What would you do differently?

January 25, 2008

Probably a bit off topic but as Im due in 3 weeks with baby number 4,

Ive been thinking alot about my own breastfeeding experiences .

Now this time, I know a whole lot more and am thinking about what I

will do differently. First up is self attachment/ breast crawl ( never

knew about that before!) Might try a few test weights just to see what

the intake is like in the first few days ..... test drive a few

different pumps .... Ive been thinking about all the experiments I

could do The main thing will be really knowing what an asymmetrical

latch is and how to achieve it.

And then I think maybe I will just stay in bed for 3 weeks and gaze at

my baby! Then there will be the small matter of the other 3 kids who

might need some attention too.

Id be interested to hear what everyone would do differently ( or did)

if they had the chance.

Bye for now

Nicola O'Byrne

IBCLC

Dublin

January 25, 2008

Hi Nicola,

I have four sons. My first son was born flawlessly and beautifully in a

hospital, however hearing Wainer Cohen speak about her book " Open

Season " during my second pregnancy resulted in one of those " lightbulb

moments " where I *knew* that I had to birth this next baby at home, which I

did (along with his two younger brothers).

After my first son (who was definitely breastfed, but, poor little guy, had

a mother who was way too uptight and into scheduling nursings and even felt

resentful at times for the lack of sleep and amount of time baby-care and

nursings took), I " woke up " and nursed my following three sons at the

slightest peep, slept with them, never had a bottle in the house, and

carried them in a sling when I wasn't holding them, and dropped all

feelings of resentment.

Regarding this last point (dropping resentment), there's a beautiful quote

from the

late Dr. White (husband of one of the LLL founders) that helped

me. Because it is one of

my favorite quotes ever regarding mothering and one I use at every

breastfeeding class I teach, I'll quote it here in full for those who

aren't familiar with it:

" A lot of people think they are entitled to a night's sleep. Nobody's

entitled to a full night's sleep and very few mothers get one. Many people

do at one time or another during their lives, and I'm all for it. But no

one's entitled to it, whether she's a new mother or not, if someone needs

her. If a lazy, self-indulgent old man like me can get out of bed in the

middle of the night to help people he hardly knows, certainly a mother can

do this for her own child. " (_Womanly Art of Breastfeeding_, 7th rev.,

pg.102-3)

Best wishes on your upcoming birth! And I hope you do stay in bed for 3

weeks (or longer!) and just gaze at your new baby! Your other 3 children

can join you for meals and book reading and talks, etc.

~Dianne Oliver, IBCLC

Simi Valley, CA

At 06:24 PM 1/25/2008 +0000, you wrote:

>Probably a bit off topic but as Im due in 3 weeks with baby number 4,

>Ive been thinking alot about my own breastfeeding experiences .

>Now this time, I know a whole lot more and am thinking about what I

>will do differently. First up is self attachment/ breast crawl ( never

>knew about that before!) Might try a few test weights just to see what

>the intake is like in the first few days ..... test drive a few

>different pumps .... Ive been thinking about all the experiments I

>could do The main thing will be really knowing what an asymmetrical

>latch is and how to achieve it.

>And then I think maybe I will just stay in bed for 3 weeks and gaze at

>my baby! Then there will be the small matter of the other 3 kids who

>might need some attention too.

>Id be interested to hear what everyone would do differently ( or did)

>if they had the chance.

>Bye for now

>Nicola O'Byrne

>IBCLC

>Dublin

>

______________________

Holistic Lactation

" Guiding the natural breastfeeding relationship.... "

www.holisticlactation.com

January 25, 2008