cases where breast feeding is actually biologically impossible, I think breast feeding is what you make of it. Infections can be treated [I know many women who have fought through repeated bouts of painful mastitis, some have even been hospitalized], tongue ties can be fixed with a very simple procedure. <br /><br />With my first child, I was young (22), still in college and working full time. I was induced the day after my due date. I labored for 21 hours, pushed for 3, then had a c-section. He was 10 lbs, 7 oz. I didn't care how he came, there is video of me falling asleep on the table. Post op, I was EXHAUSTED and in UNBEARABLE pain. It was horrible. My son's blood sugar was low so they gave him some formula, but then I nursed him, every 2-4 hours, whenever he cried. When my pain was still unmanaged, the last thing I wanted to do was nurse, but I did it. It took 6 days for milk to come in. For the first two weeks, my nipples wear chapped and bleeding. My son would spit up blood after nursing. But I kept at it. I ended up nursing him for 2.5 years. The formula he received in the hospital was the only formula he ever received.<br /><br />I had planned c-sections with my other two children. I nursed them as a soon as possible. My milk came in on the 3rd day with both. With my last child, I had a lot of postpartum bleeding and wasn't able to nurse him right away. I ended up nursing them for 22 months and 12 months respectfully.Davitahttp://meimeilittledesigns.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536683374417960813.post-27396602553095150922010-10-28T01:54:01.166-04:002010-10-28T01:54:01.166-04:00I had the same reaction while listening to Linda! ...I had the same reaction while listening to Linda! While overall I had a wonderful experience, some things, like suctioning, were a surprise. I keep wondering if they *really* had to do one check with the baby in the warmer. Should I have insisted that she stay with me? I also made my husband tell me over and over that I did hold my daughter skin to skin, because it's all a blur now.<br /><br />I really have to congratulate you for having so close to the birth you imagined! It's such a feat in most hospitals to do what you did.<br /><br />Tanyatanya@motherwearblognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536683374417960813.post-46330801766328409802010-10-27T23:19:26.530-04:002010-10-27T23:19:26.530-04:00No comment is too long! Thank you for sharing your...No comment is too long! Thank you for sharing your story!Elita @ Blacktatinghttp://www.blacktating.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536683374417960813.post-83284895867956320102010-10-27T17:03:15.852-04:002010-10-27T17:03:15.852-04:00cassandra - after such an empowering birth experie...cassandra - after such an empowering birth experience, i do understand how heartbreaking it is for you to not be able to nurse your baby. do recognize that it is nothing that you are doing wrong. for most of us, it IS a negative birth experience that is the culprit. then we meet moms like you. i have 30 years experience working with women in labor and postpartum. i had one mom who gave birth to twins and was so upset that she was not able to nurse one of the babies. kept blaming herself although the other baby had no issues and was nursing just fine. two babies and one mom...so it wasn't mom doing something wrong or she just couldn't because the other infant proved that she could. finally, we figured out that baby had a tongue thrust which was preventing her from latching on. there are many concrete reasons that can cause your problem. <br /><br />i admire your desire and persistence. not all lactation consultants are created equal - if one can't help you, keep at it until you find the one who can. all pumps are not created equal - i personally went through 5 different brands before i found the one that worked with MY breasts. it takes 6 weeks to develop a solid breastfeeding relationship. even with the necessary supplementation, i would keep her at my breast as much as possible...even if she is just hanging out because it is comforting for her. also, i would consult a midwife/nutritionist who's expertise is on what you need to be eating and drinking for your milk production. i would not give up until i have exhausted all possibilities. women who adopt can lactate after much endeavor and with tremendous support. the more the baby is act your breast, it triggers your brain to increase production. and i also wonder about your pediatrician; are they pro-nursing? because the pediatrician should be a resource into figuring out what is going on with baby...whether it is physical, developmental, etc. i hope you can find some comfort here and not be hard on yourself. it isn't easy, it's work, and we need all the help and support we can get.mamatotonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3536683374417960813.post-49221290670307987012010-10-27T16:30:29.675-04:002010-10-27T16:30:29.675-04:00This is such a real, everyday story. I had clear d...This is such a real, everyday story. I had clear directions for the birth of my second daughter after having my first birth being very medically directed due to what turned out to be a terminal condition that my first daughter was born with. Phoebe was only out of my sight between me going from the delivery room to recovery and my husband stood outside the door of the nursery while I got changed and told the nurses that I was going to be in there or camp out in front of the door of the nursery. I was told not to keep her in my bed at the hospital if I was asleep so through the night as the nurse came in to check vitals and such I heard the door open and made sure I was very awake and aware. You have to be this forceful at most hospitals because they think you're a wacko if you don't follow their guidelines concerning newborns and postpartum care. I just found out a friend of mine is having her first the same time I will be delivering my third and when I get an opportunity to have a conversation with her about birthing in a hospital, which I get the feeling she is going to do, making sure she understands the importance of having a clear birth plan and being adamant about it being followed is the thing that will make her breastfeeding relationship with her new baby successful, if that is what she wants to do. I will strongly encourage her and give her good info on all the benefits and breastfeeding is the ONLY way to go. I've heard several stories of hospital interventions being the genesis of issues with breastfeeding.Sarahjpruittnoreply@blogger.com