tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post4684187330057291944..comments2023-10-21T03:54:12.029-04:00Comments on A Gift Universe: Top 10 Breastfeeding MisconceptionsSheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-90574992382038936912011-03-14T14:06:24.542-04:002011-03-14T14:06:24.542-04:00Excellent list! I agree with everything. Funny we ...Excellent list! I agree with everything. Funny we wrote very similar posts for the Carnival.<br /><br />I agree pumping is often recommended as a solution that can cause more harm than good in the beginning. I loathe it as well.Kristen @ My Semi-Crunchy Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15653965602982379149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-19550401591336805412011-03-12T10:31:48.279-05:002011-03-12T10:31:48.279-05:00Wolfmother -- yeah, I'm always in a position o...Wolfmother -- yeah, I'm always in a position of "to give advice, or not?" A friend of mine recently posted baby pictures of their baby in the hospital with a pacifier. I knew they intended to breastfeed so I commented, "If you want an easier time nursing, you'd probably better lose the paci," and then told why. Then I felt like a nosey, interfering person. Luckily the dad didn't mind, and told me the nurses had given it to the baby without asking, but that the baby didn't like it so they took it out. So that one was a success. Not every time I open my mouth, trying to be helpful, is a success though.<br /><br />It's just so rough, knowing what to say when people need help. That's part of why I blog so much advice -- I would like new parents to happen across this info BEFORE they need it. Or at the very least, I could send a link instead of starting in on a lecture. One time, someone decided not to circumcise their son based on a link I sent -- that sure was a good feeling!Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-87851266825376485332011-03-11T16:13:26.828-05:002011-03-11T16:13:26.828-05:00"I wanted so badly to nurse my baby, but it d...<i> "I wanted so badly to nurse my baby, but it didn't work out," you don't exactly want to come back with, "Actually, you could have, had you had the benefit of my amazing knowledge." </i><br /><br />Haha! I have the same problem of being unsure how to proceed when it comes to sharing the massive amount of info stored in my brain. I don't want to come across as being holier than thou and make them feel ignorant or guilty about their choices but I want to help them by sharing what I know. Nobody likes unwanted advice either. It is socially awkward at times. Great article though! I'll link people to it so they can educate themselves. Perhaps that is the most tactful way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-76393415971258361722011-03-10T15:54:28.560-05:002011-03-10T15:54:28.560-05:00This is so helpful and respectful — thanks for the...This is so helpful and respectful — thanks for the list!<br /><br />#3. My breastfed baby never burped, so I totally agree! I think excess air coming in is more common with bottles.<br /><br />#5. We avoided pacifiers out of fear of nipple confusion, but I don't think I knew that about the comfort sucking/deep sucking confusion — that makes so much sense.<br /><br />#6. Ugh, I hated pumping, too. So much work for so little reward! I'm glad I knew not to count what my baby was getting nursing by what I was getting from pumping. (I pumped at first due to bad hospital advice that had Mikko supplementing for a week, and then later on to donate.)<br /><br />#10. My mom always says my brother self-weaned at 6 months, and I always bite my tongue because I imagine it was probably a nursing strike rather than true weaning at that age. I'm 38 years too late, in any case! :)Lauren Waynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-64587565932051867802011-03-10T13:40:14.974-05:002011-03-10T13:40:14.974-05:00I appreciate that answer, Sheila!
