Making it all work
by Barbara Dehn - 23rd July 2007
Now that you’ve had your beautiful baby and are recovering from the delivery, you start to settle in and get to know your little one. But wait, there’s more. In addition to dealing with all the postpartum concerns, including bleeding and pain, there’s a whole new skill to learn and it’s not just for fun, it’s vital for your baby’s health. You’ve got to figure out how to feed your baby.
Hopefully, you’ve had the opportunity to take a breastfeeding class before you delivered. In my experience, learning about getting a baby latched on, the different positions, and how to deal with common challenges is extremely helpful. I strongly encourage my patients to take this class and visit the lactation center before they deliver.
Overwhelming? It’s a steep learning curve for both mom and baby. And, you’re going to be bombarded with so much advice that often is contradictory, that you might not know where to turn. This can be frustrating, fortunately, www.ilca.org, the International Lactation Consultants Association is a great resource.
As you navigate all the challenges of parenthood, you do the best that you can. Sometimes it’s easy and sometimes, it’s not. What works for a friend, may not work for you. Should you use a pacifier? Should you use cloth or disposable diapers? Co-sleep or not? Pump? Use formula to supplement?
Sometimes, your circumstances determine your choices, sometimes you can overcome challenges and have the experience you envisioned. Does every woman have the type of delivery she envisioned? Is every baby’s temperament perfectly matched to what their parents need? Can every woman breastfeed?
Sometimes it all works out beautifully, magically, easily. And, sometimes there are challenges. Is there one right way to love a baby? Is there only one right way to feed a baby? The forum on this website is a great place to talk about your experiences and what worked for you. As I continue to blog this summer, I’ll talk more about my experiences working with real women who are navigating their way and finding out what works best for them and their babies.
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