Baby-Boomer on Breastfeeding

i recently asked a Baby-Boomer about her experience with feeding. She reported to me that she only breastfed for a a little while. When i persisted further in asking how long she said, "a few days" i then asked her why she chose the bottle when she in turn said, " i was embarrassed, and i figured i could just cuddle them." i didn't ask further from there. i was very sorry for her experience with her feelings of embarrassment. I am very positive that she was breastfed by her mother. To her mothers generation it was completely natural and normal, altho mostly done in private.

But for the baby-boomer's gen and with the popularity of bottles, i am sure she felt like she had no choice. i would love to know more of the way she felt, but she says she is still quite embarrassed by nursing couples as a whole.

As her daughter-in-law nursed her baby girl in the dark room adjoining the living room, she dared not enter nor bother her b/c she felt "uncomfortable"

Aloneness is, i am sure, what Y. felt in her short nursing experience and the reason why she gave up, b/c of embarrassment of nudity and the fear and feelings of being alone while feeding. Like it was something unnatural or seemingly far from normal.

By Y. completely leaving her DNL out of her "world" while she is nursing the grand baby, is in fact making her DNL feel the same way as Y. did during her short nursing experience. Making DNL's nursing experience seem something to be shadowed and forgotten, just as hers was for the short time she nursed her babies.

i feel such sadness for Y. after hearing of her short nursing experiences. *sigh* Never allowing herself to enjoy and treasure such a wonderfully beautiful thing that God made for all women. Societal allowances are at best-- disgustingly terrible when it comes to continued breastfeeding after the first few weeks.

As Y's daughter asked her Sister-In-Law, "Are you still doing it, or have you stopped?" The baby being 4 months and a happy and healthy girl only having had Mom's milk.

i shook my head from side to side within the recesses of my mind and wondered when will all of this stop? When will the negativity and over-sexualization of breasts, and breastfeeding stop!

i am just soooo sure that the powered, microbial laden, plastic particle laced formula is superior in no way to what God gave us to begin with! Hence the term "formula"

Breastfeeding Vs. Formula Feeding And the Risk of Autism

Breastfeeding, Infant Formula Supplementation, and Autistic Disorder: the Results of a Parent Survey.

Schultz ST, Klonoff-Cohen HS, Wingard DL, Akshoomoff NA, Macera CA, Ji M, Bacher C.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Although autistic disorder is associated with several congenital conditions, the cause for most cases is unknown. The present study was undertaken to determine whether breastfeeding or the use of infant formula supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid is associated with autistic disorder. The hypothesis is that breastfeeding and use of infant formula supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid/arachidonic acid are protective for autistic disorder. METHODS: This is a case-control study using data from the Autism Internet Research Survey, an online parental survey conducted from February to April 2005 with results for 861 children with autistic disorder and 123 control children. The analyses were performed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Absence of breastfeeding when compared to breastfeeding for more than six months was significantly associated with an increase in the odds of having autistic disorder when all cases were considered (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.42, 4.35) and after limiting cases to children with regression in development (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.01, 3.78). Use of infant formula without docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid supplementation versus exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a significant increase in the odds of autistic disorder when all cases were considered (OR 4.41, 95% CI 1.24, 15.7) and after limiting cases to children with regression in development (OR 12.96, 95% CI 1.27, 132). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this preliminary study indicate that children who were not breastfed or were fed infant formula without docosahexaenoic acid/arachidonic acid supplementation were significantly more likely to have autistic disorder.

Wisps of blonde and red hair
And hands that smell like "kid"
Caress my side and breasts

Little heads wallow and make
Their nest atop my heavy breast-pillows
Made 'specially for such and occasion as this

The feeling of skin
Baby's and Mom's
Both together having the most inherent need
Of humankind met

Touch

Perhaps that's why i wear skirts and
Go cloth-less any opportunity i get
To feel my legs touch each other
And to see and touch my breasts
As my arms graze by
In their back and forth movements
In my daily tasks as a woman and mother
Of the house

While at a local store, another young woman asked me in our brief conversation, "What did u go to school to be?" i replied, "i never got to finish school, but what i want more than anything is to be a lactation consultant." She looked at me rather funny as i tried my best to educate her on the matter. She responded by saying, "i didn't know u had to be taught how to breast feed." i told her that you didn't but it was sometimes helpful to have someone teach you the basics of different positions and latch procedures. And that many times new mothers are so intimidated that they don't even want to try b/c they have heard horror stories about it hurting their nipples. She then replied, "i didn't know women still did that anymore...breastfeed" i was so shocked. It is not the norm in her culture to even thing about nurturing in that way, attachment parenting, or any of the like. So maybe i can understand why she never even saw a single person nurse a child. All my friends do, but then again, that is who i associate with. The natural parenting types. i myself am a simple, natural person and lactavist who most often times is a vegetarian. My mission in life is to school mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding and how amazing a gift it can be to a child. i am very opinionated on the use of canned formulas. i know too much behind what the are made out of to be remotely interested in mixing it up for any of my offspring, i don't believe i would give it to my dog... but me and formula that is another rant...

Extraordinary Breastfeeding?

A Boob-Job

Well, lots can be said about the jobs of our Breasts. Us women, whom have lactated, pumped, and or Nursed would have to say that there is something magical and sometimes not so pleasant that happens to our breasts after such actions. For me, size change...i am all for bigger boobs, but lets face it, since i have lactated, my left breast is indeed much larger than the right...Not sure how to fix this problem, but maybe i could pay more attention to the right one? So, how ‘bout we start a discussion on our breasts. What we love about them, what we hate about them, and just in general, About Them.

First Time Nursing Experiences and beyond

What does a woman expect from her first time nursing experience?
i very well believe that answer would be Peaceful Perfection. Unfortunately it doesn't always go the way we plan. And babies don't always know what to do. They have the rooting, and turning of the head as a reflex to find food, but breastfeeding is a learned behavior.

For some mother and baby couples it takes a longer period of time, maybe days or weeks or in some cases it may take months. But the adjustment period of time for you and baby has naught to do with the longterm success of your nursing relationship. In time all your problems will ease, and nursing will become an every-day part of life just as fixing yourself a meal.

Baby can sense your frustrations easily and become fussy. The most important thing to remember is be calm and relaxed when you begin nursing. Preferably in a darker room that is calming to you, and in turn calming toward the child.