But I digress...I was so happy to read this article this morning and even surprised by how powerful of words they chose. "...Prevent Death..." If you have a few minutes take a look...
http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/us_med_breast_feeding_savings.html
My husband was telling me about this story last night. So glad I b-fed the first baby. So worried about the 2nd one though- how in the world do you sit for 30+ min with the baby when you have a 20 month old running around!?:)
ReplyDeleteWhat options are available for someone who cannot breastfeed?
ReplyDeleteTell me about it Jen! I have no clue, I'm thinking I'm just always going to be running around the house with the little one hanging off my boob. (;
ReplyDeleteJanel, if you physically can't breastfeed for a medical reason or have adopted you can ask your Dr for a prescription for a milk bank. It's completely pasteurized & strictly screened donated milk, the reason you need a prescription is because otherwise too many people might buy it and they need to have enough for preemies & sick babies that need it.
I loved the article.
ReplyDelete"Breast-feeding makes a profound difference."
"Breast-feeding is sometimes considered a lifestyle choice, but Bartick calls it a public health issue."
Boobs rock :)
The health benefits are why I'm breastfeeding/pumping for the first year even if it's not always easy/convenient, even if it hurts, even if people say I should just quit... Thanks for posting this article. I wish more women in this country had the support, understanding of benefits, and cultural acceptance to breastfeed.
ReplyDeleteI was fully prepared to breast feed but never produced breast milk (I had HELLP Syndrome and went into DIC after my c-section, then caught an infection). I pumped for 3.5 weeks but never got more than 1/2 a tsp of BM and then nothing. The doctors were adamant that I not give up trying initially, since my son was 8 weeks premature, and your body produces antibodies needed for a baby at your baby's particular gestational age. Adding to this guilt...at 6 weeks old, my son caught late onset Group B Strep, which developed into sepsis and then bacterial meninigits. I'll never totally get over the guilt I feel of not being able to give him antibodies to protect him.
ReplyDeleteBUT, I wanted to add that while milk banks are awesome, most insurances (even my awesome insurance) won't cover the milk and they are cost prohibitive. There's no way we could have been able to afford it, I would have to say that the majority of families who need it probably would not be able to afford it.
while i appreciate this article and don't doubt the countless benefits of breastfeeding, it makes me feel like a horrible mother when i read things like this. i could not safely breastfeed my daughter due to seizure mediciations that i had to remain on after her birth. it was a hard decision to make but the safest for her and i and when i read articles like this, i feel just awful. i thought this was a crafting blog? :(
ReplyDeleteI agree with the two comments above. I tried valiantly to breastfeed. It got so bad that I would bleed more than give milk. It got to the point where my baby would cry when I would hold her because she knew that I was going to try to feed her. There are times when you have to make the sacrifice for the best of your baby. I think articles like this are good but they sure don't help mothers who wanted to breastfeed and couldn't and who are emotional and dealing with postpartum depression. I wish that people could make an informed choice and then not be judged for what they have to do for their on good and for that of their child. I feel like their is a lot of mean people out their who judge those of us who in the end have no choice but to choose a bottle. i shed a lot of tears and had so many people say awful things to me. It's just something to think about. My kids are healthy and happy. I went through the same thing with all 4. It wasnot for lack of trying. But in the end my relationship to my babies was more important.
ReplyDelete2 girls, nursing (still) for a total of 66 months. Oh yeah ~ I was surely a dairy cow in my previous life. Sounds crazy, but I kind of feel like it's been the one thing I've been able to do really well.
ReplyDeleteI am probably the least granola girl you will ever meet, but I breastfed both of my boys for 15+ months each. I am so proud of the fact that neither one ever had a drop of formula.
ReplyDeletePeople ask why I breastfed "so long" when, in my mind, it wasn't long enough. I think it's sad most women don't even make it a year.
Anywho...It's not always easy. It's not always convienent. But...it is best. It's what our bodies were meant to do!
Love this and thanks for posting! Another great reason to try for a VBAC! It's often harder after a C-section. Although I never had a problem with my first.
ReplyDeleteI think something needs to change with maternity leaves as well. Family Medical Leave law prevents so many women from breastfeeding for the first six months. I pump in the bathroom at work because I'm committed to it!
Breastfeed my daughter for 16 months and my son is 11 months and still breastfeeding. I will stop bottles at a year and will continue to bf as long as he wants!
I sympathise with the people who were unable to breastfeed.
ReplyDeleteGood on you all for trying though. Your babies are still happy and healthy, and I think the article was aimed at women who chose to formula feed without any thought of breastfeeding.
