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new
Issue 1
Beginnings
2011
lllusa.org
Your
Breastfed
Newborn:
Five Things They Will Do
Navigating
Through
Prematurity and
Teratoma
Amazing
Oxytocin:
A Woman’s Body Is
Made to Give Birth
new
Beginnings
lllusa.org
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to
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pdf version
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visit llli.org
to access breastfeeding resources and information
new
Beginnings
lllusa.org
Your
Breastfed
Newborn:
[04]
[10] Mothers’ Stories
[12]
Toddler
Tips
[14] Making It Work
[18] Giving Birth
[08] Shannon’s story:
Navigating Through
Prematurity and Teratoma
[10] Melinda’s story:
Pumping Full Time
[19] New Research on
Tongue Tie May Help
Improve Treatment:
Colorado Mother Shares Her
Experience
[22] Eating
Wisely
[24] World
Breastfeeding
Week
Celebrations
store.llli.org
The Womanly Art
of Breastfeeding
breastfeeding
information
& questions
Nationa
l
Best-selle
r!
The One Boo
k
Every Nursin
g Mother
Needs By He
r Side
helpful
resources
parenting
forums
breastfeeding
g
de
breastfeegdu iin
llli.org
800-LALECHE
2 New Beginnings | Issue 1 | 2011
Includes helpful resources and answers
to frequently asked breastfeeding
questions plus a section featuring
books and products.
N EE dWi t i o n
8th
0
for more
information
guide
Tips & Products
Tip s &
Products
Volume 4, 201
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Catalogs Available @ the LLLI Store!
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New Beginnings Issue1 • 2011
Beginnings
lllusa.org
Issue 1 | 2011 | Volume 35
Number 1 © 2011,
La Leche League United States of America
Managing Editor | Amy Nelson
Contributing Editors | Brenda Carroll,
Cathy DeRaleau, Gina Kruml, Winema Lanoue,
Norma Ritter, Lesley Robinson, Karen Smith, Sara
Walters
Review Board | Alice Barbiere, Diane Jeffer,
Judith Gibel, Fran Dereszynski, Gwen Gotsch,
Carol Kolar, Judy Torgus, Kathleen Whitfield
Art Director | Ronnelito Larracas
Cover Photo | shutterstock.com
Advertising Manager | ReNata Bauder
Web Development | Ronnelito Larracas,
Dave Davis, Shelly Stanley
Acceptance of paid advertisements does not
constitute an LLLI endorsement of the product
advertised.
Email Lists: LLL USA sometimes makes its mailing list of
members available to reputable outside groups.
Editor’s Note
My two-year-old currently likes to pretend to be four things: a ballerina, a puppy, a princess,
or a baby. When she pretends to be a baby (really, isn’t she still one?), her two-year-old mind
imagines the baby crawling, gurgling “goo goo gaa gaa,” crying, and being sung to sleep with
lullabies.
As an expectant mother, how do/did you envision your newborn? Will you gently place your
baby down to sleep peacefully throughout the night? Will she only want to eat every three to four
hours? If she is crying or fussing, will she stop the instant you wrap your arms around her? Amy
Spangler, a nurse, lactation consultant, and mother, tells us in this issue’s feature article about
breastfed newborns and five things they will be sure to do.
Our Mothers’ Stories include two mothers who were able to provide their children with breast
milk despite many adversities. Our Toddler Tips column shares reader responses to a mother’s
dilemma of how to keep up with her daughter’s energy level. Making It Work readers had many
things to tell a mother who wondered how to handle the jealousy she’s experiencing toward her
daughter’s caregivers.
Janet Mahaffey relates a Colorado mother’s birth experience and the role a breast pump played
in inducing labor, while Michelle LeJeune shares another Colorado mother’s experience with
tongue-tie. Eating Wisely focus is on cooking with children and how to make it fun. Linda Parry
rounds out this issue with an inspiring list of La Leche League Groups that received awards for
their 2010 World Breastfeeding Week Celebrations.
codes exactly as they appear on the label.
Julia Pfitzer joins the New Beginnings staff as our Toddler Tips Contributing Editor. Julia is mother
to two young daughters and makes her home in Colorado. Welcome, Julia! We are still looking
for Contributing Editors for our Mothers’ Stories and Giving Birth columns. Please send an inquiry
to nbeditor@lllusa.org.
La Leche League International Inc. fully supports
Happy Spring!
If you prefer not to receive these mailings,
notify LLL USA. Please include your mailing
label or copy your name, address, email, and
the WHO (World Health Organization)
International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk
Substitutes. LLLI Board of Directors,
(1981,1988,1993, 2006)
New Beginnings (ISSN-8756-9981, USPS #010-853)
is published by La Leche League United States of America,
957 N. Plum Grove Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173.
Telephone 847-519-7730 (9 AM to 5 PM Central Time).
Visit our Web site at lllusa.org.
Amy Nelson
Amy Nelson is a La Leche League Leader in the small Missouri River town of Yankton, South
Dakota, where she lives with her husband, Cory, and four children: Accalia (11), Cole (8),
Ella (5) and Tylan (2).
2011 | Issue 1 | New Beginnings 3
Amy Spangler
Your Breastfed Newborn:
eat, sleep, poop and pee, cry,
and grow, but knowing what
breastfed babies do in each of
these categories gives parents
confidence in their ability to
meet their baby’s needs. That’s
five key areas of knowledge,
easily discussed by starting with
the questions parents most often
ask.
One:
Babies Poop & Pee
How often should my baby
soil a diaper? What should
it look like?
If you’re like most expectant
or new parents, you’ve read
countless books on what to do,
when to do it, how to do it, and
why to do it. And you’ve likely
received lots of advice (solicited
and unsolicited) from wellmeaning family members and
friends.
Parenting two sons hardly qualifies
me as an expert, but it has taught
me an important lesson. While I
had anticipated that my children
would grow up because of me,
the fact is they grew up in spite of
me. While I had planned to teach
them everything I knew, the fact
is I learned more from them than
they learned from me.
Breastfeeding was among my
early challenges—first as a
nurse (helping others), then as
a mother (helping myself), and
finally as a lactation consultant
and health educator. I was raised
to believe that more is better
than less. So every time I learned
more about breastfeeding, I
promptly incorporated it into my
classes. When I began teaching
breastfeeding classes, I offered
a single two-hour class. I clearly
recall the first class, which lasted
30 minutes—a reflection of how
little I knew.
It took only 30 minutes for me to
give parents the information they
needed to breastfeed effectively
(or more importantly to know
if breastfeeding was or wasn’t
going well). As my knowledge
of breastfeeding increased, that
single two-hour class grew into
a pair of two and one-half hour
classes. That was before I realized
that less is better than more.
The more I learned about
breastfeeding, the more I felt the
need to share all that I knew with
the parents I had the privilege of
teaching. I didn’t know it at the
time, but parents didn’t want (and
didn’t need) to know everything I
knew. They just wanted to know:
enough to get by, enough to make
breastfeeding work for them,
and enough to keep their babies
healthy and safe.
Defining ‘Enough’
Parents don’t need to be rocket
scientists or parenting gurus to
breastfeed. But they do need
to know how normal breastfed
babies behave. If parents know
what to expect the critical first
days and weeks after birth, then
they will know if their baby is
getting enough to eat and when to
seek help.
It’s really quite simple. All babies
add water to create a runny
consistency, you can clearly see
what breastfed baby poop looks
like!
A breastfed baby’s stool is a
yellow stain at least the size of
your baby’s fist, with or without
solid material. The urine or pee
is the easy part. Babies that are
well fed urinate a lot, but if you
are using disposable diapers,
it’s hard to tell if the diaper is
wet and even harder to tell how
much urine it contains. As long
as your baby’s urine is clear or
pale yellow in color, you don’t
need to be concerned. When
babies are underfed, they
stop pooping before they stop
peeing, so poopy diapers are
the best sign that your baby is
well-fed.
Two:
Babies Eat
How often should my baby
breastfeed? How long
should a feeding last? How
much breast milk does my
baby take at a feeding?
When should I introduce
solid foods?
Birth days are unpredictable,
with babies born at different
times of the day. In the interest
of simplicity, it is best to assign
Day One to the day after your
baby is born. That being said,
once the newborn has passed
the dark, tarry stools called
meconium, parents of exclusively
breastfed babies should expect
to see three stools a day for the
next three days and four stools a
day for the next four weeks.
If you combine equal parts of
yellow mustard and cottage
cheese (one tablespoon) and
a teaspoon of sesame seeds
(mix well to stain the cottage
cheese and sesame seeds), then
Exclusively breastfed babies
should eat at least eight times
in a 24-hour period. Many
babies will eat 10 to 12 times
a day! Some babies breastfeed
every 2-3 hours day and night,
while others cluster–feed,
breastfeeding every hour for
Amy Spangler
three to five feedings and sleeping
3-4 hours between clusters. Some
babies breastfeed for 10-15
minutes on each breast, some
breastfeed for 15-30 minutes on
each breast, and others breastfeed
for 15-30 minutes on one breast
only. Watch your baby, not the
clock. He will tell you when he is
hungry and when he is full.
Babies cry for different reasons.
They may be hungry, tired, hot,
cold, or sick. They may simply
have a wet or dirty diaper, or
they may be fussy for no apparent
reason. With time you will learn to
recognize the meaning of different
cries. Until then, try different
remedies until you find one that
works.
During the first three months of life
breastfed babies need about 2½
ounces of milk per pound of body
weight each day. For example, a
10-pound baby would need 2½
x 10 or 25 ounces a day. You
can estimate the size of a single
serving by dividing the amount
needed each day (25 ounces) by
the number of daily feedings (8,
9, 10 etc.). If you divide 25 by 8,
the size of a single feeding would
be about three ounces.
