Fitting Breastfeeding into Your Life
Judy Minami
Portland, Oregon, USA
From: LEAVEN, Vol. 36 No. 1, February-March 2000, p. 5
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
Another important factor
in working with a mother with a chronic illness is helping her explore
ways to fit breastfeeding into her life, so she can meet her baby's
needs without compromising her own well- being. Alternatives and
changes she makes in her everyday life may make nursing or caring for
her baby less difficult. In some cases, depending on the symptoms and
the mother's lifestyle, this may take some creative problem solving.
Using the mother's knowledge of her disease and your expertise in breastfeeding
may lead to some truly ingenious solutions. If these solutions
feel right to the mother, if they are comfortable for her, physically
and emotionally, solve the difficulty she is trying to overcome, and
fit well into her daily life, then we can feel satisfied that they are
right for her. If you don't understand something about the mother's
illness, how the mother experiences symptoms, or how her illness affects
her life, ask her.
When brainstorming about
how to make breastfeeding more comfortable, begin by asking her which
symptoms are most bothersome or make nursing difficult for her.
For example, the mother with arthritis may have pain in her shoulders
and hands, making it very difficult to hold the baby while she nurses.
You could suggest that she set up a nursing area with lots of pillows
to raise the baby and support her arms. She will need to experiment
with the positioning of the pillows to find how and where to place them
to her best advantage. Or maybe she can find a comfortable position
in which to nurse while lying down.
Lying down to nurse may be
an especially appropriate suggestion for a mother who is fatigued or
where the safety of the baby may be compromised if the mother experiences
symptoms of her disease unexpectedly. Mothers with inhibited or challenged
mobility may be surprised at how beneficial it is to set up a spot ahead
of time with everything they might need for the day. A pitcher of water
or juice and a glass, a snack, lots of pillows, a place to lay baby
down, clean diapers and a receptacle for dirty ones, baby wipes, a phone,
something to read, and possibly a radio or the remote control for the
television would help make it possible for a mother challenged by even
the most severe symptoms to manage most of the day alone with her baby.
If you have difficulty finding
practical solutions to meet the mother's needs, a Leader or a mother
in the local Group who has also experienced the mother's illness or
who has had experience helping other mothers with it may be able to
provide additional suggestions. To find such a Leader, contact
LLLI Headquarters and ask for names from LLL's specialties list of Leaders.
It may help the mother to know that someone else has overcome the same
obstacles. It gives her confidence that she, too, can realize
her dream of nursing her baby.
By using active listening,
common sense, and creativity, every Leader can assist a mother with
a chronic illness. Working out the logistics of breastfeeding
and daily baby care may take considerable time while the mother and
the Leader work together to find solutions that are suited to both the
mother's and baby's needs. But it can be satisfying to help this mother
and watch her confidence and self-esteem grow along with her baby.
The mother with a chronic
illness deserves a great deal of credit for her determination under
sometimes overwhelming circumstances. Leaders who have the opportunity
to help these mothers deserve the same.
Suggestions For
Mothers With Specific Chronic Illnesses
Systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE or lupus), arthritis, or myasthenia gravis (MG)
Concerns:
Weakness, joint pain, and swelling
Suggestions:
Have adequate support for arms; nurse lying down. Have
help in lifting baby if necessary. Baby carrier may take pressure
off arms. Set up "nursing station" for times alone.
Medication(s):
Most medications are compatible with breastfeeding. If
the doctor recommends weaning, the Leader can contact the Professional
Liaison Leader for information about specific drugs.
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Adapted by the author
from: "Helping Mothers with Chronic Illness," LEAVEN, July-August 1990,
Vol. 26, No. 4.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:32:22 UTC 2007.
