I was on Facebook and saw a post by Parenting.com. Apparently Gisele Bundchen thinks it should be a law that mother's have to breastfeed their babies for 6 months. It's true that mother's should breastfeed for 6 months and up through 2 years, but what about those mother's who can't because of many issues? Should they have to be penalized for actions that they have no control over?
As many of you know, I had my son at 28 weeks, he weighed 2lbs. 4.5oz. preemies don't usually latch on because they don't understand how to 'suck' yet.{their muscles aren't yet formed} I pumped my little tbsp every hour and put them in the fridge next to the real 'milk factories!' Man their bottles were overflowing and I am not exaggerating, there was literally milk running down the sides. I tried massages, and all that jazz that the 'lactation specialist' suggested but nada-nothing! I felt like crap, c'mon who wouldn't you are sitting there with this little guy who is depending on you to help make him bigger and stronger and you have nothing. Not only did I not have anything to give but couldn't even to get him to latch on. So while my son has nothing I have depression, feelings of incompatibility and a whole bunch of bottles of breastmilk staring me in the face! What's a mom to do? Steal someone elses' breast milk that is meant for their baby? Buy it at a ridiculously amount? HELL NO! Buy formula. My son's still alive!
I am not judging anyone, if I knew how painful it was I really don't think I would have went through all of that for even a few tbsp. It is unbearable, you get sores, not to mention the engorging, and then the weird looking ariola afterwards...lord knows all this isn't in any parenting book!
So my whole beef with the article is that Gisele should have done some homework before making such a bold statement, I didn't even mention half of the problems that occur and is the reason that mother's don't/can't breastfeed. Sometimes it isn't even the mother sometimes the baby won't/can't because of mouth issues. But how dare she say that and make mother's who can't breastfeed because of these issues feel like shit when we have enough going on....postpartum depression, no sleep, c-sections, etc. You can go here to read the short post.
I really would like to know your feelings on this, am I over exaggerating, do you think that it should be a law, did you breastfeed, did you have lactation problems, did your baby not latch on, did you choose not to breastfeed-tell me I want to know!!
6 comments:
And that is precisely why Giselle is a model and not a physician or lawmaker. Ridiculous! I had significant difficulties nursing my twins, but it was a breeze with my son who came along three years later. It should be dependent on the needs of the mother and child, NOT what a third party wishes to enforce upon the family.
-Sue (from Bloggymoms...follow me back, please!)
www.thedesperatehousemommy.blogspot.com
Hi!
Gisele just wants to look cool. Some people should just shut up if they do not know all the facts. What if a mother is not able to breastfeed? Would she get a fine? Grrrr some people....
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Sofia
http://frompdxwithlove.com
As a mother who solely breastfed my daughter, I understand the value of breastfeeding, but for her to practically downgrade other mothers for their decision or inability to do so is simply ignorant in my opinion. Love reading your blog! Visit me over at www.mrsmamadrama.com
Some people truly have no idea about anything!! Making a LAW! about breastfeeding??????? OMG!!!
So, who is she? I looked it up.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gisele_B%C3%BCndchen
Worth millions, putting down the US, and she became a mother in Dec. 2009.
Certainly in a few months she is an expert, but she is high on her high horse as my mom would say.
Yes breastfeeding is important if it's possible. In my case my I had a major breast reduction, called a free nipple graph. It was impossible for me to nurish my children and there well being depended on formula and they are picture perfect healthy.
Gisele's comment was an ignorant one. Yes, we all know the benefits of breastfeeding, but sometimes it's simply impossible. With my first child, I was hell-bent on BF. It was the 4 hardest months of my life! I had enough milk to "feed a small country", as my husband likes to say but my son simply couldn't handle it. He choked, he gagged, I was wet all over... I was actually blaming myself for having too much milk, can you believe that?! At 4 months, he decided all by himself to stop breastfeeding. He simply would not eat anymore. So I had to switch to formula. And you know what? He became a happier baby and I was a much happier mom! He's now 6 years-old and he still gags and chokes over his food. Turns out the amount of milk I was producing wasn't the problem, he had a problem with his mouth and throat!
When my daughter was born 2 years later, I dreaded the moment I'd first put her on my breast. Turns out, she latched on immediately and drank every single drop of my milk! I BF her for 13 months!
I've lived both extremes. I know what I'm talking about. Yes, breastfeed if you can. But if you can't, for whatever reason, don't let society (or Gisele) make you feel bad. A happy mom is a happy baby!
Sorry about this long novel!
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