tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094072069524784229.post2626748319870346833..comments2023-11-03T06:27:53.164-07:00Comments on Tangled and True: breastfeeding.tangled and truehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09711997761411291627noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094072069524784229.post-44124689973896748482007-02-06T08:03:00.000-08:002007-02-06T08:03:00.000-08:00I agree with them too Mandy. It sounds like Laney ...I agree with them too Mandy. It sounds like Laney is one healthy little girl now and you are probably much more healthy because of it also.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18417657410261794465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094072069524784229.post-89268096037147192122007-02-06T02:59:00.000-08:002007-02-06T02:59:00.000-08:00Mandy, I think you did the right thing. I'm su...Mandy, I think you did the right thing. I'm sure our babies can sense when we are stressed too. A mother's sanity and happiness are more essential for a baby then what type of milk they get. I realized the same thing when I decided to give Isobel a bottle in the early days.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18230826570810114209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094072069524784229.post-52736612132689650972007-02-05T16:49:00.000-08:002007-02-05T16:49:00.000-08:00I agree with you Mandy. I think it's definite...I agree with you Mandy. I think it's definitely true that you have to do what's best for both of you...and a happy mother might prove a better option for Laney than breastmilk. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience with it. It's amazing how everyone has such a different experience.kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949053364898073438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094072069524784229.post-30239363598480135182007-02-05T15:18:00.000-08:002007-02-05T15:18:00.000-08:00It was nice to read that some people had good expe...It was nice to read that some people had good experiences with breastfeeding. It makes me think that I might just try it with my next child.<br><br>I tried with Laney. She latched on well. It seemed to be working aside from the initial pain I was in from it. On day 9 though, my mom went home, my baby blues kicked in, and mastitis took over my body. All I could do was cry. When Laney to be waking when I knew meant feeding time, I just cried. I truly thought I would die.<br><br>I made the decision that it was better for my child to have a somewhat stable mother and formula than a crazy mother and breastmilk. (I think that decision was made a little bit easier for me as I was not breastfed and I think I turned out pretty well.)<br><br>Luckily, my OB and pediatrician have never said anything about that decision. They have supported me fully in that personal choice. The pediatrician even commented that my baby could sense my stress and emotions about it and that the baby reacts better to the less stress.<br><br>And luckily, my child has never had more than a little cold so I don't fill guilty about that.<br><br>I am glad it works well for some people. And I really do think I will try it out next time. But I do think my sanity is as important<br>as the breastmilk.<br><br>Hopefully you all don't mind my opinion on the matter.Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03343447294030507101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094072069524784229.post-26056973179277633202007-02-05T09:46:00.000-08:002007-02-05T09:46:00.000-08:00I don't doubt that city life can change the dy...I don't doubt that city life can change the dynamics of the breast v. bottle debate. That would be hard. It's not like you go to get groceries, baby gets hungry and you can pull over in the car and feed him/her (even if it takes an hour). <br><br>I wanted to breastfeed from the beginning. And Avery latched on perfectly from the start. She loved to eat. Still does. She was great at it too, but like Isobel, took FOREVER. Literally, one hour to feed her. And then some play time, maybe some sleep and she would be up again to eat (for another hour). All day long. It started to wear on me. And the hormones you talked about Lindsey? They're real. And with the post-labor healing along with the sometimes inconsolable crying...<br><br>The beginning days were hard. Looking back, I wonder how we got through them. But, through it all I really wanted to breastfeed. I liked the idea of my body making something that she could thrive off. I got tons of clogged milk ducts though and thought "I'm just going until six months." And then my sister Kellie told me to take Lecithin. And it worked. Never had a problem since and she eventually got faster and now we were two months away from weaning. I'm going 'til a year. <br><br>I can't say that taking a year out of my life to breastfeed was easy. Combine that with 9 months pregnant and it's been a while since I've been "myself." I'm excited to get back to a small bra and running more frequently. But, it's something I wanted to do. And we'll see about future children.