Sometimes babies continue to cry
despite every effort. If you feel
that you are losing your ability
to cope, put your baby in a safe
place (crib, bassinet, or play yard)
until you are calm. Being a parent
24 hours a day, seven days a
week can be stressful. Taking a
shower or bath, listening to music,
or eating a healthy snack will help
you calm yourself so that you are
able to calm your baby.
Your milk is all your baby needs
for about the first six months of
life. You will know that your baby
is ready for solid foods if he can:
Four:
Babies Sleep
Do I need to wake my baby
• sit up without support.
to breastfeed? When will my
• support his head and neck.
baby sleep through the night?
• pick up finger foods and put
them in his mouth.
Can I sleep with my baby?
• swallow food offered on a
spoon without gagging or spitting.
Once your baby shows these
readiness signs you can begin
by introducing meats (a good
source of iron) and soft cooked
vegetables (great finger foods).
Three:
Babies Cry
Why is my baby crying?
What can I do to make him
stop?
It’s important that newborn babies
breastfeed at least eight times (or
more) in each 24-hour period.
Frequent feedings ensure that your
baby gets enough to eat and that
you make ample milk. It’s hard
(sometimes impossible) to wake a
sleeping baby. If you keep your
baby nearby you can watch for
early signs of hunger such as
wriggling, squirming, sucking on
A
ll babies eat, sleep, poop and pee, cry,
and grow, but knowing what breastfed
babies do in each of these categories
gives parents confidence in their ability to
meet their baby’s needs.
fingers or fists, coughing, and
yawning, and offer the breast at
those times. Crying is the last sign
of hunger. If you wait until your
baby cries to feed him, he is less
likely to breastfeed well and more
likely to fall asleep.
Every baby is different, but the
age at which your baby will sleep
through the night depends in part
on your definition of night. During
the first three months of life,
babies add one to two pounds a
month. This explains why frequent
feedings (day and night) are so
important. Your baby will tell you
when he is hungry. By six months
of age, most babies will sleep six
hours (or more) at night.
Babies sleep in lots of different
places such as car seats, strollers,
and cribs. While some places are
safe, others are unsafe, and even
safe places can become unsafe,
depending on the conditions.
The American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends that
mothers sleep near their babies
but on a separate sleep surface
to prevent babies from getting
trapped beneath pillows, blankets,
duvets, or siblings who wander
in during the night. Despite this
recommendation, many mothers
sleep with their babies for part of
the night or the entire night as a
means of making it through the
night. If you decide to sleep with
your baby, it’s important to know
how to keep your baby safe.
• Place your baby on his
back. Do not put your
baby on his tummy or
his side.
• Use only a lightweight
cover or blanket or a sleep
sack.
• Do not use comforters,
duvets, quilts, or pillows in
your baby’s bed.
• Do not let your baby get too
hot.
• Use a bed with a firm
mattress that fits tight against
the bed frame. Do not use
bumper pads or waterbeds.
• Do not sleep with your baby
on sofas or overstuffed chairs.
• Do not place your baby
alone in an adult bed.
• Do not place your baby
in an adult bed with older
siblings.
• Parents who smoke should
not sleep with their baby.
Smoking increases the risk
of Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS). If you must
smoke, do not smoke in the
house or car or near your
baby.
• Parents should not sleep
with their baby if they have
used alcohol or drugs.
• Parents who are very
overweight should not sleep
with their baby.
Amy Spangler
W
atch your baby, not the clock.
He will tell you when he is
hungry and when he is full.
Five:
Babies Grow
How much weight will my
baby lose in the first days of
life? When should my baby
be back to birth weight?
How much weight should my
baby gain in the first weeks/
months of life?
Exclusively breastfed babies lose
on average five percent of their
birth weight. Weight loss typically
occurs in the first five days. Most
babies are back to birth weight
by ten days of age, and gain four
to eight ounces each week for the
next three months. Rate of weight
gain will slow slightly after three
months. Many babies double
their birth weight by six months
and triple it by one year. If you
compare breastfed babies to their
formula-fed counterparts at one
year of age, they are comparable
in terms of height (length) but
usually weigh less.
Putting it all
together
Now you have it—five bits of
knowledge that, along with a
breast, a brain, and a baby are
all you truly need to breastfeed.
The challenge is applying it in real
time!
The rules are simple; there’s only
one—FEED THE BABY. Real estate
agents clearly know that success
hinges on one thing—location,
location, location. You can
position yourself for breastfeeding
success if you position your
baby correctly both at and on
the breast. When your baby is
positioned well, his head, neck,
and chest should face the breast.
(Think about how you face the
table to eat your meals and
position your baby the same way.)
Your baby’s mouth should be
opened wide. His tongue should
be over his lower lip between his
lower lip and the breast. His lips
should roll out like the lips of a fish
and lie flat against the breast. His
chin should press firmly into the
breast.
Sounds easy, right? Wrong.
Making milk is natural.
Breastfeeding is a learned skill.
And like any new skill, to become
an expert requires patience
and practice. So take a deep
breath and try to relax. While
breastfeeding lasts a short time,
your 18-year (or longer) tour of
duty as a parent is just beginning.
IL 60173 USA
Road • Schaumburg
HE
Plum Grove
957 North
460 • 800-LALEC
847.969.0
730 • fax
847.519.7
Tip 6: Breastfed
fed babies.
Establishing
For more information,
please see the following
La Leche League
International (LLLI)
information sheets,
available through
store.llli.org:
Establishing Your Milk Supply
ply
Your Milk Sup
ability
his mother’s
for milk and
is one
A baby’s need
right quantity
it in just the
of the law of
to produce
perfect examples
how the milk
of nature’s most
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supply and demand and regulated makes it easier
ed
tips
supply is establish
Here are 10
ample milk supply.
to maintain an
to help you.
early
Tip 1: Nurse
often than formula
getting
if your baby is
diapers to check
Tip 7: Count
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enough to eat.
her baby is nursing
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but
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847.969.0
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847.519.7 The breast
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feedings.
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Tip 9: Growth
3 months and
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will
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© October 2008,
No. 10156
La Leche League
What you can
do
Don’t swaddle
your baby.
15, 16
International
never sleep
Otherwise,
only for feedings.
at all, bed-share reach.
partner smokes
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If you or your
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if he’s face-down.
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trouble.
floor eliminates
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Bottle-fed babies position. If your baby
arm’s reach.
sleep
always within
to their own
to sleep separately,
reach on a
safer for him
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There are
sleep face-up
Leche League.
have your baby
La
call
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If you don’t
big problems.
For help with
may feel like
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and suffocation.
La Leche League
al sheet may
League Internationa
without written
ted” at night:
A baby should
partner’s condition.
d.
your and your
is compromise
Be aware of
anyone who
children or
with young
die of
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babies are more
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Formula-fed
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HUMAN MILK.
and other risks
SIDS. Suffocation
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protect his
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OF MOVEMENT suck on his hands, or
risk of both
FREEDOM
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his position,
normally. Swaddling
or appetite
sleep state,
© October 2010,
No. 10343
l
Internationa
in any manner
League
al sheet may
without written
llli.org
Amy Spangler
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Mothers’ Stories
Shannon’s story: Navigating through
Prematurity and Teratoma
A
t eight days old we had our first
cuddle. I can honestly say there
was nothing more rewarding
then to be able to hold her, kiss her
and smell her.
My first daughter was born
at term, weighing 10 lbs, 4
oz. I tried to nurse her but
didn’t make it past nine weeks.
This was because I received
misinformation, along with
learning about a milk protein
allergy, and despite taking a
medication to stimulate my milk
supply, these factors led to my
milk drying up. I was devastated.
To this day it still hurts to think
about it.
When my second pregnancy
was at 18 weeks gestation, my
husband and I were devastated
to learn that our sweet baby
girl had a sacrococcygeal
teratoma*. We were told she
would not likely survive and were
offered the option to terminate
the pregnancy. Since we do not
believe in the probability of odds,
or termination, our decision was
to continue the pregnancy, day
by day. Because her heart was
weak, she was expected to be
born at 23 weeks. Day by day
she surprised us all and made
it to 30 weeks before deciding
to come into this world. My
pregnancy was stressful. I had
daily ultrasounds, therapeutic
amniocentesis, and the constant
worry of “what ifs.”
Evalee’s cesarean delivery
required a team of about 15
doctors and nurses. She weighed
7 lbs 9 oz. However, the tumor
was the same size as she was,
and after it was removed, Evalee
weighed four pounds. The
spinal anesthetic wore off just
as I was entering the recovery
area. All I wanted was to see
my baby, to place her on my
chest and nurse her as I had
my first daughter. I was on a
stretcher when they wheeled
me into Evalee’s room. She was
on a ventilator and sedated so
she wouldn’t try to remove the
intubation and damage the site of
the tumor removal. The tumor was
extremely vascular (containing
many blood vessels such as veins,
capillaries, and arteries) and
every minute it was attached to
her, it threatened her life.
When I returned to my room, it
was almost ten hours later. I was
so incredibly fortunate to have an
amazingly supportive breastfeedingfriendly hospital.
I was allowed to stay on the high-risk
pregnancy floor so I didn’t have to
see other mothers holding and nursing
and loving their babies. Oh, how I
longed for just a cuddle!
I pumped every one to three hours but
never managed to produce more than
three or four drops. Evalee wasn’t
strong enough to take my milk yet, so I
knew I had time.
Editor’s note: La Leche League
guidelines suggest that pumping
approximately every three hours
or eight to 12 times each day is
adequate for your premature
newborn.