~BeckyI appreciate that answer, Sheila! <br />~BeckyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-72200255138515796122011-03-10T13:39:02.208-05:002011-03-10T13:39:02.208-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02688719514346028111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-49608449094685271062011-03-09T21:35:03.228-05:002011-03-09T21:35:03.228-05:00Personally, I think an overemphasis on pumping as ...Personally, I think an overemphasis on pumping as the solution to all problems is the end of a lot of breastfeeding relationships, because everyone hates doing it. And when are you supposed to find the time to pump in between caring for a new baby? Pretty soon what was supposed to be fairly pleasant, or at least not complicated, is a grueling chore with all that pumping thrown in. It's much better to take medication or herbs to increase supply, or to take the baby to bed for a nice long "nursing vacation" where you do nothing but nurse that baby for awhile. If you're always pumping and clock-watching, it's no wonder that you're dying to quit.<br /><br />I personally loathe pumping and have hardly ever done it. Makes me feel like a cow. I have so much respect for people who do it on a regular basis, because that would be such a sacrifice.Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-66024667123026133902011-03-09T21:18:05.912-05:002011-03-09T21:18:05.912-05:00Great list! I always knew I wanted to breastfeed ...Great list! I always knew I wanted to breastfeed too, but didn't forsee myself being such a lactivist!Aliciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11565759832834480920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-48440126318723259852011-03-09T16:51:46.065-05:002011-03-09T16:51:46.065-05:00Wow, this list touched on many of the problems tha...Wow, this list touched on many of the problems that I had in the beginning. First, I made sure she didn't have a pacifier during the hospital stay. My milk came in very late. The complications due to my c-section didn't help matters (needing a blood transfusion.) One good thing that came out of it was that I had access to nurses and specialists for 4 nights. Although they also made it more difficult because they made me supplement with formula and a syringe taped to my breasts. I'm not looking forward to that part of having a baby, again. <br />By the time we brought her home, she was a latching-pro, but I do remember the cluster feeding at night drove me crazy. By day 6, I had to give her about 0.5 ounces formula from a bottle. I hated it, but it was the only way she and I could get any sleep. I continued to breastfeed every three hours, or earlier, before I gave her a bottle. That worked for us, for quite a while, until I went to my 7-week check up with my OB. She prescribed me some medication, also used for anti-nausea. It doesn't work immediately, but as soon as the medication ran out, I could breastfeed exclusively! No bottles! After that it was smooth sailing. I continued to breastfeed until a week after she turned 18 months old. <br />Another thing that I wanted to mention was about pumping. I couldn't pump anything. I could count how many times I was engorged on my hand. Most mothers do need to rely on pumping when they go back to work. Luckily I returned to work when she was six months, part-time, so she survived well without one feeding at night. <br />A lot of young mothers (on Facebook, particularly) think that they need to pump every 10 minutes or whatever to increase their supply. I also heard that during the breastfeeding class I attended. But the reality was that all my Facebook friends who did this, didn't last three months breastfeeding their babies. What do you think of that pumping theory? Sure, it must help, but I suppose since I didn't enjoy pumping I didn't like that option.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-45383920133099295122011-03-09T10:09:21.871-05:002011-03-09T10:09:21.871-05:00Enbrethiel -- chances are, you were getting sleepy...Enbrethiel -- chances are, you were getting sleepy at that point. Many babies are only wide awake for about an hour after birth before wanting to sleep for as much as 12 hours! I know mine had no interest whatever in nursing till about 12 hours after he was born ... up to then he was too sleepy, and probably had a sore throat from the suctioning they gave him as well.<br /><br />Michelle -- the information I was given at the hospital said it shouldn't be toe-curlingly painful after the first few seconds, which sounds fair to me. It would be hard for me to say, because we DID have latch problems that are probably responsible for any pain I had. In any event, if it hurts throughout the whole nursing session, or if it's still hurting at all after two weeks, there is almost certainly a problem somewhere.Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-52655870658009674602011-03-09T02:30:25.376-05:002011-03-09T02:30:25.376-05:00It's so hard to say how much pain is normal wi...It's so hard to say how much pain is normal with breastfeeding... I didn't have any major problems and we had a pretty good latch but even so it still hurt like the dickens for the first 30 seconds of every nursing session in the first week after my eldest was born. <br /><br />I stuck it out and it got better quickly, but I think a little discomfort at the beginning is pretty normal. Knowing when a little normal discomfort crosses over into pain that indicates a problem is the hard part.