[blparent] Update and Question-Breastfeeding Issue-Please don't read if you do not feel comfortable with the topic of breastfeeding

Fri Oct 22 21:07:13 UTC 2010

Ralynn, the only one I really took serious advice from was our pediatritian.
When he said to start adding in cereal is exactly when I started adding it
in and that wasn't until Gab was about 5 months old.  I had a lot of support
with breast feeding, but you know you will always find people who do not
agree.  I breast fed Gab until she was 19 months.  I wanted to stop at 18,
but I just couldn't do it.   Of course by that time, it was more of a
comfort issue for both of us.  I love the group here and am glad to have
them in my life.  I did not know of their existence when Gab was a baby, but
even as a grade schooler, they have  helped bunches.  Remember though, the
ideas we all have are all our opinions and you can take the advice or not.
It will always be your choice.  But it is great to know we are not alone. V

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of RaLynn McGuire
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 4:22 PM
To: 'blparent at nfbnet.org'
Subject: [blparent] Update and Question-Breastfeeding Issue-Please don't
read if you do not feel comfortable with the topic of breastfeeding

Hi all,
        First of all I wanted to take a moment to reintroduce myself.  My
name is RaLynn (pronounced RayLynn) and I am visually impaired and my
husband is totally blind.  I think the last time I posted to the list I was
still pregnant.  I found it to be a great resource as we were planning for
our little one.  On August 5th our daughter KaraLyn (KaLy for
short-pronounced like Kayly) was born.  She weighed in at 8 lbs and was 21
and a half inches long.  Since then we've all learned a lot! Lol.  We were
very lucky and we had no trouble with the breastfeeding process.  The only
issue we had was people wondering if she was getting enough to eat because
she would wake often and want to eat.  I kept reassuring everyone that she
was eating like a little piglet but it still shook my confidence a little.
Luckily we stayed the course and at her 2 month check in she weighed in at
nearly 13 and a half pounds and had grown to nearly 24 inches.  No one
wonders if she's eating enough now!  It's been "fun" trying to decipher if
what people are telling you is good advice or just personal opinion.  I
guess what I mean is I've learned that when everyone said "Don't stock up on
newborn clothes since they won't stay in them very long" they were
absolutely right in our case!  I just packed up a box of clothes that KaLy
never even wore because she was already 8 pounds when she was born!  But
I've also come to realize how many people really do not understand or
support breastfeeding at all!  This seems so strange to me as mothers have
been doing this for ages and yet there is still so much misinformation out
there about it.  While our experience in the hospital was mostly great we
even encountered a nurse who, after our repeated statements that we were
breastfeeding kept offering or nearly insisting she take the baby to the
nursery and give her a bottle so we could get some sleep.  We just stuck to
our guns and kept politely declining.  We were lucky to be able to have KaLy
in our room the entire time and go home after only one night so we didn't
have to put up with that for long but it really shocked us!  We didn't
expect to encounter anything like this while we were there.  Oh well, we got
through it.  Many of the women in my family didn't breastfeed because either
they weren't able to or they simply chose not to so I didn't really have
much family support.  In fact my own mom kept pushing the benefits of using
formula during the first few weeks because she just felt it would be
"easier" for me.  I have to say, I do not judge those who choose not to
breastfeed.  It's hard work!  We were lucky to have good local resources
such as breastfeeding classes and lactation specialists but even all of the
information in the world doesn't prepare you to wake up every two hours,
spend half an hour feeding the baby, spend fifteen minutes to half an hour
to get them to go to sleep, dragging yourself back to bed, and then having
to start the whole process over again after about half an hour of sleep!
Lol.  Things are much easier now that we're beyond those first few weeks and
I know I've learned to function on a lot less sleep!  I'm back at work for
now and really struggling with having to be away from the baby during the
day.  We are still successfully breastfeeding which has been wonderful.  I
was worried that the baby might prefer eating from a bottle and wean herself
after I went back to work.  Luckily this hasn't been the case at all.
Anyway, I don't mean to ramble on and on.  I was just curious if any of you
had a similar experience with lack of family support if you chose to
breastfeed?  When did it seem to subside?  Did you do anything or just let
your chunky satisfied baby speak for him/herself.  I feel like now that KaLy
is so obviously eating well that the concerns have pretty much gone away but
now of course I'm getting the "Oh well you should start putting rice cereal
in her milk now" and so on.  Which, I think at this point is pretty
ridiculous!  She's only 2 and a half months old, sleeping very well at
night, and is growing like a weed.  I know it's all just part of the process
of learning what "advice" to listen to and what to ignore but it just seems
like a bit of an uphill battle when it comes to feeding!  And in this case
it's not with my baby but others who think they know better.  Our
pediatrician is wonderful and very supportive thank goodness because I don't
know what I'd do otherwise.  I'm a little worried as I read the posts lately
that feeding will continue to be an issue in one form or another! Lol.
Thanks in advance for any input.

RaLynn McGuire
Disability Access Consultant/AT Professional
Arizona State University
Disability Resource Center
PO Box 873202
Tempe, AZ  85287-3202
Department: (480)965-1234
Direct:           (480)965-4732
Fax:               (480)965-0441
RaLynn.McGuire at asu.edu

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