At one day old, the tumor was
removed. We were told to say
our goodbyes as it’s a very risky
surgery. We held our breath and
prayed. Evalee made it through
her surgery that required three
blood transfusions. She came through
fighting. I continued to pump. My
left breast produced nothing. I was
devastated but not discouraged. I saw
a doctor who prescribed a medication
that stimulates lactation.
At eight days old we had our first
cuddle. I can honestly say there was
nothing more rewarding then to be
able to hold her, kiss her, smell her. I
held her between my breasts and just
dreamed of the day we could finally
share that nursing bond. At nine days
old, she finally received her first drop
of breast milk via a nasogastric tube
(a tube that is passed through the nose
and down into the esophagus and
stomach). She was fed one milliliter
every three hours when she could
tolerate it. After a few days she was
moved up to two milliliters every
Mothers’ Stories
When Evalee was 10 weeks old, I was
allowed to put her to the breast. They told
me she was a sick baby and not to expect
a latch for another month, possibly longer.
My baby wanted to prove them all wrong
again. She latched and she drank and she
did reasonably well. Within four days her
nasogastric tube was out and she was fully
breastfeeding. She stumped everyone! I had
never been so proud in my entire life. She
still had many problems nursing, though.
She choked, and she had three to 10 apnea
episodes during a feeding where I would
need to rub her chest or she would need to
be resuscitated.
It was then discovered that Evalee
had severe reflux. She was given two
medications and placed back on breathing
support (high flow pressure via nasal
prongs.) It was not determined why the air
pressure helped her breathe; we just know
that it did.
Up until Evalee was feeding from the breast,
my 15-month-old daughter Addisyn and I
had been traveling back and forth to the
neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on the
bus an hour each way. Afterwards, after
Evalee was nursing at the breast, Addisyn
went to stay with her grandparents, who
lived almost two hours away. I was under
so much stress for the rest of the NICU stay.
She needed me to nurse her because she
would not take a bottle. I was so terrified of
her having her nasogastric tube reinserted.
One day a few weeks later, Evalee went
on a nursing strike. She refused to nurse
or to take a bottle. The nurse was ready to
reinsert the nasogastric tube. I put her to my
breast and she nursed. Whether she nursed
for comfort or she nursed because she was
hungry, I’ll never know. I was just so thankful
she did.
Soon she was weaned off the breathing
support and was ready to come home. As I
waited for her to be fully discharged by the
doctors, I sat in a rocking chair and rocked
Evalee and she turned blue in my arms. I
was oblivious. We still have no idea how
long her breathing had stopped.
I panicked when I saw her. The nurses
and doctors came running, a code blue
was called, and it was minutes before they
could revive her. I will never forget that
day. Her medications were changed and
readjusted. During our stay many doctors
thought Evalee had tracheomalacia.** A
definite diagnosis was never made about
this despite having many of the symptoms,
especially the choking. After ten long weeks,
Evalee was allowed to come home with ustwo days after her due date!
Evalee still continues to choke every time
she nurses and has only reluctantly taken
a bottle three times since she’s been home
from the hospital. I was told our hospital
stay could have easily been twice as long
had she been formula fed, as it would have
made her reflux twice as bad. Evalee is still
a periodic breather, but she is otherwise a
happy, healthy five and a half-month-old.
With all of the new research being done on
tumors and breast milk, I may pump for her
after she weans. Her tumor has a chance of
returning, but I know she is strong from all
her mommy’s milk!
New
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Shannon Rogers, Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Canada
*A sacrococcygeal teratoma is a type
of tumor that develops at the base of the
coccyx (tailbone). It occurs in 1 out of
35,000-40,000 live births.
** Tracheomalacia is a weakness and
floppiness of the windpipe (trachea).
Photo: Claire Hoyle and baby Beth and Jamie
six hours. Eventually after a few setbacks,
she was on full feeds. At this point, Evalee
began experiencing severe apnea. She
needed to be revived up to 18 times a
day. Her doctors had no idea why this was
happening.
The Womanly Art
of Breastfeeding
Mothers’ Stories
Melinda’s Story: Pumping Full Time
I
’m not sure what kept me going, but by
the time six months came around I was
still pumping five times a day and was
determined to continue to pump a full year.
learned was poor advice because
breaking the suction hurt even more.
When most women go through
pregnancy they focus on several
things: the labor/delivery, being
prepared for the arrival of the baby
and, if they are going to breastfeed,
they may talk to friends, read a book,
and maybe even attend a La Leche
League meeting. I did all these things,
but nothing could prepare me for
what was about to happen.
Before I was even pregnant I knew
I had a good chance of having a
cesarean section due to a pre-existing
medical condition. I also knew that in
order for me to have a vaginal birth, I
had to do it without any drugs. While
I was pregnant I did everything I
could to prepare myself for a natural
childbirth. My husband and I hired
a doula to help us. We were ready
for it.
Then, as my due date came and I
wasn’t showing signs of going into
labor, my doctors recommended that
I have a cesarean section. They were
concerned that the baby was too
big and I was going to have a long
labor, or even worse that the baby’s
head might be too big for me to push
out. None of these situations were
good for me. So after several days of
thinking, my husband and I agreed to
have the cesarean section.
Knowing that I was having a
cesarean section made me even more
determined to nurse my daughter.
I had my husband put signs in her
bassinet that said “breastfeed only”
to remind the nursing staff not to give
her a bottle. No matter what, I was
going to nurse her.
In the first day or two I thought
nursing was going great. It was on
day three that everything began to
fall apart. I started to feel a lot of pain
in my right nipple while feeding. The
hospital started pressuring me to give
her a bottle because she was losing
too much weight. I refused because I
knew that it was okay for her to lose
some weight. Later that night, the
doctor came to me and said that my
baby had lost more than 11 percent
of her birth weight and was starting to
show signs of jaundice. They wanted
me to give her a bottle after she
nursed to make sure she was getting
enough nourishment. They also told
me that I had to switch sides during
each nursing session, which I later
That night I nursed her and gave
her a bottle every two hours. I cried
giving her the bottle and while
nursing. Her latch was so strong
that taking her off was very painful.
By morning my right nipple was
almost bleeding and my left nipple
was starting to crack. After four
days of requesting assistance from
the hospital lactation department,
the specialist showed up to check
on my baby’s latch. I was told that
everything looked good and that I just
needed to try other positions and to
feed her on one side only. She also
suggested that I try a nipple shield to
protect my nipples from getting any
worse, which I was happy to do.
When we got home I was so tired
from recovering from the cesarean
section, the pain medications, and
the emotional rollercoaster. I was still
determined that I was going to nurse
her because I wanted her to have
the best. During the first week home I
had a lactation specialist come to the
house because things were not getting
better. Because my pediatrician was
worried about my baby’s weight gain,
we went to the office for check ups
every few days. I supplemented with
formula because we thought my milk
was not coming in quickly enough.
Then the lactation consultant told us
that my daughter had a posterior
tongue-tie, which my doctors were not
familiar with. I was advised to take
some time off from nursing to heal my
damaged nipples and instead pump.
This sounded great to me because it
hurt too much to continue.
I pumped and did not nurse for about
two weeks before I went to visit with
a new lactation specialist. I sat there
in the office with my daughter latched
on. She would nurse but for some
reason she was not transferring the
milk. I remember being so happy
that she was latched on but when we
would weigh her after 20-30 minutes
of nursing, her weight would be the
same as it was before we started. At
this point I was hopeful that it was
just a matter of time before everything
clicked, so I continued to pump and
give her breast milk in a bottle. By
six weeks she was very unhappy
nursing and would not latch on. I
became so upset every time and even
cried on several occasions. I wanted
so much to be able to experience
breastfeeding and bond with my
daughter. Her rejection of nursing
made me feel like she was rejecting
me. I knew in the back of my mind
that she loved me and that we were
going to be okay, it tore me apart
inside because she was not able to
latch on.
I had to pump eight times a day to
provide my daughter with enough
breast milk - 32 ounces - for the
day. This task was not an easy one.
Pumping every three to four hours
didn’t leave much time for sleep.
My husband woke up in the night
to feed her so that I could get some
sleep between pumpings. There were
many days when I just wanted to
stop because I felt like pumping was
taking time away from my time to
bond with my baby. I just wanted to
do what was best for her, though, so I
kept pumping and telling myself that it
would get easier.
Every day I would tell myself that my
baby would be stronger, develop
faster, and be healthier in life because
she received my breast milk. I knew
Mothers’ Stories
that one of the best ways to protect
her from getting sick was to give her
the breast milk antibodies. By taking
care of all of her needs I was giving
her the opportunity to focus on things
beyond basic survival: laughing,
learning how to use her hands,
finding her feet, and exploring her
new world. It just did not make sense
to me to give her formula when I was
able to pump my milk. Breast milk
is easier to digest, tastes better, is
not made in a factory, and provides
antibodies that will last a lifetime.
There are so many benefits to breast
milk, and some benefits are probably
still unknown to scientists.
Around ten weeks she woke up one
morning and started to nurse. I was
so happy I called my husband in and
showed him. Neither of us thought
that she would nurse and we felt so
relieved. We told each other pumping
was soon going to stop. While she
was nursing I felt the greatest joy.
Having had a cesarean section, I
hadn’t had the chance to experience
the joys of birth I had hoped for, so
this was very exciting for me. She
continued to nurse a few times a day
for several days. I continued to pump
after she nursed and during the day
to make sure my supply was still there
and to get an idea as to how much
she might have taken.
