Yep, I'm crap at breast feeding. Not real good at birthing, either. But I did grow four good looking kids, and once I got going, I laboured fairly well. There are many reasons why women don't breast-feed. My last one was breast-fed with a supply-line for 4 months. Then I was the only one to give her a bottle. Result a child who refused to hold her own bottle and required night feeds untill over two; just like many breast-fed kids. Maureen
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Robin Moon Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2002 9:01 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] too hard to brestfeed Michelle, I've known thousands of women over the years that have agonised in the same way you did and received the same sort of treatment. I've always thought that as a midwife ( particulary in private health) that the best thing I could do for them is to simply smooth their way, not FIX everything. Some things in life we're crap at, and some we're great at, and more often than not, we dont get to choose what they are. Some women are great at growing healthy term babies, some are crap; some are great at labouring and some are crap; some are great at breastfeeding and some are crap; and some are great at mothering and some are crap. The thing is, it's a rare person that is brilliant at everything, and I for one, can pinpoint great holes in my talents at some of the above list. Like most things in life, we're just required to make the best of any given situation and hopefully, gracefully accept the rest. So just do the best you can and regardless of milk or no milk, unhelpful comments or no, the most important thing to remember is that a loving, intimate relationship with our loved ones is the most important gift we can give them. However we do it. *wanders away to refill glass of Merlot* Robin. ----- Original Message ----- From: MICHELLE WHITE <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2002 4:21 PM Subject: FW: [ozmidwifery] too hard to brestfeed > > I'd like to add my thoughts to this debate.. > I agree with you that I think it's incredibly unfair to dismiss women who > choose > to bottle-feed as being selfish.... > It's a tough decision to make and I doubt any women who has desperately yearned > for their child, would ever make that decision lightly. > Before I had my little girl I decided that I would breastfeed because we all > know that it's the best thing you can do for your baby. > I also thought it would be the most natural thing in the world. > However, after a week of extreme pain and anguish I decided to put my child on > formula because I could not get her to attach properly, she wasn't getting > enough milk, she was sick and jaundiced, I was a physical and emotional wreck > and faced leaving hospital without my little girl being able to feed properly. > It should have been the happiest time of my life, but I was totally miserable. > My baby looked miserable and my husband was distraught because we both were > suffering. > It was a tough decision to make, I was treated like dirt by the nurses in the > hospital when I decided to switch to formula and I was offered no advice or > assistance on how to bottle-feed. Basically I was told that if I formula fed, I > was on my own, which made me furious. > However I did switch to bottle-feeding and for ME I think it was the best thing > I could've done. I went from hating feed-times and feeling like a total failure > to being able to enjoy having my baby in my arms watching her feed. > So, yes, breast is best. But please Megan, don't assume that someone is any less > a caring, 'real' mother if their circumstances mean they'd rather bottle-feed. > > Michelle. > Perth w.a. > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-ozmidwifery > Sent: Wednesday, 21 August 2002 2:09 PM > To: ozmidwifery > Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] too hard to brestfeed > > > In a message dated 8/21/02 9:37:24 AM W. Australia Standard Time, Megan > writes: > > > > I wonder how many of these parents that find breastfeeding too tiring, time > > consuming, etc had oodles of energy to go out to nightclubs to all hours. > > Granted you have all Sunday to recover. There is so much energy for doing > > things that only benefit ones selfish needs(my opinion), if society cared > > as > > much about birthing and nurturing as it does about football. > Megan > > I have had three children. > > The first was formula fed from about 2 weeks of age. > > I would have dearly loved to breastfeed my second, but he died shortly after > birth, and so I went through the physically and emotionally painful process > of letting my milk dry up. > > My third baby (premature) was breastfed until 10 months of age. > > In the case of babies 1 and 3 the decisions that I made, were not made out of > selfishness - far from it. How to feed you baby for many (most?) is a very > emotive one, and bound up in all sorts of history and background, but I would > suggest that very few women make decisions about feeding their baby lightly. > Even if they make a decision about feeding - for what someone might consider > a "selfish" reason - who are we to judge? > > I know what you are trying to say, and I do agree that the whole issue of > parenting and having children does not seem to have a high priority in this > high-tech consumer led world, and certainly the case of the Nigerian women is > awful (and not an isolated incident according to a report in Marie Claire > last year). > > Debbie Slater > Perth, WA > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. 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