Believe it or not, a breastfeeding post.

[chargirlgenius]

Holy crap! Why didn't I have YouTube when I was trying to nurse Henry? Seeing a real mom nurse is such a huge help. Since we can't always see anybody in person, you can now see them online!

Seems stupid, but I was just looking for some latch info, and ran across a few links. Amazing, the info that's available now. It was probably available four years ago, and I never thought to look.

It never ceases to amaze me how little doctors and midwives know, or at least impart, about nursing. We *shouldn't* have to go find this information on our own. Women who want to nurse should have all of the information at her disposal without having to troll the internet, read book after book and article after article, looking for tidbits of usefulness.

Honestly, the only reason I succeeded (for the 6 months that I did with each) was because friends had trouble. I knew to go look. Their trouble was my teacher, and it was only because of them that I succeeded, especially with Henry, who was a particular challenge. Eddie? Well, let's just say that boy has always been a champion feeder. I don't know if they realize how grateful I was.

It's strange, looking back on it now, reading all of my posts. I was SO STRESSED about it. I was frantic when I started running out of milk. And now? I hardly think about it. Gad, why do we worry so much? It's not like one kid is going to turn out better than another because you did this, that, or the other thing. It's not like any of us get a medal. We all spend the first six weeks or so worrying, fumbling through this thing called motherhood (oh wait, we don't quit messing up then). We have moments where we want to cry, or we DO cry, or we worry that not picking the baby up 30 seconds early will scar him for life, or that he's going to get asthma because he had an antibiotic at five months old, or that my lack of milk at 7 months was my failure, or.... or... or...

But then, they keep growing, keep thriving, turn out to be bouncy rambunctious boys who spill their water at the table, build funny men out of tinker toys, pretend to be triceratops in the car, and make you laugh until you cry. No matter how badly you thought you sucked during those first crazy, scary, and endless nights, they end up being funny, lovable, complete little people.

Since quite a few people on my f-list are nursing, I figured I might as well post the links. This is just scratching the surface. Amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHs2Ql5Kylo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvqo9OXxiOQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOL7uPfRH7o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOQzEN_dcPc&feature=related

Yep, real boobs. Real women. Real babies. I'm jealous of that one lady's nipples. Oy! Dunno how I nursed without those!

Comments

[molly-world.livejournal.com]

You'll have to discuss the concept of a "good enough" mother with Minna sometime. It's not an excuse to be a slacker as a parent, but it helped me to be OK with being "good enough" and letting some over-idealized expectations go.

Oh...and realizing that, sometimes...other parents lie. Sometimes little Sarah Ann really isn't a rocket scientist, Mother Teresa reincarnated and a musical prodigy all rolled into one. Sometimes...Sarah Ann is just a kid with a really proud Mommy, grin. Caring makes you a good mommy...obesessing...well that just makes you tired, hahahah

[janinas-nest.livejournal.com]

La Leche League was my savior 26 years ago. G#1 and I just couldn't figure it out, and the medical unadvice I got aspirated. G#2 arrived ordering pizza with everything so we didn't have trouble. Both of them were done with it all by 6 months because I wasn't portable enough. Somewhere I have pics of G#1 crawling around with a bottle in her mouth.

[greta-k.livejournal.com]

I think that our society puts some unrealistic expectations on women. I'm gratefult that maternal unit M told me for years that to obesess over how to raise the child is counterproductive, and that babies are resilient. It takes a lot to really screw them up at this point.

I was also fortunate to have a close friend who was unable to lactate. I had really wanted to breastfeed, but it never happened for Small Person and me. Honestly, I was relieved when I finally stopped trying. It was THAT frustrating and painful for me. Found out that my ob/gyn who delivered Small Person couldn't lactate,either. Her three kids turned out just fine, and she has nothing but supportive of my need to bottlefeed the Small Person.

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

Thanks!
So far, I've had lots of help, though the frantic midnight first feeding (ohmigod have to feed him NOW because of the blood sugar, I can't see, I can't think, and he's ASLEEP!) was ... difficult.. Pictures help a lot.

[morrghan92.livejournal.com]

I think LJ is the reason I succeeded. Every time I had a question I could post to the breastfeeding community, and there were twenty women telling me their story, and encouraging me. I also had a wonderful Birth Center, that gave me a place to go once a week where I could ask questions, be reassured, get advice, and see all the beautiful babies. My guy is 20 months old, and we have a bond like none other I have experienced.