Then one day while nursing she had
problems with milk flow being too
fast; she became very upset. My milk
was coming out the side of her mouth
and she was not happy. That was
the last time she nursed. I tried many
times to latch her on, but she would
just scream as soon as I put her into a
nursing position. After about a week
of this, I went back to the lactation
specialist for help. She suggested
that I stop trying for a bit so that my
daughter could have time to forget
what she was mad about. She also
gave me tips on how to slow down
my milk flow in case she did latch
on again. For the next two months I
pumped seven times a day and gave
her a bottle. I also tried to nurse her
every now and then but every time I
received the same response from her:
loud screams. What was I to do? I
was beginning to think that pumping
was going to be the only way I was
going to be able to give her breast
milk. I spoke with a La Leche League
Leader weekly for support and she
helped me to keep going. Every time
I wanted to stop she would email
or call me. These two months were
extremely hard for my husband and
me. I was very lucky that my husband
also wanted our daughter to have
breast milk and was able to help out
so that I could pump as much as I did.
By the time my daughter was
four months old, we had tried a
supplemental nursing tube, nipple
shield, nursing in the tub, keeping
her skin-to-skin, and every position.
It was around this time that I told
myself that I couldn’t try anymore.
Emotionally I could not do it again.
My daughter was bonding with me
and we all were happier. I accepted
that we were never going to have the
nursing experience that I wanted but
she was still getting my milk, which
was the main thing. I told myself that
the number of times I pumped per day
would decrease as she started to eat
food and that I only had two more
months to go. I’m not sure what kept
me going, but by the time six months
came around I was still pumping five
times a day and was determined
to continue to pump a full year. It is
hard to watch her while pumping but
seeing her grow and develop has
made it worth it. I tell myself that she
is not only happy but she is getting a
gift that will stay with her forever-my
breast milk.
For the first three or four months she
would just lay on the floor at my
feet watching me pump. By the time
she was almost five months old, she
would climb on top of me and try to
nurse through my clothes. She would
appear to want to latch on so I would
offer her my breast just to see what
she would do. She would just look at
it and then look at me like “what is
this?” I knew that she was hungry so
I offered her a bottle with breast milk
and she was happy to polish it off.
Sometimes I look at her and I say
to myself or to my husband, “Look
at how wonderful she is. She is
developing fast, doing so much more
than she should be doing for her age,
happy, and healthy.” I then tell myself
that this is because we are taking
such good care of her and because
of the breast milk. I feel so blessed
that I was able to find the internal
strength to continue to pump. I know
that I not only gave her everything
she needed while I was pregnant but
I am still providing breast milk for her
continuing growth and development
many months later. It is a very
powerful feeling to know that your
child is growing and thriving in her
new world because of you.
I admit I sometimes wonder how she
would be if I had stopped pumping
and just given in to formula. Would
she have developed as fast? Would
she be as happy? I will never know
the answers, but when I look at her
smiling at me it is all worth it. I admit
that even today when I see a mother
nurse her baby I wish that I was
experiencing that. I even want to cry
at times because I am taken back
to the rejection I felt. Then I look at
my baby and I tell myself that I am
experiencing it, just in a different way.
The pain that I feel is within me and
has nothing to do with her. She is
perfect and is getting the best food,
even if it comes in a bottle.
I am happy to say that my daughter is
10 months old and I am still pumping.
I was able to reduce the number of
pumpings to three times a day. Soon
it will be two pumpings a day. I know
I can give her at least a full year now.
As hard as this has been for me, I am
happy I chose to continue pumping.
This is a journey for me and it is one
that I will never forget. I feel grateful
to have had the option of pumping
because if I was not able to get a full
day’s worth of milk for her I would
have turned to formula. I thank my
husband for the support he gave and
all my family who listened to me cry.
Melinda Goldman, Port
Washington, New York
Upcoming LLL USA Events for 2011
Listed below are upcoming opportunities
for Leaders and other mothers to gather
for breastfeeding and LLL information.
May 7—8:
LLL of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska
www.lllofnebraska.org
May 27—29:
LLL of So. California/Nevada,
Newport Beach, California
www.lalecheleaguescnv.org/conference/pages
June 3—5:
LLL of Missouri Conference,
Columbia, Missouri
September 16:
Healthcare Provider Seminar,
LLL of Washington, Kenmore, Washington
www.lllwaconf.org/mambo
November 4:
LLL of Wisconsin Conference
www.lllofwi.org/events/index.html
Toddler Tips
Editor’s Note:
Responses for this situation are
taken from a conversation on
the New Beginnings Facebook
page. If you haven’t been to our
Facebook page, please take a
look, “like” us and join in the
conversation!
Mother’s
Situation
My toddler is into
EVERYTHING! We’re still
nursing, so I can meet
her needs for reassurance
and help her fall to sleep
with nursing, but the rest
of the day she’s running
me ragged just keeping
up with her! I’m having
difficulty with the mismatch
in our energy levels. Any
suggestions? Help!
Fresh air. Even though it takes effort to get
everyone ready it really helps to get outside. It
boosts my energy level and provides a good
place for the kids to expend some energy. And
make sure you are both eating and drinking
healthfully.
Julia Pfitzer,
Broomfield, Colorado
A tea promoting healthy lactation in the
afternoon always gives me a boost, along with
a healthful snack like apples and nut butter.
Katrina Venis Scott,
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Try resting when your child does, even if she
is no longer napping. My daughter has never
been a good napper, but if I hold her/nurse
her during her nap, she will sleep for hours,
so I have to decide whether those dishes are
really important, or if it is more important to
bond, relax, and ensure she gets some good
rest while I also get some relaxation/quiet
time. A wise woman asked me if it bothered
me that my daughter took really short naps
(when I was not holding her), and I thought
about it and discovered that I didn’t mind, but
I always felt like I had to literally run around
the house trying to get everything done in 20
minutes, then my daughter would wake up,
and I would be tired from running around,
and my patience level was lower. If I just allow
myself the luxury of holding my daughter
during her naps, not only do I get re-energized
but my patience level is much better!
Even with very young children, a “quiet time”,
where there is peace and stillness in the
home (even if it is for five minutes), could be
instituted. One of my mentors started having
“afternoon tea time” with her child, where
she would literally make a nice, warm cup of
tea, and her daughter might have hot cocoa,
or another beverage of her choice. For a few
minutes, there was quiet. Sometimes this might
include reading or looking through books
silently, either separately or together! They
could “re-charge” to get through the rest of the
day.
Laurel Miller-Jones,
Salt Lake City, Utah
I can’t beat that feeling. My only solution is
to have a long bath with my baby at the end
of the day, and then when she smells lovely
to cuddle her all night long because I still bed
share with her.
Dessi Mineva,
Kazanlak, Bulgaria
New Mother’s Situation:
My toddler is a very adventurous eater as well
as a great conversationalist. Lately however,
she has been chatting so much at meal times
that we have a hard time getting her to eat.
Then a half hour to an hour after we have left
the table she will be hungry again. How can
we gently encourage her to eat when we are
eating and not have to deal with making a
snack or doing double clean up later?
“Toddler Tips” is edited by Julia Pfitzer, an
early childhood educator who currently stays
home with her two daughters. She and her
husband, Chad, enjoy raising their family in
Broomfield, Colorado. E
Please send responses and new situations to
toddler.tips@lllusa.org.
GlobaLLL
New items at
store.llli.org
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be a great help
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Making It Work
Mother’s
Situation:
I have been working full
time since my daughter was
four months old. She stays
with my husband two days
per week and my mother-inlaw three days per week. I
am very grateful that I don’t
have to pay for daycare
and that she gets one-onone attention from family
members who love her, but I
find that I feel jealous and a
little resentful that they get to
spend so much time with her
and that I do not. I love my
job and don’t really want
to quit, but I sometimes feel
marginalized when I hear
about all the things they do
together all day. I pump at
work and nurse her often
at home (she nurses several
times at night) and that is
going well, but I would like
to hear how other mothers
deal with their feelings of loss
and/or jealousy when away
from their babies.
When my son was 16 weeks old, I went back
to work and was fortunate enough to have my
sister-in-law caring for him. Like you, it was very
hard on me. I was jealous and sad. I missed
my baby boy intensely. I was so jealous of my
sister-in-law, who could stay home with her
children. Then the arrangement fell through
about five months later. I found myself having
to find a new daycare provider in a matter of
days and it scared me to no end! My son was
eight months old and began to have separation
anxiety. Not only did I have to leave my baby,
but we no longer had the option of knowing
his caregiver well. I cried and cried for weeks.
We both did. Even though I found a center that
ended up being a wonderful place, it was the
scariest transition to make. I will be forever
grateful for the few months I was able to leave
my baby with family, especially now that it is
gone. Some things that really helped? Being
sure to leave all work at work. Coming home
NB_issue1_09.qxd:06Nov_DecNBƒ.qxd
4/16/09
1:23 PM
Page 19
Making It Work
and focusing on baby only (and partner too!).
Co-sleeping has been a great way for me to
his first
joke.
I remember
the lows—the
We co-sleep
to get
all the
snuggles and
warm
stay connected with my daughter. It has also
nipple pain; feeling overwhelmed by
time we can. I nursed on demand and didn’t
allowed me to continue nursing my daughter
Oliver’s needs. But the hundreds of
go out without
my
son
in
the
first
year.
normal days, the thousands of warm,and keep up my milk supply. I’m proud to say
enjoyable but unmemorable feeds, fadeI’ve never had to supplement despite working
It will getinto
easier.
I promise. So many of us
full time.
a blur.
Attending
LLL
and hearing
know EXACTLY
what you
aremeetings
going through.
