Breastfeeding Analogy

[BensMom]

At our birth network meeting yesterday, the lactation consultant who was talking said that breastfeeding was like learning to drive.

I really liked that analogy. Because when I think back on when I was learning to drive, it was so hard! I felt like there was so much to look at, so much to think about, so much to worry about. I was a nervous wreck every time I got behind the wheel and could not wait to get it over with.

Now I barely think about the mechanics of driving. Its like second nature to me and I consider myself a pretty decent driver. :LOL

I think that is how nursing was. At first it seems like you need 17 arms, its so hard, not very pleasant. And after a couple of months, you arent even thinking about it when you latch that babe on, you barely feel it and it just seems like second nature.

Anyway, I liked the analogy and wanted to share with anyone who was looking forward to nursing their first child soon.

[*Amy*]

That is a good analogy! This is something that I am definitely looking forward to with my babe. I think I'm pretty lucky though; I've grown up with women around me breastfeeding (including my mom breastfeeding my younger brother, who is 12 years younger than me) so it seems totally natural and normal to me.

I was really happy to see a friend's sister-in-law last weekend, breastfeeding her 3-week old with ease. They had a really rocky start in the hospital but it seems like they are doing great now.

[Emilie]

that is nice. I had a TERRIBLE time nursing ds for about 6 weeks. He did not latch and really eat for about 2 weeks-a nd then it was incredibly painful.
Once we got going - we never stopped! It is one of my greatest accomplishments in life so far- aside from giving birth- to stick with the bfing- and continuing it on.
I reccomend Womanly Art of Breastfeeding to anyone! I would nurse and read it at the same time- telling myself I had to go on and do this!
I took great pride in every bit ds grew- knowing that it was my body supplying his to make him grow!
Now that I am pg and nursing - the pain is back- but it is temporary right!
I am excited to have a new baby to nurse!
Do not get discouraged if it does not go as planned- find proper support people- and it will work out in the end!

[AmyGirl28]

This is a good analogy! I was totally devistated when I ended up with a c/s with DD. I was even more devistated that she refused to nurse. I think she could feel how upset I was, and I was really sick with HELLP. Last time I figured it would just be easy, I didn't prepare at all. I ended up pumping what I could for the first few months and then resorting to formula.

This time I have been reading, and I am taking a class. I am determined to learn, even if we have a rocky start.

[Gunter]

I went to a LLL meeting earlier this month and am going to the local conference (w. Ina May speaking) this weekend.

Two of my neighbors that I am close with breastfead with success, so I hope that they will be supportive of me. A friend who is attending my birth is a LLL leader. I hope to have these people help me out a lot at first...or whenever. Someone lent me three books on breastfeeding that I need to get back from one of my neighbors.

I am very enthusiastic about it right now.

[MelW]

But...I HATE driving :

But I am looking forward to breastfeeding. I have lots of breastfeeding education through work, and tag along with LCs whenever I get the chance to, but know that doing it myself will be totally different. I haven't been able to make it to a LLL meeting yet because of work schedules etc, but hope to go next month. And my MIL and mum both breastfed, so it really is the normal thing to do in my family. I remember going to a LLL toddler/play group when my youngest sister was a breastfeeding toddler

[Kavita]

I think a huge part of the reason people find it hard to breastfeed here is that it is a learned skill like driving or dancing, and we don't routinely get to see people breastfeeding openly. We do get to see people bottlefeeding all the time though, and a lot of times people unconsciously imitate bottlefeeding behaviors (like trying to shove the breast into the baby's mouth and not bring the baby to the breast, etc.)

There was an interesting article once that I read about a gorilla who had been raised in captivity in a zoo, who they had managed to get pregnant. The gorilla had the baby and the baby was fine, but she didn't know at all what to do with it, didn't nurse it, and I think actually hurt it and killed it because it was crying and she didn't know what to do and didn't show any maternal "instincts". Gorillas are normally social creatures who live within a social structure but this one had been raised in isolation from a gorilla group and hadn't been around gorilla mothers and gorilla babies. They got the gorilla pregnant again but this time they had LLL volunteers come in and sit outside the cage and nurse their babies and play with and interact with their babies where the gorilla could watch. When the second gorilla baby was born the mom handled it appropriately and nursed it successfully.

[MelW]

Originally Posted by Kavita

There was an interesting article once that I read about a gorilla who had been raised in captivity in a zoo, who they had managed to get pregnant. The gorilla had the baby and the baby was fine, but she didn't know at all what to do with it, didn't nurse it, and I think actually hurt it and killed it because it was crying and she didn't know what to do and didn't show any maternal "instincts". Gorillas are normally social creatures who live within a social structure but this one had been raised in isolation from a gorilla group and hadn't been around gorilla mothers and gorilla babies. They got the gorilla pregnant again but this time they had LLL volunteers come in and sit outside the cage and nurse their babies and play with and interact with their babies where the gorilla could watch. When the second gorilla baby was born the mom handled it appropriately and nursed it successfully.

Stop it, Kavita! You're making me emotional!
Thanks for that amazing story.

[*Amy*]

I know! That brought tears to my eyes!

[nataliekat]

OMG, I love that gorilla story! That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard! At least, the sweetest thing I've heard today.

I'm one of the few it seems who breastfed with absolute ease with my daughter. She latched on and we never looked back. The only "problems" I ever had were a plugged duct here and there that worked itself out in a day or two.

That said, for first timers, I would highly recommend having NAMES and NUMBERS of PROFESSIONALS who can help you posted by your phone before the baby's born. If possible, I would meet these people and have relationships with them, so that you know who to call immediately if there's a problem. I know that even with my plugged ducts, I wanted help NOW, I didn't want to be looking in the phone book trying to decide who to call.

Know LLL leaders (I consider them professionals ), and have them recommend an LC. Find your local LLL meeting and start going NOW and continue immediately after the baby is born, and you have all your questions.

Can you tell I love LLL? I go to two local meetings a month and still go to the toddler meeting even though Maisie is weaned. I'll continue to go to that one with the new baby, too, just because I love being around BFing moms!

[spiritmomma]

OMG! You are going to see INA MAY at a LLL conference!!! WOW! I wish I could be a fly on the wall for that. I'd love to hear her speak!

Sorry...ff subject

[Slackermom]

I think the driving analogy is a good one. Although we didn't have any problems with breastfeeding, for the first couple of weeks I did feel like I needed 10 arms and 14 pillows and a squad of lactation goddesses cheering me on. After that, it just became second nature, like driving -- you dont' think about shifting, you just do it.

[gonnabeamom]

I love that analogy because I remember friends experiences and tales of early BF troubles.

Also a couple of months ago I was at a baby shower, and the card for the group gift was going around, I signed it and realized the other two moms who hadn't and were in the room were both nursing so I said "I guess I better go find somebody else" and was met with puzzled looks. When I said "You guys are busy nursing" there was some laughter and then the hostess said, "Once you get the hang of it you could walk around with two alligators latched on, and make supper at the same time"

Also I was a really nervous driver at first, and my brother took to it like he was born behind the wheel. I know I could be anywhere in the range to start out, and I'll still learn.

[Kavita]

Slightly OT, but . . .
I've always thought that with all the dramatic physical changes of pregnancy, we should also be able to grow an additional arm with each baby. Wouldn't that be useful? WAY better than stretch marks! :LOL