<br><br>It was only through my experience that I realized how personal the decision is. And since then, I would never wonder why someone isn't giving the breast. It can be hard. And emotional and your hormones are suppressed with breastfeeding too. I'm embarrassed to say that before I became a mom I wondered why people would give a bottle instead of breastfeed. I had no idea. Now, I try to think before thinking...in that I think about what a person may be going through before wondering about their decision. You just never know. <br><br>I breastfeed 4 times a day now. Teeth haven't been an issue. She only has her two bottom one's and hasn't bitten me...yet.Missyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18417657410261794465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094072069524784229.post-79198287243201198222007-02-05T07:00:00.000-08:002007-02-05T07:00:00.000-08:00No. She was just being a picky girl and for some r...No. She was just being a picky girl and for some reason wouldn't latch on. Weird. I'm glad she solved it though, because we really wouldn't have made it very long. I hated pumping (hand pump, not automatic). <br><br>Teeth have just become an issue. She has bit me a couple times. Not nice. I can't help but react with a loud yelp. Then she is done for that feed. <br><br>I also have to breastfeed somewhere quiet or else she is loses concentration and gets interested in the noises. Lately I only breastfeed her first thing in the morning and once before bed, so it's not as big of a problem.<br><br>City life definitely challenges breastfeeding, like you said. I think city life in general is just not as convenient with a baby. but that's okay. Did you experience that in Boston?<br><br>Oh, I read a report awhile back that your child's IQ is more likely related to the IQ of his/her mother rather then breastfeeding. I think that makes sense. I'm sure those studies have some merit, but it kind of bothers me how absolute they can be. <br><br>Like you said, it can't always be black and white with some of these mom and baby things.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18230826570810114209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094072069524784229.post-88122308077389343092007-02-04T18:42:00.000-08:002007-02-04T18:42:00.000-08:00I think city life really challenges breastfeeding!...I think city life really challenges breastfeeding! I had the same conflict in Boston. <br>Did you ever find out why Isobel wouldn't eat from one side? <br><br>I do miss the skin to skin contact. That's special. How is it when they are so much older than 5 months? Are teeth an issue?kellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949053364898073438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094072069524784229.post-24784813161111515472007-02-04T15:05:00.000-08:002007-02-04T15:05:00.000-08:00I'm back. Anyway, when Iz was first born, I th...I'm back. Anyway, when Iz was first born, I thought I would count breastfeeding a success if we lasted one month. She literally would not eat from one side and scream when ever I tried on that side. I never imagined it would be so difficult to breastfeed my baby. <br><br>So she would eat from one side and<br>be very hungry and then I would pump the other side quickly and give her that. Mid-wives would come by my flat (they visit you after you have a baby here) and try to help me. She would latch on for 30 seconds and they would leave saying it was a success. I was frustrated. I was feeling stressed - crying-stressed. <br><br>My mom bought some formula, I reluctantly gave it to her and I tried to suppress feelings of guilt. <br><br>So, she was a extra hungry baby that wouldn't feed from one side. I did it all: breastfed, pumped and gave her formula. For a little while I felt a sense of failure that I couldn't breastfeed her completely. BUT - she was full and that made her happy, which in turn made me happy. <br><br>I kept trying to feed Isobel on the side she hated and a month later she latched on and all has been good since. She also went from being an extremely SLOW eater (seriously, I thought my life would be spent on a couch breastfeeding all day)to a normal speed. I kept giving her formula though, mostly because it was convenient.<br><br>I obviously stopped beating myself up for it or letting myself think other moms were judging me (probably all in my head). I know it might sound drastic, but a woman dealing with those crazy post-labour hormones can be a little drastic...anyway, Iz is almost 9 months and I breastfeed her twice a day. I never thought we would make it that far. She still gets formula and has since the beginning. I found that even when she did take to both sides (she was still hungry sometimes) her taking a bottle just suited our lifestyle (on the tube, the bus). <br><br>I think breastfeeding is such a personal decision. It's obviously no doubt the best thing for a baby, but I will be supplementing with my next baby too. Ideally, the majority of feeding would be from the breast, but bottle/formula sometimes too.<br><br>I am debating when to stop breastfeeding...maybe next month? I don't know. I love her little hands wrapped around my side.<br><br>Also, breastfeeding definitely helped me lose weight. I think I weigh less then I did before I got pregnant. If only I would exercise more...I weigh less, but am in serious need of toning!<br><br>Wow. So long.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18230826570810114209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2094072069524784229.post-87155027049177982872007-02-04T14:41:00.000-08:002007-02-04T14:41:00.000-08:00I was thinking of posting about this today too...I...I was thinking of posting about this today too...I've supplemented with formula for Isobel since day 3, I think. Also, a very hungry baby and not the best breastfeeder in the beginning. I felt guilty in the beginning, because of the outside pressure and how every time I went to the doctor's I was told it was best to ONLY breastfeed my child...I have lots to say, but am going to bed - so I will comment lots more tomorrow.Lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18230826570810114209noreply@blogger.com