Colleen,about other mothers’ breastfeeding andYou’re so lucky that you have family members
parenting experiences
LLLI Mother-to-Mother
Forums have beento care for your daughter. Maybe there’s a
brilliant. Over the past two and a half
way that they could come to your office on
years I have gained so much from the
First of all,
congratulations
on
making
the
mothers I have met through LLL.a lunch hour once a week? You could then
commitment
to pump
at worktips
while
from
They’ve
suggested
for away
specific
situa-see your daughter and you could also skip a
your baby.
I’ve been
doingsome
it for of
about
tions,
changed
myeight
attitudespumping session by nursing her directly on
completely,
and what
givename
true empathy.that day. I always welcome the opportunity to
months now,
and I know
commitment
haveback
helped me toskip a pumping session in favor of nursing! It
it can be.Their
Thoseexperiences
first few months
recognize
the truth
the have
phrase “thiscould be something as simple as a “picnic” in
were incredibly
difficult
for me.inI still
too shall pass.” This has really helped me
about it, just the basics, and thought
emotional pangs about it from time to time.
the car or at a nearby park if your office isn’t
to enjoy the good bits and cope with the
that my baby and I would figure it out
rocky periods. I would like to say aaccommodating.
if it were meant to be.
For me what
has been
helpful
is toyou
use to my local
particularly
warm
thank
I didn’t talk to my husband about it
my commitment
pumpSuzanne,
as a wayand
to stay
I had or
a magic
answer
you. For about
LeaderstoRuth,
Barbara forI wishmuch
have him
readforanything
their
ears, helpful
information,me itithasn’t
either.
I remember
being
connected
withlistening
my daughter.
You really
gotten
easier, but him
it does
feel very
and,
of course,
theirabout
friendship.
lateBe
inproud
the pregnancy
I
should feel
proud
and good
this
moreshocked
normal towhen
me now.
of your
announced
that I providing
would beyour
exclusively
endeavor that you have undertaken to provide commitment
to continue
Joanne Whistler
feeding the baby; we would not be
your daughter
with theGreat
veryBritain
best-your milk.
daughter with your milk while you’re away.
West Yorkshire
using bottles if all went well. I
It’s anremember
amazing thing
andnot
something
worth
he was
too happy
about
Adapted
from
a
story
in
LLLGB’s
Breastfeeding
I wish I could tell you there’s a magical cure
beingit.very
proud
of.
Looking
back
now,
both
of
us
should
Matters
Christine
Romero,
for how you’re feeling, but I haven’t been
have read
a lot more and given a lot
more Arizona
thought to the subject.
Phoenix,
able to discover it. It’s an ongoing process for
My sister and I were not breastfed.
me to accept that this is the way things are
mom
says When
it just
was not
I hadOur
the same
problem.
my husband
for my family. I know how hard it is to feel
something you did then. So, we had
was unemployed, he cared for my daughter
torn between two places–work and home. I
never really been around any breastat home when I went back to work after my
try to be “all in” when I’m home, meaning
feeding mothers. We were never taught
maternity
ended.
I thought
loved
I don’t take work home and really try hard
aboutleave
it in
school,
and Ino
onemyever
to preserve that family time. I see many
talked to us about it. I believe that my
people who leave their kids with sitters on the
weekends to go out, but that hasn’t felt right
My younger sister, Jaime, has always
to me yetbeen
sinceone
we to
arelearn
aparta40
a week So
lothours
by reading.
anyway.when she was pregnant, Jaime read and
A Gift from
My Sister
fancy and important job, but after six months
the glamour wore off and I realized how
much it was stealing from my time with my
daughter.
I tried to ignore it, fake it, work in some
quality time, and ultimately boss my husband
around so I felt like I was still involved in
the majority of her care. In the end nothing
worked. My jealousy of my husband and
his growing relationship with her was only
resolved when I spent more time with her. I
realized that I only liked my job, but I loved
my baby. I hated that I was running around
likeSisters
a crazed
chicken
for six
months
while
Diane
and Jamie
and
their babies
trying to juggle work. My marriage suffered,
lackadaisical attitude toward breastmy relationship with my daughter suffered. I
feeding during my pregnancy came
felt like I hated everyone and was pea green
from a lack of knowledge; knowledge
with
envy.goodness) that my sister learned
(thank
from a book and passed on to me.
When
my daughter
born,
I had
Luckily,
the exact
day I waswas
ready
to throw
complications,
it took
insome
the towel
at work, myand
husband
got seven
a job
days
for mythat
milk
to twice
comewhat
in—seven
long
for
a salary
was
I earned.
days in which my husband and I were
So I happily walked away. He had been
vigorously reading about breastfeeding.
unemployed for more than a year and didn’t
Our LLL Leader, Jeanette, was awesome,
even
have aus
nibble
work.needed
I realize
now
providing
with ofmuch
support
that
you put out your
in to
andonce
encouragement.
Sheintentions
even came
visit
me at my
because
I was
too ill
the
universe
therehouse
is a funny
way
of things
to leave.out.
And, of course, I called my sister.
working
At that point I was determined to breastfeed. Seeing what a positive experience it
That was a month ago. I’ve been home with
was for my sister made me all the more
my daughter ever since. We are so much
eager to nurse my own child. I am so
happier.
I don’t
glad that
I did.miss my job, not one bit. I
My 11-month-old daughter, Madison,
learned a lot about breastfeeding. She
joined
a La an
Leche
Group
I have tried
to make
effortLeague
to use a
lunch in her
area
and established
wonderful breasthour once
a month
or so to doasomething
feeding
relationship
with herordaughter,
for myself:
get a pedicure,
a massage,
Erin.
something like that. I wasn’t doing these
When I became pregnant a month
things forafter
myself
onwas
the born,
weekends
because
Erin
I asked
JaimeI about
cherish time
with
my
daughter
and
don’t
breastfeeding. She told mewant
several
to pump positives
anymore than
to at
work.
aboutI have
it and
told
meI to look
upthe
thedecision
numbertoofhire
myalocal
LLL Group.
also made
housekeeper
Shetwice
didn’ta month
push information
who comes
while we areon
at me. In
herhas
quiet
way,
she just
recommended
I
work. This
taken
a huge
stressor
off my
read about it and decide for myself. I
plate and allows me to spend quality time
attended one LLL meeting late in my
with my pregnancy.
daughter when
I’m home
rather
than lot
I didn’t
read
a whole
cleaning. For me, it’s worth the money for the
family time trade off.
“I am pleased to recommend Arm’s Reach
as a wonderful nighttime attachment tool.”
Dr. Wm. P. Sears,
Author “The Baby Book: Nighttime Parenting”
Baby sleeps snugly and safely
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Converts to free-standing bassinet or changing table
For information on the benefits of co-sleeping
please go to www.armsreach.com
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Just 20"x 34"
of f loor space
Fit Pregnancy
and
Issue 1, 2009 • NEW BEGINNINGS 19
Making It Work
know I am capable and could go back to work
if I needed to. I just don’t care to prove that
point at the expense of my daughter. Sure,
days are hard, but so far my worst day at
home, including screaming, being bitten, sleep
deprived, and smeared with banana is much
better than my best day at that old job (where
they even took me to the Super Bowl).
Ultimately, don’t blame other people for
your lack of time. They are doing their best
to help out. But you might want to examine
your relationship with your job if you have
the luxury to do so. Family relationships are
much more difficult to repair than just finding
another job that you love. Think hard about
that relationship before you try to change your
relationships with your loved ones.
lovepickles,
LLLI Mother-to-Mother Forums
This is a hard one. My husband is a
photographer. I am a lawyer. When Joe was
born, the natural decision was for my husband
to stay home, since we depend on my job to
pay the mortgage and bills. Staying at home
is financially not an option. But knowing
that doesn’t make it any easier to leave your
baby and go back to work! I do struggle
with feelings of jealousy. I would love to be
able to stay home with my baby. I think my
husband would love to be able to go to work
sometimes, too. Staying at home with a very
active toddler is no picnic. I think, no matter
who stays home or who goes to work, it’s
natural to feel that the other partner has it
easier.
I have a high-paying job that is responsible for
paying for most/all of the bills in our house.
My husband continues to work-a decision I
left completely up to him, given that I would
expect the same courtesy were our situations
reversed.
We made the decision to send our son to
daycare, rather than hire a sitter or beg one
of my relatives for help. I had many of the
feelings you describe, but probably blunted
somewhat, since my son was with “strangers”
all day-not that they stayed strangers for long.
When he was moved to the toddler room, he
was as upset to leave his teachers at the end
of each day as he was when we dropped
him off!
I went back to work when he was three months
old. I remember the first few months of work
when we would wake up to nurse, get packed
up for school, go/get picked up from school,
then I’d get home, nurse him, and he’d go
almost immediately to bed. I was almost
grateful when he started waking up again in
the middle of the night to nurse (he had been
sleeping through the night since eight weeks).
It really bummed me out that I was getting
so little face time and that someone else was
“raising my baby,” etc.
One thing that I think helped was my
continuing to nurse and pump milk for my son.
That was something that no one else could do
for him, and it helped me reconnect with him.
It helped remind me that a mother can never
be replaced. Then there were the weekends
when we could just nurse all day long.
So, you have to do what you have to do. If
you can’t change it, you just have to make
the best of it, right? I feel very blessed that my
husband can stay home with my lovely baby,
that I have a good job, and that our family is
well-taken care of.
Just wait until your baby is old enough to
reach out her little arms for you with a big
smile on her face when you get home!
