A month ago, I had posted this topic on a couple of other forums and had some really interesting responses from mothers who bf and mothers who EP. Like Bec, I EP. I'd like so briefly share my story so you understand why I am asking this question in order to provide a more well rounded response.
It never occurred to me that it would be this difficult. While still in the hospitals, I had 3 different LCs and 9 nurses try to help dd get latched. I continued to visit w/ the 3 LC for about 2-3 mos after delivery to get dd to latch. The LCs determined early on that dd had a severe tongue thrusting reflex that they tried to correct. We tried shields and various feeding mechanisms. Nothing worked. This was the MOST difficult thing I had ever had to do in my life and I suffered through tremendous depression and my dd and I cried each time I put her to the breast. I threw in the towel and decided I would just EP since I had already been doing it since birth.
I EPed for dd until she was 13 mos and when I was 4-5 mos into my 'surprise' second pregnancy. I was determined to do things differently since I had gained so much knowledge from my last experience. When I had #2, ds, I encountered a totally different set of problems. W/o making my 'brief' post any longer, I chose NOT to continue to try to get ds to nurse because I was caring for an 18 mo old w/ a newborn (ALONE) while recovering from birth and a serious illness and I had to make the best decision for my family (healthy me or unhealthy me while repeating the emotional painful process of getting ds to nurse). I chose to EP w/ the hope that I could try to get him to nurse when I became healthy again. And I was able to provide dd MM again.
As you can see, w/ #1 I had a lot of people help me try to get her to nurse. No one ever suggested EPing. I just ended up doing it because I was already doing it. After I delivered ds, I talked to an LC about this. She informed me that I was rare and that a majority of women will not be able to EP for very long because the pump is not as effective as a baby to get the body to produce milk.
While I agree w/ her that the baby is more effective at making the body produce milk, I disagree that I am rare. I have met numerous women over the past year who have successfully EPed and many of them just fell into w/o support or information because they wanted to provide they baby MM. I have noticed recently that many mothers were informed about EPing by their LCs. Some LCs had knowledge about it, but most didn't (however they provided the mother w/ EP info and links to the online support groups).
Do you believe that LCs (or support groups) should offer info or suggestion to EP?
If yes, when do you feel is the best time to introduce the new mother to EPing? [Timing is so important. You may not want to introduce it too early because the new mother may not put forth all of her efforts into nursing because she knows that EPing is there. However, she may discover that EPing is too difficult and just switch to formula.]
Do you believe the LC (or support group) should be informed about EPing or should they just pass the mother to an EPing online group (unless there is one locally)?
It never occurred to me that it would be this difficult. While still in the hospitals, I had 3 different LCs and 9 nurses try to help dd get latched. I continued to visit w/ the 3 LC for about 2-3 mos after delivery to get dd to latch. The LCs determined early on that dd had a severe tongue thrusting reflex that they tried to correct. We tried shields and various feeding mechanisms. Nothing worked. This was the MOST difficult thing I had ever had to do in my life and I suffered through tremendous depression and my dd and I cried each time I put her to the breast. I threw in the towel and decided I would just EP since I had already been doing it since birth.
I EPed for dd until she was 13 mos and when I was 4-5 mos into my 'surprise' second pregnancy. I was determined to do things differently since I had gained so much knowledge from my last experience. When I had #2, ds, I encountered a totally different set of problems. W/o making my 'brief' post any longer, I chose NOT to continue to try to get ds to nurse because I was caring for an 18 mo old w/ a newborn (ALONE) while recovering from birth and a serious illness and I had to make the best decision for my family (healthy me or unhealthy me while repeating the emotional painful process of getting ds to nurse). I chose to EP w/ the hope that I could try to get him to nurse when I became healthy again. And I was able to provide dd MM again.
As you can see, w/ #1 I had a lot of people help me try to get her to nurse. No one ever suggested EPing. I just ended up doing it because I was already doing it. After I delivered ds, I talked to an LC about this. She informed me that I was rare and that a majority of women will not be able to EP for very long because the pump is not as effective as a baby to get the body to produce milk.
While I agree w/ her that the baby is more effective at making the body produce milk, I disagree that I am rare. I have met numerous women over the past year who have successfully EPed and many of them just fell into w/o support or information because they wanted to provide they baby MM. I have noticed recently that many mothers were informed about EPing by their LCs. Some LCs had knowledge about it, but most didn't (however they provided the mother w/ EP info and links to the online support groups).
Do you believe that LCs (or support groups) should offer info or suggestion to EP?
If yes, when do you feel is the best time to introduce the new mother to EPing? [Timing is so important. You may not want to introduce it too early because the new mother may not put forth all of her efforts into nursing because she knows that EPing is there. However, she may discover that EPing is too difficult and just switch to formula.]
Do you believe the LC (or support group) should be informed about EPing or should they just pass the mother to an EPing online group (unless there is one locally)?
).
). I want to specialize in special needs kids that will require extra help in latching, or whose mother's will need to pump for them. I think there is a lack of support (other than online) in this area, and one that is really important that there be support.
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