I have had 3 different tries at breastfeeding. All 3 of my kiddos were hospital births; only my last has resulted in an actual breastfeeding experience.
I attribute my final success to the Bradley class I took, taught by a Lactivist, and her book recommendations that accompanied the course. I actually had a natural birth for #3, and, surprise-surprise, breastfeeding was relatively simple (given my 1st 2 nightmares)! If she had not encouraged me, I would have had a drugged 3rd birth, and, I am SURE, another formula-fed infant.
All of you gals REALLY do make a difference.
#3 is the FIRST baby I bonded with right away, and the ONLY birth where I did not get an attack of depression lasting for months post-partum.
I thought of this, due to the thread talking about discreteness. It really got me thinking about how different my first 2 baby experiences *would* have been, had I been a part of a community where nursing was 'normal', and bottles were 'strange'.
My ideas regarding baby birthing and feeding were gained from watching recorded episodes of TLC's 'A Baby Story'. There was only 1 *weirdo* mom
who gave birth naturally and did not use bottles.
I only found out about Bradley when I went looking to take a Lamaze refresher course, and 'birthing class' generated a link for Bradley - out of curiosity, I clicked. I had never heard of anyone doing anything like what Bradley described - it seemed unnatural! But the more I read . . .
So, here I am today - After 1 (unnecessary) Cesarean, 1 drugged-out VBAC, and 1 un-medicated labor . . . I finally have the 7m/o happy baby I had always dreamed of.
I STILL don't get to see people breastfeeding, but, moms-to-be get to see ME; I am thrilled to have the chance to pass on the gift I was given, as the present of breastfeeding is one to be shared.
Thanks for everything you girls do. I now know how frustrating it can sometimes be. But, it truly makes a difference . . . 1 mama, and 1 baby at a time.
-Jeanette, A Finally Fulfilled Mama
I attribute my final success to the Bradley class I took, taught by a Lactivist, and her book recommendations that accompanied the course. I actually had a natural birth for #3, and, surprise-surprise, breastfeeding was relatively simple (given my 1st 2 nightmares)! If she had not encouraged me, I would have had a drugged 3rd birth, and, I am SURE, another formula-fed infant.
All of you gals REALLY do make a difference.
#3 is the FIRST baby I bonded with right away, and the ONLY birth where I did not get an attack of depression lasting for months post-partum.
I thought of this, due to the thread talking about discreteness. It really got me thinking about how different my first 2 baby experiences *would* have been, had I been a part of a community where nursing was 'normal', and bottles were 'strange'.
My ideas regarding baby birthing and feeding were gained from watching recorded episodes of TLC's 'A Baby Story'. There was only 1 *weirdo* mom
who gave birth naturally and did not use bottles.I only found out about Bradley when I went looking to take a Lamaze refresher course, and 'birthing class' generated a link for Bradley - out of curiosity, I clicked. I had never heard of anyone doing anything like what Bradley described - it seemed unnatural!
But the more I read . . .So, here I am today - After 1 (unnecessary) Cesarean, 1 drugged-out VBAC, and 1 un-medicated labor . . . I finally have the 7m/o happy baby I had always dreamed of.
I STILL don't get to see people breastfeeding, but, moms-to-be get to see ME; I am thrilled to have the chance to pass on the gift I was given, as the present of breastfeeding is one to be shared.
Thanks for everything you girls do. I now know how frustrating it can sometimes be. But, it truly makes a difference . . . 1 mama, and 1 baby at a time.
-Jeanette, A Finally Fulfilled Mama
: Thanks for sharing. 
: Thanks for sharing!