JO,
Memphis, Tennessee
So, I don’t think there are any easy answers
here, but when you are struggling with
jealousy, you have to make a special effort to
count your blessings, and be grateful for what
you do have.
joe.s.mom,
I’m a stay-at-home mother. I am working on
a PhD and I put my career on hold to have
my daughter. My husband works hard and
supports both of us, with financial sacrifices
from both of us. I’ve luckily been able to avoid
the normal feelings of loss and jealousy you
are describing, but my advice would be that
the best way to deal with these feelings is to
find a way to cut back on your hours before
you start taking out the pain you are feeling
on those family members, especially if these
feelings might put a strain on your marriage. I
can’t give you any advice as to how to get rid
of these feelings because, in my opinion, any
mother would feel that way when away from
her little one.
While it is a wonderful blessing that your
family members can care for your baby, you
cannot get this time back. If there is any way
possible you can even get one of those days
off to spend with your child, the feelings of
loss and jealousy may be lessened. If there is
any way possible you can work more hours on
other days so that you can have one day off, it
might be worth it.
I am not saying that it is wrong to love your
job or to want to work. I am not saying that it
will be easy and that other people, including
your husband, will necessarily be supportive.
Many people have given me flak for choosing
my baby over my career, even if temporarily.
You have the power, though, to make that
choice for you and your child without feeling
bad about it.
Our society has made it extremely difficult
for mothers to do this. Again, I am not
encouraging you to give up your job, but
I think that if there was a way for you to
rearrange your schedule, and/or let your
husband help out by working more and
thereby allowing you to work less, everyone
might be happier, especially you!
Christine,
Killeen, Texas
First, good for you for pumping, nursing, and
working. It is not easy!
I often feel jealous and angry over the time
other people get to spend with my children.
I just try to make the most of what time I do
get. Cleaning the house, while important, is
not more important that my “baby time” and I
make sure I get my snuggles. When I first went
back to work, I would not put the baby down
Making It Work
for 20 minutes after returning home, then it
was time for my three-year-old, and then dinner
could start.
My baby is seven months old now, and he’s
on the go too much for snuggle time. It’s not
easy balancing the two boys, my husband, my
home, and my job, but you do what you can.
I still have a lot of days where I am jealous,
but I didn’t choose working over staying at
home. I chose paying the bills and good health
care over struggling and being broke. Staying
at home works for a lot of lucky moms, but it
doesn’t work out for me, so I can be mad or I
can accept my situation and take full advantage
of what time I do get.
Danielle,
New Mother’s Situation:
Editor’s Note:
Many of our mother’s responses are from
mothers active with the Mother-to-Mother
Forums on the LLLI website. Join in the
conversation here. [Brad, another request
for embedding. Could you add in the link
to the forums at “here”?
http://forums.llli.org/index.php]
My son is 14 months old (still actively nursing)
and I have enjoyed being a stay-at-home mother
with him, but my husband has recently been
laid off from his job and it is clear that our best
option is for me to return to my previous job as
soon as possible. I’m so glad that I have this
option of course, but I don’t know much about
nursing and working, so I’d love to hear what
I should be prepared for with a toddler. I’m
also going to have to be away to host training
weekends once per month. How do I handle
being away from my son for two nights and
three full days? I really want to continue nursing!
“Making It Work” is edited by LLL
Leader Winema Wilson Lanoue. A writer
and avid knitter, she lives with her husband,
Eric, and two boys, Ezra and Zeb, outside
of Blacksburg, Virginia.
Please send responses and new situations to
making.it.work@lllusa.org.
g
r
o
.
i
l
l
l
.
e
r
o
t
s
More PRODUCT upd
ates
got breastmilk?
TM
La Leche League International is an official
licensee to use the “got breastmilk?”™ brand.
Shopping @ store.llli.org will help support breastfeeding!
Giving Birth
Amazing Oxytocin: A Woman’s Body
Is Made to Give Birth
By Janet Mahaffey
When Lacey Young left New
Orleans to return home to Denver,
Colorado, she did not think that
she would be giving birth to her
baby within a few days. She was
just past 34 weeks gestation.
At the September 16, 2010,
Southeast Denver La Leche League
meeting, we were all surprised to
see Lacey walk into the meeting
with her baby, only several weeks
old. After our meeting, Lacey’s
story began to unfold and I was
jumping up and down with delight
as I began to listen.
Lacey now has two sons. Her
first son was born at their
previous home in Idaho. Now
living in Denver, Lacey found
another midwife to assist with the
homebirth of her second son.
All was well until two hours after
her flight arrived at the Denver
International Airport. She began
leaking amniotic fluid and did so
continuously for 39 hours. In close
consultation with her midwife, it
was determined that Lacey was no
longer eligible for a homebirth.
Lacey and her family decided
to go to a Denver hospital as
their backup plan. Upon arrival,
they were met with troubling
information. Urgency was put
upon her to have a pelvic exam
and to receive labor-inducing
medications. Time was of
the essence; her baby could
have been in danger. Lacey
remembered what she learned in
her childbirth preparation class
and phoned her former childbirth
instructor. Living in a new and big
city, Lacey was happy to be able
to call her old friend.
Lacey said that upon arrival to
the hospital, she told the medical
team, “Are you crazy? No pelvic
exam. I don’t want to have drugs
to induce labor.” After Lacey and
her family assessed the situation,
reviewed the baby’s status and
all of the options, Lacey and her
husband made a decision. Her
family and her new birth team at
the hospital were in agreement.
Lacey told us that the nurses at
the hospital were awesome.
She mentioned that one nurse
went out of her way to help her.
Lacey asked for a breast pump
and began to pump her breasts
frequently. Lacey developed a
pattern for pumping. Alternating
on one breast at time, Lacey
pumped for 15 minutes on and
15 minutes off for six hours.
Occasionally she felt contractions
but they went away so she
continued pumping. At the sixth
hour she put the pump down
and stated that she felt at peace
and needed a rest. She rested
and within thirty minutes the
contractions began and did not
stop. Lacey successfully induced
her own labor, stimulating the
production of oxytocin in her body
by pumping her breasts.
Lacey told the nurse that there
was no way she could give birth
in a hospital bed, and the nurse
found her several pallets for the
floor. After three hours of labor,
Lacey gave birth on her hands
and knees, on the pallets, and her
husband caught the baby. Lacey
laughed and said that she did
not remember any of the hospital
staff being in attendance and
that they were all amazed by
her accomplishment. Many staff
members had never heard of the
breast pumping technique.
The story does not end here.
Because their new baby, Viktor,
was born at 34 weeks and six
days, the medical team wanted
to take him to the Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for
observation. Lacey did not want
to be separated from Viktor. She
told the medical team that she
wanted the family to go together.
Viktor was never separated from
her. Lacey continued to pump so
that Viktor would get her colostrum
and her milk supply would be
stimulated. In order to leave the
hospital as soon as possible, the
requirement was for Viktor to be
successfully taking a bottle. Lacey
pumped her breasts, and Viktor
grew in strength while drinking her
expressed milk from a bottle.
Lacey mentioned that it only took
a few days after Viktor’s due date
of September 30, 2010, when she
was able to “ditch the bottle with
her milk completely.” Lacey also
wanted us to know that “Contrary
to what many said, preterm babies
can be fully breastfed after having
the bottle.”
Leah’s Story
New Research on Tongue-Tie May Help
Improve Treatment: Colorado Mother Shares
Her Experience
By Michelle LeJeune
Denver, Colorado
According to Catherine Watson
Genna, BS, IBCLC, author of
Supporting Sucking Skills in
Breastfeeding Infants, exactly what
goes wrong when a tongue-tied
baby breastfeeds is the subject
of new scientific studies that may
help the medical community and
lactation consultants properly
diagnose and recommend
treatment.
Genna says that the number of
scientific studies and controlled
trials pertaining to the tongue have
increased in the last five years.
This is potentially good news
because, since the 1950s when
formula feeding was rising in
popularity, information about the
treatment of tongue-tie has been
lost. “The more ground swell there
is, the more people know, the
more the research will move into
the mainstream,” Genna said.
Also known as a short frenulum or
ankyloglossia, tongue-tie occurs
when the small band of tissue
that connects the underside of the
tongue to the floor of the mouth is
too inelastic, too short, has failed
to regress and extends along the
underside of the tongue, or is
placed too close to the gum ridge.
In no way is this a new condition.
In ancient Greek folklore, babies
were brought to a witch known
as Jaundice Witch to treat their
condition, Genna said. It wasn’t
until fairly recently though, that the
scientific community actually had
an inside look at how tongue-tied
babies nurse. Genna points to
the ultrasound studies by Donna
T. Geddes, a scientist in Australia
who specializes in breastfeeding
research. In one of her studies,
published online in Pediatrics in
2008, ultrasound scans of the
tongue movement of 24 babies
with tongue-tie were performed
before and seven days after a
frenulotomy, the operation to
correct tongue-tie. Milk intake
was measured by weighing
babies after a feeding session.
All but one baby showed less
compression of the nipple after the
operation, which is positive news
since nipple compression causes
nipple pain and damage while not
allowing the baby to transfer milk
effectively.
Genna’s new book and Geddes’
study should assist in providing
more comprehensive information
about tongue-tie and how to
handle it, but today’s doctors
have yet to develop a consistent
protocol for tongue-tied babies.
Genna said that information in
some textbooks is outdated. For
example, the entry on tongue-tie
in a commonly used textbook in a
pediatric office, Nelson Textbook
of Pediatrics, states, “A number
of normal anatomic variations
may be noted in the mouth. A
short lingual frenulum tongue-tie
may be worrisome to parents but
only rarely interferes with eating
or speech, generally requiring
no treatment…The normal tongue
in newborns has a short, tight
band that connects it to the floor
of the mouth. This band normally
stretches with time, movement and
growth. Babies with symptoms
from tongue-tie are rare.”
Genna said, “Some doctors still
believe that the tongue has nothing
to do with sucking. There is little
agreed upon nomenclature for
doctors describing variations in
tongue-tie,” Genna said. She’s
hoping her research will help to
turn that around.