<br /><br />I remember reading somewhere that if it continues hurting after the initial latch then something is wrong, so if I got to that point I'd break the suction with my finger and try latching again. It was a pretty good strategy.Michelle @ The Parent Vortexhttp://www.theparentvortex.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-2598092459217375492011-03-08T23:30:34.177-05:002011-03-08T23:30:34.177-05:00Great list! I was lucky that I never had any probl...Great list! I was lucky that I never had any problems breastfeeding my children, but what great reassurance for anyone who does have difficulty! Deb @ LivingMontessoriNow.comDeb Chitwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16665549481411417908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-42115253879473066742011-03-08T21:40:12.080-05:002011-03-08T21:40:12.080-05:00Such concise, good advice - thank you! (And I had ...Such concise, good advice - thank you! (And I had never heard the one about burping - how strange!)Dionna @ Code Name: Mamahttp://codenamemama.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-67908101252539686912011-03-08T21:22:45.895-05:002011-03-08T21:22:45.895-05:00+JMJ+
I wish my mother had read this when I was ...+JMJ+ <br /><br />I wish my mother had read this when I was a baby--especially #1! She told me that the nurses brought me to her after they had cleaned me up somewhat, and I didn't "want" to nurse at all!Enbrethilielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03414765854670926854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-52810227550317486512011-03-08T20:25:06.229-05:002011-03-08T20:25:06.229-05:00Thanks for combating these myths with the best too...Thanks for combating these myths with the best tool we have -- information! I enjoyed reading this and will be passing it along to friends.CatholicMommyhttp://workingtobeworthy.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-16364749638477537512011-03-08T14:55:24.163-05:002011-03-08T14:55:24.163-05:00It's so sad that these myth are still perpetua...It's so sad that these myth are still perpetuated in this day of information. Thanks for sharing. I think it's really important expecting mothers are reminded of thesemamapoekiehttp://www.authenticparenting.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-37645641386501707322011-03-08T14:29:43.494-05:002011-03-08T14:29:43.494-05:00Brittany, I have been lucky enough never to hear t...Brittany, I have been lucky enough never to hear that one! My siblings each nursed a nice long time, so it's normal for me. But I do hear that people think such a preposterous notion. I suppose I could always point them to the Bible, the book of Maccabees: "I bore you for nine months, nursed you for three years, and raised you," etc. It's only in our modern age that we're more comfortable with seeing toddlers sucking pacifiers and carrying around bottles than with seeing them nurse. I blame that old bottle-feeding culture for that one!Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-88544573101622283562011-03-08T14:26:24.141-05:002011-03-08T14:26:24.141-05:00Sarah -- that bottlefeeding culture is the downfal...Sarah -- that bottlefeeding culture is the downfall of a lot of people! I was lucky enough to be raised in a breastfeeding family, with young siblings when I was a teenager, so all of my experience is with breastfed babies. It really helped once I had my own!<br /><br />Fidelio -- wow, how unusual! Mine is slowly stepping down on the amount he nurses, so it wouldn't surprise me if he weaned on the earlier side, but so far it's quite gradual. He's had some nursing strikes before, as you may remember, so I hope I would recognize the difference. When I want him to wean, I'll just stop offering -- my guess is he won't nurse all that long after that. If I didn't remind him, he wouldn't nurse half as often as he does.<br /><br />(I'm in no hurry to wean, though! Plenty of time for that later!)Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10853868724554947854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-28575288693502624652011-03-08T14:26:04.000-05:002011-03-08T14:26:04.000-05:00Great list! Spend about ten minutes in a La Leche ...Great list! Spend about ten minutes in a La Leche League meeting and you will likely hear all of these. One more to add: nursing is only beneficial for little babies/if they can ask, they are too old. Mama's milk is important for toddlers, too!Brittany@Mama's Felt Cafehttp://www.mamasfeltcafe.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-44309864220605571662011-03-08T12:08:17.827-05:002011-03-08T12:08:17.827-05:00Nice post! :)
My cosleeping baby very definitely...Nice post! :)<br /><br />My cosleeping baby very definitely (and suddenly) <i>did</i> self-wean right at 12 months. One day he was nursing, then the next day he quit at night, then the next day he was done.Fideliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05153940948852223051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2464977109229359349.post-91036181103735391072011-03-08T09:37:12.613-05:002011-03-08T09:37:12.613-05:00Great post. I think a lot of women don't reali...Great post. I think a lot of women don't realize just how often a normal baby nurses (b/c we are part of a bottlefeeding culture and even the "exclusively breastfed" babies are not being nursed NEARLY as much as they are in traditional cultures) and that may contribute to a lot of the misconceptions you listed. Also a lot of women keep their kids in a crib so it is a LOT more disruptive to get up and nurse as often as they need to during the night.Sarah Faithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08878664620465280344noreply@blogger.com