I was lucky to be able to feed both my daughters for over a year.
I weaned my first at 13 months, and with my 2nd I decided I'd feed her until she was ready to stop. That was 16 months, and that was sooner than I was expecting.
I want to say first, thanks for the awesome blog! I am making the J crew necklace today, do you mind if I put it on my blog with a link to you? Second I wanted to say, I breastfed my daughter for 15 months and loved it! It was hard at first but just keep trying! I had amazing nurses and very supportive family, I think that made it much easier. TO ANONYMOUS: You should never feel guilty for not being able to breastfeed for medical reasons. A medication that you need to maintain your health is more important, your baby needs their mommy! Don't let these articles make you feel bad, you did the right think for your situation and when it comes down to it this is a decision between you, your family and your doctor. Thanks for the article!
ReplyDeleteI was thrilled to see this article when I opened yahoo this morning! I actually thought that they did a good job pointing out that not all moms can breastfeed, and they shouldn't feel bad. I am so pleased to have a 9 month old who chooses to be pretty much exclusively breastfed while trying every food that I'll allow into her mouth :-) It has allowed me to donate for the Milk Bank in Austin, which I am honored to do :-)
ReplyDeleteNatasha, thanks for posting that article link. Both of my kids only nursed for about 4 months each.(Their doctor said it was ok) But I am REAlLY hoping that this baby coming in August will nurse for at least 1 year. It would help ease my worries about if this kid is getting a good start. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood article. I had my second when my first was 21 months. I wondered about how it would work out with a crazy toddler running around. It was fine. She had to learn to play a little on her own. I learned to sit and nurse where ever she was. It was good for all of us. she also would sit with her baby doll and 'nurse' it. I still took her to the places we always went and nursing baby just went along and nursed where ever and whenever. I checked my modesty at the door!
ReplyDeletei really hope that when I have children in the next few years, that someone like you is there to support me and keep me informed. You're so awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteMy friends and I call it liquid gold as well! You can imagine how insane I felt when I had to throw out 25 bags because they were "expired"!!!! I guess I should have gone on more dates with my hubby!!
ReplyDeleteI just saw the comment about nursing when there is a toddler running around...
ReplyDeleteWhen I had my second son (Gray), my firstborn (Weston) was only 13 months. I would read to him while he sat on the floor, sing songs, etc. It kept Weston at bay and entertained while nursing for the first couple months. Now, 8 months later, Weston is used to me feeding his baby brother and just does his own thing. It doesn't even phase him really, except that now he's beginning to be curious about my breasts. Of course there are times where he will get into things knowing that I can't get up to correct him...but some things you just can't avoid.
So just encouragement, if I can nurse with a 13 month old running around, you can do it too! It might help to pump also and let your oldest help feed the baby too.
I breastfed. And bled. And kept on. And bled some more. I am so passionate about breastfeeding. It is the best thing you can do for you baby if your body is physically capable. It's a BLESSING as a mother to be able to give breastmilk to your child. My heart goes out to mums who can't. But wish they could.
ReplyDeleteEvery mom does the best they can do whether they breastfeed or not. With my first I could not get her to latch on correctly. It was very painful. Then I decided I would use the Medela pump and pumped for about 8 months. Yes I had to take the pump everywhere. But it was the best I could do and I desperately wanted my baby to have breast milk. The lactation consult made me feel very bad about what I was doing and said I wasn't doing it right and that was a horrible decision. I felt so judged and unsupported. With my 2nd baby she latched on so quickly and it was very easy to breastfeed her. I don't know why I didn't do anything different. I breastfeed my 2nd while my toddler sat by me pretending to breastfeed her doll. Except she insisted on breastfeeding out of her belly button!
ReplyDeleteI think breastmilk is the best but I would never judge anyone for not doing it. I think there are many other things that can contribute to the health of a child.
I can understand there are a lot of strong opinions on the subject, and it truly is a both a struggle and blessing. I hope everyone understands your intention to spread the good word:) I wish more employers (mine, especially) would be more accomodating to breastfeeding mothers. I went back to work after 4 weeks, and would pump to and from work and my meager 10 minute breaks pumping in the handicap stall never seemed long enough!
ReplyDeleteTo the person who said, "I thought this was a craft blog"...that is true. But you obviously haven't read everything because if you had you would know the background of Samster's Mommy and why she decided to start the blog, and how now she is training to help other mothers learn the benefits of breastfeeding. This is something she is working hard to educate others about and she has a right to post links like this on her blog, even if it is a “craft blog.”