Leah’s Story
This lack of agreement and
knowledge regarding tongue-tie
and its treatment caused problems
for mothers like Sharon Elwood
of Denver, Colorado, whose
daughter, while diagnosed, was
never treated.
In fact, if Sharon hadn’t been
determined to breastfeed, her
second baby’s way of doing
things probably would have had
her racing toward a bottle. Leah
Rachael latched but consistently
popped off. The nurse said
everything looked okay, but it
didn’t feel right to Sharon. Leah
never, even when she grew older,
nursed for more than five minutes
at a time.
continued on page 20...
Leah’s Story
“On the first day we slept. She woke
up the first night and wanted to nurse.
All night,” Sharon said. “When Leah
was three-days-old the nurses said
my nipples looked irritated. They
recommended that I feed her less.”
What she didn’t know, and her health
care professionals only uncovered
much later, was that Leah was tonguetied.
Everything in Sharon’s personal
experience up until then told her that
breastfeeding was easy. With her
son Andrew, now four, breastfeeding
had been a breeze. Sharon had
attended La Leche League meetings
with Andrew and heard some mothers
speaking about their difficulties with
breastfeeding. She said she just
figured this was the way it was going
to be with Leah and kept up frequent
feedings.
Leah was four months old before the
doctor said, “You know, her tongue’s
a little short.” Sharon said, “I had the
classic lipstick-shaped nipple, but by
then she was growing. I just thought
she was a frequent nurser and that it
was just me; it was my problem.” A
physician’s assistant said that Leah’s
frenulum was short and could be
clipped. When they said it was an
operation, Sharon decided against it.
Leah was still gaining weight.
Editor’s note: When the nipple is
shaped like a new tube of lipstick
after the baby unlatches, this is a sign
that the baby hasn’t taken in enough
areola when latching on.
However, when Leah was nine
months old, the doctor began to be
concerned about her weight. Sharon
said she was again advised to
nurse her less, to let her build up an
appetite so she would nurse longer.
The doctor said that they should return
every month for a weight check.
At 10 months, Leah had gained six
ounces. Still, the doctor urged Sharon
to feed Leah three large-sized jars
of baby food a day and told her to
breastfeed less. It was the way the
doctor handled the situation, insisting
that Leah might really be sick, that
drove Sharon to find another doctor,
she said.
It wasn’t until Leah was two and
Sharon looked at the latest edition of
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
that she saw the pictures on page
429 of tongue-tied babies and made
the link between Leah’s weight and
tongue-tie.
“If she hadn’t been tongue-tied, her
weight probably wouldn’t have been
an issue. If I had been fully informed,
if I had known exactly what it was
and that the operation wasn’t invasive
and would have made things easier
for her, I would have had it done,”
Sharon said.
Mothers who suspect their babies
have a short tongue should see a
lactation consultant. Genna also
recommends contacting a doctor
who is an ear, nose and throat
specialist. The operation is usually
covered by insurance. According to
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding,
a frenotomy is usually done in the
doctor’s office, using a pair of bluntend scissors or laser. Local anesthesia
may be used. The baby is usually
able to latch on immediately and
nurse with greater ease and more
effectively.
Genna, C. W. Supporting Sucking Skills in Breastfed
Infants. 2008; 181
Geddes, D., PhD, et al. Frenulotomy for breastfeeding
infants with ankyloglossia: effect on milk removal and
sucking mechanism as imaged by ultrasound. Pediatrics.
2008 July; 122(1): 188-194.
-Additional information about tongue-tie can be found
on the LLLI Web site (www.llli.org), including a 2005
podcast by Catherine Watson Genna titled “Tongue-tie
and breastfeeding/Sensory Integration (Processing)
Disorder.” This podcast is available for listening at
www.lalecheleague.org/mp3/LLL_podcast_028TongueTie-SensInt.mp3
-The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, 8th Edition, pages
428-430
For more stories from mothers who have breastfed
tongue-tied infants, please see the following links from
past New Beginnings issues:
“Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction and Tongue-Tie”
(No. 4, 2008) www.llli.org/nb/nbjulaug08p27a.html
“Breastfeeding and Tongue-Tie” (No. 5, 2008)
www.llli.org/nb/nbsepoct08p11.html
“Tongue-Tied in Connecticut” (No. 6, 2003)
www.llli.org/nb/nbnovdec03p212.html
International
Breastfeeding bag
It’s made from 100% recycled
materials, is hand washable, and is
gusseted for maxium space. Use it
again and again for groceries,
to tote personal items, and to
show your support for
breastfeeding mothers
around the world!
Measures 13x13x5.
NEW TRIBUTE Submission GuidELines!
For significant events in the life of someone you care about, have you considered a tribute gift?
You can make a donation to La Leche League USA (LLL
USA) in the name of a family member or friend to Honor
or Remember them. Your tax-deductible donation will
show that you care about them while also helping LLL
USA further its mission to help mothers breastfeed.
community whose main focus is helping mothers to
breastfeed. While we can respect personal beliefs
reflected here because of the nature of the tributes, this
column is not intended for social commentaries outside
the focus of La Leche League International.
For a minimum gift of $50, New Beginnings will publish
your special message of congratulations, encouragement,
appreciation, or condolences; limit tributes to 20 words.
Please keep in mind that La Leche League is a diverse
To submit a tribute gift, please send a check and the
tribute wording to LLL USA, 957 N. Plum Grove Rd.,
Schaumburg, IL 60173
LLLI Logo
Pins
Breastfeeding Basics 20-minute
DVD that discusses getting breastfeeding off
to the right start, positioning, latch-on, the
suckling reflex, let-down technique, and more.
Breastfeeding Comprehensive
135-minute DVD that discusses the benefits of
breastfeeding, positioning, latch-on, the suckling
reflex, let-down technique, how the breast makes
milk, fore milk and hind milk, medications and
$7.50 ea. | Green, #10296 | Blue,
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backing. Size is .75” and comes in a 1 1/8”
square clear acrylic gift box.
Great Gift
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for LLL Lead
por ters
M e m b e r s , Su p
and Friends!
human milk, problems and solutions, breastfeeding
and special situations, maximizing supply, a father’s
role, attachment parenting, weaning, politics and
the law, and more.
Breastfeeding Intensive
45-minute DVD– discusses the benefits of
breastfeeding, positioning, latch-on, the
suckling reflex, let-down technique, how the
breast makes milk, fore milk and hind milk,
medications and human milk, and more.
Eating Wisely
Cooking with Kids:
Learning While Having Fun
3. Relax about precision.
Although we talk about measuring
a lot and usually cook from a
recipe, I’ve learned that if not all
of the flour (or another ingredient)
makes it into the final product it
isn’t the end of the world. The
best coffee cake I ever made was
missing an unknown quantity of
the dry ingredients thanks to some
enthusiastic stirring and the batter
still rose and tasted delicious.
Julia Pfitzer,
Broomfield, Colorado
I’ve always enjoyed
cooking and pretty much
had my oldest, Addy,
cook with me since she
could stand up on her
own. Before that, she
was often in the Ergo
pouch on my back while
I cooked. Now her
younger sister is with
me in the Ergo, but we
still do plenty of cooking
around here.
Here are a few
things I’ve learned
from our kitchen
time:
1. Make sure your young helpers
can comfortably and safely
reach. We started using a stool
or a chair to be able to reach
the counter. That quickly became
too precarious. We love using a
Learning Tower, which is a step
stool with a platform designed
for children to stand on. It is
adjustable and sturdy. There is
room for two or even three kids
on it, and I can slide it around the
kitchen. When Addy isn’t cooking,
we keep it by the window. Then
she can keep her eye on the
weather or play underneath it.
2. Forget about the mess. I don’t
worry if she sloshes stuff out of the
bowl or drops it on the floor. I try
to give her advice or demonstrate
how to stir or pour more carefully,
but she’s still learning. I keep
kitchen towels in a drawer that
she can reach so when we’re
done cooking she can grab one
and help clean up. I also use a
vinegar and water mixture (one
part vinegar to four parts water)
plus a couple of drops of tea tree
oil to wipe the counters. Not only
is our cleaning solution better for
the environment, but if one of the
kids comes in contact with it, it
isn’t a big deal.
4. It probably doesn’t need
mentioning, but I’ll say it anyway:
Go with the flow. As all parents
know, just because you think it
is time to do something doesn’t
mean your child agrees. If Addy
starts out strong but loses interest
half way through a creation I just
let her do her thing or help her
get started on something else and
finish up on my own. Usually she’ll
still hang out in the kitchen with
me and I’ll just continue to narrate
to her what I’m doing. That
way she’s still picking up on the
vocabulary and doesn’t feel that
I’m ignoring her.
Eating Wisely
Here are two of the recipes that we find quick
and easy to prepare and enjoy together. Both
of them use the blender so we get to do the
“blender dance.” In our house the blender
dance involves pumping your arms around
in circles while you turn around as quickly as
you can while the blender is doing its work.
It makes us all giggle.
“Eating Wisely” is edited by LLL Leader
Lesley Robinson. She lives in Ottawa, Canada
with husband, Mark. Her three grown
children have ﬂown the nest.
Please send stories and photos to eating.
wisely@lllusa.org.
Easy Black Bean Soup
Hummus
1 15 oz. can chickpeas, rinsed but with
liquid reserved
1 Tablespoon tahini (sesame seed paste,
available at larger grocery stores or online)
juice of one lemon
salt to taste
olive oil to taste
1 garlic clove
dash of cumin or hot pepper
Dump chickpeas into blender. Add tahini,
lemon juice, and garlic clove. You don’t
really have to measure these, so I just let
Addy scoop the tahini in and squeeze the
lemon as best she can. Add enough liquid
from beans and olive oil so that it will blend
smoothly. The amount will depend on the
strength of your blender or if you are using a
food processor. Taste and add salt and other
seasonings if you desire. Serve with pita,
veggies, feta cheese, sliced turkey, etc.
