Category Archives: nursing

nursing

Nurse until you cry.

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I popped over to Pumproom Confessions yesterday and saw a button on the sidebar that said “Breastfeeding shouldn’t be a downer.” As I am ever interested in the world of nursing, I clicked on it. It led me to a website for Dysphroic Milk Ejection Reflex. Suddenly I was reading account after account from women who experienced the same thing I do when nursing.

I love to nurse, the closeness is amazing and I am a long term advocate of it. So I found it a bit dismaying that each time I sat down to nurse my son I would suddenly be overcome with a deep wave of despair. It would punch me right in the stomach and sit there for a minute to two. I told myself it was mild post partum depression. I told myself it was a reaction to finally sitting down and not distracting myself from my grief over a departed friend. I didn’t connect it with my milk letting down. I didn’t connect it with nursing at all, even though it happened every time I sat down to do it. I just figured it was something else. I never knew it was a documented condition that afflicted other moms as well.

I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to me that I am a) not alone, b) not insane c) not imagining it. I feel so much better simply knowing that there is a physical reason for those moments of despair, and that there are people researching it to see if there is something that can be done. Clearly some wire in my brain is crossed. Evolutionarily it makes sense to have pleasurable emotions released when your milk lets down, not despairing ones.

If you are a nursing mother, and you feel inexplicably sad, anxious, angry, or depressed for short intense periods while nursing, check out the website on D-MER. Breastfeeding is challenging enough without having to battle intense and nebulous emotional demons along with it. I feel so much better simply knowing more about the problem, and I would bet you will too.

nursing, nursing, parenting

Pressure to do what’s best for you and your baby, too much for Andrea Peyser

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The this article, Andrea Peyser, columnist for the New York Post, bashes doctors and nurses who support and encourage breast-feeding, likening it to a “Forced labor camp, where the uniform is half-nude.”
I see, so the medical staff in hospitals across the country are forcing women to work topless for unbelievable long hours in poor and dangerous conditions for little or no pay? Why that is just horrible! Where is this happening? We have to stop it!

Oh, wait, you just mean the medical staff is trying to help women do what is best for themselves, and for their babies? Shame, shame on them. Doctors these days should know that Americans don’t want what is best, we want what is popular, and bearing our breasts for anything other than sexual objectification simply won’t fly in this culture!

As to the benefits of breastfeeding, Peyser points out that a “Leading Manhattan shrink Dr. Shari Lusskin” has told her that “some of my colleagues believe the data is made up.” She then shakes her shame finger at the medical industry, implying that they are “forcing” women to breast-feed on paltry scientific proof.

Which is why I should jump on the anti-boob bandwagon when a journalist tells me that a shrink in Manhattan says some other shrinks in Manhattan think some of the facts on breastfeeding may be made up? (In legal land, the above sentence is double hearsay, otherwise known as evidence that would not be allowed into any court of law, under any exception, as proof of anything, due to it’s unreliability.) With scientific evidence like that to point to, how can we fail to switch back to the expensive, corporate sponsored, formula culture we used to live in?

The reason behind all this outrage? Manhattan hospitals are no longer allowing free formula in the take home packs sent with new moms. I say good for them. Despite Peyser’s convictions otherwise, breastfeeding is hugely beneficial, for both mom and child. (Breastfeeding facts)

Andrea Peyser, take it from a mom, breastfeeding can be wonderful. It helps you lose weight faster, allows you reasons to sit still and snuggle your baby for long periods of time throughout the day, and allows you to feed your child anywhere, anytime, at no cost. There is no forgetting your breast in the fridge. It provides a healthy meal for your baby whenever you need it. You don’t even have prepare it.
It’s true that it simply can’t be done by some women, for many reasons. I feel no need to cast shame upon women who don’t breastfeed. However, the fact that it is unpleasant or impossible for some women, doesn’t mean it is a bad idea for most women, and most babies. Breastfeeding should be encouraged and supported.

I think the problem with breastfeeding is that our culture has a problem with breastfeeding. Saggy boobs aren’t sexy to us, and using our bodies for their naturally intended purpose has become something to avoid, or supplement, instead of something to encourage. I applaud the decision to encourage breastfeeding. Manhattan hospitals get a standing ovation from me.

Motherhood, nursing

Daisy

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“Dear Sir, my name is Daisy, I am a cow. I wish to take my own life, so please send me three buckets of anthrax, as anthrax is designed to kill cattle and I want to end it all right now. P.S.: I cannot shoot myself as I have no opposable thumbs.” Eddie Izzard

The baby would not sleep, the baby would not lie down alone, nor would he sit alone, swing alone, be held by someone other than me. In fact… all day long, all the baby would do is… are you ready?… NURSE!!

Yes indeedy! I understand the production pressures of the common dairy cow! Bessie and I are in a select club, those who must produce to meet the demands of tyrants!!