ReplyDeleteObviously her intention was not to make anyone feel bad for not breastfeeding-- especially if you aren't physically able to do it! But making comments like that on a blog that is meant to bring light to something good is unnecessary. It is pretty clear that the article she posted was going to be about the benefits of breastfeeding, so why don’t you just skip reading that one? Natasha isn’t trying to make you feel bad, so why are you making her feel bad?
I had a tough time breastfeeding my first baby and so I had to give up because of the pain I was in, the blood that was pouring out of my breasts, not to mention the dehydration and jaundice of my boy.Because of everything involved the first time around and the big age gap the second time around, I chose to bottle feed. I have at times wished I had just tried but overall I am content in my decision.
ReplyDeleteI didn't read the article, my baby is 4 now and with no more babies on the horizon, I didnt feel the need to ;) so I just skipped it.
I have to defend you though Natasha (even though I am just a random follower and you have no idea who I am ;) I love your blog, I love the personal stuff you post along with the crafts. This is what makes me keep coming back, I love seeing the families behind the ideas and the ones who benefit from the crafts.
Keep up the good work xxxxxx
I agree with you!
ReplyDeletebut I cringe when I see a newborn baby with a bottle of formula in its mouth right after it was born. I think they should at least try, it might surprise the mother.
I ran acrossed this comic the other day.. http://www.mama-is.com/very-crafty/
Pro-Breastfeeding all the way!!--4 kids nursed them all LONG term..was it always easy? Heck NO
ReplyDeleteI worked with pregnant and BFing moms for over 9 years. You might be amazed and the excuses people use not to nurse--(it's your choice no excuses necessary) then people complain about the high cost of formula...hmmm whatever
kudos to you for educating yourself for this pregnancy!
I don't think this article was intended for moms who physically cannot breastfeed. But for those who opt not to because "eww its gross" or cosmetic reasons. Women like that make me so angry. I remember Breastfeeding my son in his infancy, who is now 5 years of age. I was at the mall and completley covered by a nursing blanket. I remember this women walking by gave me this look like I was a horrid leper. Then I could see her whispering and staring at me with her friend.
ReplyDeleteI think the problem is cultural. If you asked a hispanic women 'oh will you give breast or bottle' she will look at you like you are crazy. It's a given that she will breastfeed for 12-18 months. I think women (american women) mostly are too reserved and superficial. Prefer to go to the gym than stay at home with their babies and breastfeed.
after reading the comments, i see that new moms seem to go home and expect everything to be natural in breastfeeding. AT NO POINT in BF is bleeding okay. you should get experienced people to help you... maybe poor latch, maybe a yeast infection... but utterly preventable.
ReplyDeletei know of women who prefer to have a scheduled caesarean and bottlefeed, just so you can "control" all aspects of the baby's arrival.
I also personally know moms who desperately wanted to breastfeed, but couldnot.
But the vast majority of new moms nowadays want to breastfeed, then stop when something goes wrong, usually in the furst few weeks.
this goes double for women whose pediatricians are not aware of breastfeeding practices and the nature of the human body.. they expect you to "open the tap and feed baby for 15 minutes every 3 hours," if that does not work, switch to formula!..... "if you get mastitis, get antibiotics and stop feeding baby!"..." if you get cracked nipples, apply lanolin and try to grit your teeth and bear it!"....
a terrible situation, but really simple to prevent these situations if you know someone well informed, like a lactation consultant or an experienced doula.
best of luck to you!
I think its great that you posted this article I am in nursing school and when I did my L&D rotation I realized how many new moms did not really know how to breastfeed or had a bad experience and never had anyone to help them so I think its great what your doing. I don't think in any way that you were trying to say formula feeding is bad you were just trying to shine light on an issue that many people don't know about especially young moms. And people who truly cannot or choose not to breastfeed I don't think is a bad thing and I do not think that is what she is saying at all. And I agree if you have been keeping up to date with the posts you would realize that yes this is a crafting blog but Natasha also writes about her life and she did a huge post on how hard breastfeeding was for her and how her goal was to help other women who were in her situation. So more power to you and keep up the blogging I love to hear what you have to say!
ReplyDeleteI posted this article up on my FB when I found it. :)
ReplyDeleteI realized too that people might get offended, but they really should not. I don't think anyone here is judging moms who have to make a choice to formula feed because of some kind of breastfeeding issue (be it supply or because mom has to be on meds that make it unsafe).
I BFd my daughter for 20 months and only stopped because I was pregnant and it was getting awkward and uncomfortable for me with my ginormo belly. I'm on month 8 with my son and don't plan on stopping anytime soon. As long as my body is producing, the choice is clear.
The fact that it's FREE too is a nice plus. ;)