All about breastfeeding

I first heard about this controversy during last night's prenatal class. We were talking about breastfeeding and someone mentioned that H&M offended a mother who was breastfeeding her 2 year old child in the store by asking her to do it in the privacy of the change room. This has outraged many pro breastfeeding activists out there and there will be a staged protest in the Vancouver store at noontime today.

Article from the Globe and Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080807.BCNURSE07/TPStory/TPNational/BritishColumbia/

Asides from the mysteries of how the birthing experience will be like (for me), another one that mystifies me as well is breastfeeding. No longer do we look at our breasts as non-functional body parts that are symbols of what sets us apart from men but they will be put to work as nature intended. I wonder what breastfeeding will be like and whether I will be able to produce milk or will have difficulties with it. Personally, having someone suck milk out of my breasts seems a bit odd to me but I'm sure this will change in a few months.

Tidbits and Facts about Breastfeeding:

• Latching is like eating a hamburger. The breast is the hamburger and the baby has to first lower their jaw to receive the bottom of the breast and then the rest of the baby's mouth should cover the top of it. Good visual but is it really like eating a hamburger?!?
• Breastfeeding done properly should not hurt. What if you have small nipples and aereolas?
• Breast milk vs. formula: under a microscope, breast milk has live organisms whereas formula has none. These live organisms are very beneficial for the baby but supposively they can also help with other things too such as if you have pimples or cuts, just put breast milk on. Does this really work?!?

Thoughts to chew on:

• Our teacher was very against the use of formula and breast pumps right after the baby is born. I happen to know people who had to supplement with formula and pumped soon after the baby was born so this is definitely an issue I'm sure we will have to face in a few months
• To hold or not to hold: should babies be picked up right away when they fuss or cry? If a baby is picked up within 90 secs., they are less stressed and would lead to better development in the future. The theory goes that newborns aren't manipulative but just simple beings who need touch and comfort. In developing countries, mothers carry their children at all times and are bewildered when they hear of crying tyrants when theirs barely cry at all. Western society has created a world of scheduling and baby training so that the babies can conform to make it more convenient for the parents. We worry about having clingy babies that are so attached to us that we no longer can have any 'free' time away from them but is this the right way of thinking? I was one of those who thought babies/kids were slightly manipulative and really thought a regular routine would be the best way to manage them (notice the word 'manage') so that I wouldn't have a clingy baby. Perhaps we should let babies be babies and enjoy this time with them, watching them grow and develop right before your eyes? I realize that even though parents have routines and schedules, their lives are no longer the same anyways as it needs to follow after the baby's daily routine so do we really need to be so regimented about it? I guess I will find this out very soon.

Ciao for now.