Knowledge is Key
Rena Pearson
Woodstock, GA USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 17 No. 5, September-October 2000, p. 164
We provide articles from our publications from previous years for reference for our Leaders and members. Readers are cautioned to remember that research and medical information change over time.
In our world today, knowledge
is power. I believe that in breastfeeding, knowledge is also the key
to success. I am the kind of person who loves to research and study.
I approached pregnancy and breastfeeding with that attitude. I knew
that I wanted to breastfeed so I set out to find whatever information
was available. I read books. I took classes and I thoroughly interrogated
everyone I knew who had even contemplated breastfeeding. I believed
I was prepared. I envisioned a beautiful tale of mother and baby sitting
and nursing peacefully in a rocking chair. Little did I know what lay
ahead.
Emma's delivery was normal.
She was big and healthy. She had perfect features from her button nose
to her precious toes. In fact, she was so perfect she didn't look real.
Then she opened her perfect mouth and began to cry very loudly. My daughter
was not happy, and she was not going to quiet down until something was
done. The nursery nurses brought her to me saying " Well, her lungs
work great but she sure is loud!"
As weeks turned into months,
my beautiful baby continued to scream. I breastfed on demand. That was
the only way there could be any peace at my house. Everyone questioned
my parenting style. They told me I was spoiling her and should just
let her cry it out. They questioned breastfeeding, saying that my milk
wasn't rich enough and that she was hungry. They told me she needed
water and that she might be lactose intolerant and needed soy milk.
I began to question myself but as I said, knowledge is the key to success.
Medically, I knew Emma was the picture of good health so I turned again
to research. The LLL website, (www.lalecheleague.org)
had vast amounts of information, which I devoured while Emma slept.
I began an elimination diet and found that she could not tolerate corn,
milk, and wheat. As I eliminated these things from my diet, Emma's crying
lessened - somewhat but not altogether. We began sleeping together,
which helped the nighttime crying. Everyone asked me how I did not go
insane and my reply was always "breastfeeding." After one
of Emma's 45-minute nursing sessions, I always felt at peace and so
did she.
All the knowledge I digested
has served me well. During Emma's first year, I made a trip to the emergency
room with a serious stomach flu. While at the hospital, the doctor on
call told me I should not nurse for a few days because Emma would catch
the flu. I proceeded to tell him, while Emma nursed, that the worst
thing I could do would be to wean. If she was going to catch the flu,
she had most definitely already been exposed and my body would provide
some antibodies. Besides, breast milk is the best clear liquid I could
give my baby. He shook his head and walked out without another word.
At 14 months the baby who
cried all the time has become a very contented, intelligent, delightful
toddler who continues to thrive on nursing and attachment parenting.
As she begins to look older, I find myself defending her need to breastfeed
more and more. I always get comments from my in-laws but fortunately,
I have educated my husband and he supports us 100 percent. I have the
knowledge to know what I'm doing is best for Emma. I tell people I am
still breastfeeding and eagerly answer questions. Maybe if everyone
had some knowledge of breastfeeding, nursing mothers would not have
to feel so defensive about the wonderful gift of breastfeeding.
Last updated Wednesday, October 11, 2006 by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:29:26 UTC 2007.