This is a quick soup to make that can be
easily adjusted for your diners’ preferences.
I usually keep all the ingredients on hand
so that we can make it any time we need to
throw a dinner together in a hurry. My dad
developed this when I was growing up. I
usually serve it with cornbread and a salad.
Corn bread freezes well so I wrap half a
batch in tinfoil and freeze it. Then I warm it
slowly in the oven the next time we’re ready
to eat it.
LLLI Cookbook Set
For a limited time, buy the most popular LLLI
cookbooks at a bargain price! The pairing of Whole
Foods for the Whole Family, Whole Foods from the
Whole World, Whole Foods for Kids to Cook, and
Whole Foods for Babies and Toddlers will satisfy
every craving for delicious and nutritious meals and
snacks!
Addy enjoys dumping all the ingredients into
the blender and sampling the beans as we
add them. She would rather eat the beans
whole than in a soup so I set out a portion for
her before making the soup for us.
1 15 oz. can black beans
1 15 oz. can kidney beans
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup salsa
1 cup half-and-half
optional toppings: jalapeños, sour cream,
limes, cilantro
Drain beans and blend together with
vegetable broth. I like the salsa chunks in the
soup, but if you prefer a smoother soup blend
the salsa as well. Pour into sauce pan and
heat gently on the stove stirring occasionally.
Stir in half-and-half and heat to desired
serving temperature. Serve with optional
toppings.
Balboa Baby
shopping cart
cover
Simple and fashionable
providing a clean &
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for babies. For more
information shop online
at store.llli.org or call
800-LALECHE.
World Breastfeeding Week Celebrations
Looking Back At 2010 World Breastfeeding Week Celebrations
By Linda Parry
Many, many thanks to all who helped
raise money at World Breastfeeding Week
Celebrations (WBWCs) sponsored by La Leche
League Groups across the United States. This
included $4,413 for other La Leche League
charities and $2,214 for WBWC Grants.
Over 11,300 people attended WBWC events
around the United States in 2010. That doesn’t
count the 27,000 people who visited the libraries
in the Charleston, South Carolina, vicinity where
La Leche League displays were provided. Kudos
to all who raised money to help us continue
the mission of La Leche League and who raised
awareness of LLL and breastfeeding in their
communities.
In 2010, WBWC prizes were awarded in many
categories. The Group winners were as follows:
Most unique celebrations:
• LLL of Yonkers (LLL of NY-E) had a walk in
the woods at a nature center to demonstrate
their theme of “Breastfeeding is (ECO)
logical.”
• LLL of Southern Indiana (LLL of KY/TN) had
a traveling art show called “The Womanly
Art: Works of Art Inspired by Breastfeeding.”
The opening ceremony had local musicians,
magic shows, 30 vendors, and a raffle.
Most money raised:
• LLL of Jefferson (LLL of AL/MS/LA) won
for the second year in a row by raising
over $3,000. Their annual Baby and Child
Expo is held in a mall. Five hundred twentyseven people registered at the event, which
included many exhibitors and activities. The
Group received a $500 gift card as the
Grand Prize winner.
Highest number of
attendees:
• LLL of Sarasota (Suncoast) (LLL of FL/ESI)
had 6,000 register at the entry of the Ready,
Set, Grow! Infant to Kindergarten Family Fair
at a mall. The Group worked with four other
organizations, including the United Way.
Best interaction with other
organizations:
• LLL of Scottsbluff (LLL of NE) shared an
event with a non-LLL breastfeeding support
group from another town, meeting halfway
between at a park. They held a picnic dinner
and swimming pool celebration, focusing on
raising awareness of LLL in a part of the state
where LLL has not had a presence for a long
time. The head of the non-LLL organization
is a retired Leader and is now considering
reactivating as a Leader. In addition, another
member became a Leader Applicant.
self-addressed stamped envelope.
Special thanks to these eight Groups, which
each received a copy of the eighth edition
of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, the
eight Groups that also won a copy of The
Womanly Art of Breastfeeding for raising
over $1,000; the 34 individual gift card or
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding winners
and the 48 random drawing Group winners.
Publicity award:
• LLL of York (LLL of NE) focused on publicity
with flyers, radio, cable television, and
newspapers within a 50-mile radius. This
resulted in attendance by a family of three
from 60 miles away, and a family of four
from 55 miles away. Some families that had
never contacted LLL or attended an LLL event
also came. There was socializing during the
morning walk, a potluck lunch, and playtime
at the park. To advertise their event, the
Leaders wore LLL t-shirts to meetings from
May through September, as well as at the
county fair booth.
• LLL of Greenwich–Stamford (LLL of CT)
broke the state record for simultaneous
breastfeeding. The event was covered
by television news, reporters from two
newspapers, and two lactation consultants
from a hospital.
Editors Note: WBWC 2011 will include
a simultaneous breastfeeding event on
Saturday, August 6, 2011, at 3:00 PM EST.
Watch for more details.
Non-event fundraiser:
• LLL of Durham PM (LLL of NC) raised $800
with a non-event. Two women, including one
who was accredited as a Leader the month
before, sent a fundraising letter to friends
and family, including an explanation of LLL,
photos of their families, a tea bag, and a
THANK YOU TO THE
WORLD BREASTFEEDING
WEEK CELEBRATIONS
2010 PRIZE SPONSORS!
PLATINUM Dual Elite LEVEL ($5,000+)
Mothering Magazine
Motherlove Herbal Company
Sleepy Wrap/Boba
PLATINUM LEVEL ($4,000+)
Mother’s Milk Tea
by Traditional Medicinals
AMYTHEST LEVEL ($2500+)
ERGO Baby Carrier, Inc.
SILVER LEVEL (200+)
Platypus Media
Science Naturally!
BRONZE LEVEL (Cottage Industry)
Fresh Baby
Mama Knows Breast
Mommy Necklaces
Over the Shoulder Baby Holder
The Umbilical Card
Wrapsody
NB_issue1_09.qxd:06Nov_DecNBƒ.qxd
4/16/09
his first joke. I remember the lows—the
nipple pain; feeling overwhelmed by
Oliver’s needs. But the hundreds of
normal days, the thousands of warm,
enjoyable but unmemorable feeds, fade
into a blur.
Attending LLL meetings and hearing
about other mothers’ breastfeeding and
parenting experiences have been
brilliant. Over the past two and a half
years I have gained so much from the
mothers I have met through LLL.
They’ve suggested tips for specific situations, changed some of my attitudes
completely, and given me true empathy.
Their experiences have helped me to
recognize the truth in the phrase “this
too shall pass.” This has really helped me
to enjoy the good bits and cope with the
rocky periods. I would like to say a
particularly warm thank you to my local
Leaders Ruth, Suzanne, and Barbara for
their listening ears, helpful information,
and, of course, their friendship.
Joanne Whistler
West Yorkshire Great Britain
Adapted from a story in LLLGB’s Breastfeeding
Matters
A Gift from
My Sister
My younger sister, Jaime, has always
been one to learn a lot by reading. So
when she was pregnant, Jaime read and
learned a lot about breastfeeding. She
joined a La Leche League Group in her
area and established a wonderful breastfeeding relationship with her daughter,
Erin.
When I became pregnant a month
after Erin was born, I asked Jaime about
breastfeeding. She told me several
positives about it and told me to look
up the number of my local LLL Group.
She didn’t push information on me. In
her quiet way, she just recommended I
read about it and decide for myself. I
attended one LLL meeting late in my
pregnancy. I didn’t read a whole lot
1:23 PM
Page 19
Sisters Diane and Jamie and their babies
about it, just the basics, and thought
that my baby and I would figure it out
if it were meant to be.
I didn’t talk to my husband about it
much or have him read anything about
it either. I remember him being very
shocked when late in the pregnancy I
announced that I would be exclusively
feeding the baby; we would not be
using bottles if all went well. I
remember he was not too happy about
it. Looking back now, both of us should
have read a lot more and given a lot
more thought to the subject.
My sister and I were not breastfed.
Our mom says it just was not
something you did then. So, we had
never really been around any breastfeeding mothers. We were never taught
about it in school, and no one ever
talked to us about it. I believe that my
lackadaisical attitude toward breastfeeding during my pregnancy came
from a lack of knowledge; knowledge
(thank goodness) that my sister learned
from a book and passed on to me.
When my daughter was born, I had
some complications, and it took seven
days for my milk to come in—seven long
days in which my husband and I were
vigorously reading about breastfeeding.
Our LLL Leader, Jeanette, was awesome,
providing us with much needed support
and encouragement. She even came to
visit me at my house because I was too ill
to leave. And, of course, I called my sister.
At that point I was determined to breastfeed. Seeing what a positive experience it
was for my sister made me all the more
eager to nurse my own child. I am so
glad that I did.
My 11-month-old daughter, Madison,
“I am pleased to recommend Arm’s Reach
as a wonderful nighttime attachment tool.”
Dr. Wm. P. Sears,
Author “The Baby Book: Nighttime Parenting”
Baby sleeps snugly and safely
alongside adult bed
Converts to free-standing bassinet or changing table
For information on the benefits of co-sleeping
please go to www.armsreach.com
The Mini
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Just 20"x 34"
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Fit Pregnancy
and
Issue| Issue
1, 2009
• NEW
BEGINNINGS
19
2011
1 | New
Beginnings
25

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