Breast Side Story
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Family on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 12:00 PM
“Rule #1: Enjoy the baby.”
“Rule #2: Feed the baby.”
The single greatest surprise to me as a new mother was how difficult (and painful, at least at first) nursing can be.
It just seems like that ought to come easily and naturally, doesn’t it?
Growing up in an animal-loving family, I saw puppies and kittens nurse within minutes of birth—how was I to know the process isn’t quite that spontaneous in humans?
Not at all.
I think you’ll enjoy this profile of Freda Rosenfeld, a lactation consultant the New York Times dubs “the breast whisperer.”
As someone who once suffered at the hands of a highly dogmatic and bullying lactation consultant, I appreciate Ms. Rosenfeld’s low-key approach. She tailors her solutions to her actual clients:
“[Parenting]books are so black-and-white, and life is so gray,” she said en route to a client one bitter winter day. “It’s like, if this is happening, try Chapter 6, but if you really think it’s more this, try Chapter 7, because Chapter 6 might be, I don’t have enough milk, but Chapter 7 might be, my baby’s colicky, and Chapter 9 might be, like, reality check, what should I expect from a newborn? Who would want to read a book that big?”
and her mercy on mothers—not just babies:
Over the years, Ms. Rosenfeld has become less dogmatic about lactation land mines like the F-word — formula. Her credo: Rule 1, enjoy the baby. Rule 2, feed the baby.
“She doesn’t lose the mom in the process, she respects her need for sleep, etc.,” said Amy Glaser, a pediatrician in Park Slope. “But she also doesn’t give up until the mom is ready.”
Sounds a lot like Danielle’s “do what works for your family!” approach, doesn’t it?
Anyway, enjoy the article: it’s a window into what Catholic moms have in common with all other moms and the story of someone who seems like a neat lady.
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