[blparent] Sensitive breast feeding concern, ladies only

Mon Apr 16 16:09:24 UTC 2012

I completely agree with this post.  Bridgit, since you're so on top of
things, and thinking about all of these concerns early on, it might be a
good idea to search out a lactation consultant now in order to discuss your
concerns, and also to have someone "on your side" when your son is born to
help you in the hospital.  Pumping is a great option if that's what you
decide to do, but, as pointed out on this list, most pumps will not get all
of the milk your baby can get from your breasts.  You will also have to
balance pumping and bottle feeding which might be pretty exhausting with a
new baby, unless you always have someone else around to feed the baby and
you can pump at the same time.  This is, again, just food for thought.
Ultimately you need to do what is comfortable for you, as this will help you
be relaxed, which will make everything easier for mom and baby both.  I
would definitely find a good lactation consultant now, and also nursing goes
differently for every woman, so don't let family history color your view too
much as to what you will or won't be able to do as far as nursing is
concerned.  Also, nursing can be challenging for blind and sighted parents
alike, and most hospital staff know this and are very patient and willing to
work with new moms who want to nurse.  Your baby will prove to be a factor
in this as well.  Some babies have no trouble latching on and nurse as if
they've been doing it from in the womb.  Others take longer and have more
problems.  I think it's important to remember that bottle feeding is always
an option, and if someone is truly concerned about your ability to nurse
when you return home, you can always point out to them that a bottle is an
option you are very comfortable with, and you will be able to feed your baby
that way if you feel nursing is not going well.
Some more food for thought.
Melissa

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jo Elizabeth Pinto
Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2012 7:15 PM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] Sensitive breast feeding concern, ladies only

Hi, Bridgit.  In most hospitals, you can borrow an electric double-sided
breast pump to have in your room, or you can take one with you from home. 
My sister was given this option because she had to go back to work as a
teacher soon after both of her babies were born, and she didn't intend to
nurse with her breasts.  But she was given the option to pump anyway, just
in case she wanted to give bottled breast milk to the day care provider she
had.  My lactation consultant also gave me the pump-and-bottle-feed
suggestion when I was having real trouble getting my baby to latch on.  So
you may well be able to just tell the staff that you don't intend to nurse
with your breasts, but you want to start pumping right away.  They'll show
you how to use the pump and get you started off right.

That being said--and I'm not trying to be argumentative or start a debate
because you know your own body and your own goals--nursing was very
difficult for me, but also very rewarding.  I didn't find it particularly
difficult as far as being well endowed, which was an issue even before I got
pregnant.  I would urge you not to miss out on a great bonding experience,
and a one-of-a-kind part of mothering, based on worries about what might
happen.  You can always stop nursing and keep pumping if it doesn't work out
for you, but sometimes latching on and nursing  go perfectly smoothly for
mother and baby.  My cousin had that experience, everything worked like a
charm, and she had milk to spare.  I know there was an issue with a blind
couple who got their child taken away a few years ago, at least in part due
to concerns about breast feeding, but most lactation consultants are as
patient as saints, and willing to work with new moms for as long as it takes
to get a good nursing relationship going.  La Leche League has even put out
an article on how to deal with blind moms and their special concerns at
meetings.  Food for thought anyway.

Jo Elizabeth

"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of
the weak and the strong.  Because someday in life you will have been all of
these."--George Washington Carver, 1864-1943, American scientist

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2012 3:09 PM
To: <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [blparent] Sensitive breast feeding concern, ladies only

> Hello, guys may not want to continue along further here, though I 
> certainly welcome any advice. My concern is not so much about breast 
> feeding itself, but the concern of hospital staff when attempting it.
> Here is my issue:
>
> Women in my family tend to become rather well-endowed when pregnant 
> and nursing. After a recent convo with my mom about breast feeding, I 
> have decided it will work best from a physical stand point as well as 
> a nonvisual one to pump and bottle feed rather than actually breast 
> feed naturally. My mom and one of my sisters opted for this method 
> instead of struggling with large breast and feeding a small being.
>
> So, I know they typically want mothers to breast feed naturally while 
> in hospital, and I know some of the issues most women face with this 
> on top of the pressure of being "supervised" while trying, then add on 
> the blind factor and well... I'm just concerned if I have too many 
> problems, whether they be related to blindness or not, it could lead 
> to some problems with people questioning my ability once home. Bottle 
> feeding has never been an issue for me, but I know breast feeding may 
> present problems both blind related as well as physical- the 
> blind-related ones being connected to my personal method with bottle 
> feeding and the few differences breast feeding will present. I'm not 
> worried about my ability, but worry about others questioning me and 
> not giving me an opportunity.
>
> So far none of our medical team has given us the impression that they 
> doubt our ability to care for a child without vision, but I know some 
> people are challenged during their hospital stay. This is what I worry 
> about. Am I concerned needlessly, and what advice and suggestions, if 
> any, do any of you have? I appreciate all responses. I just don't want 
> this one factor weighing heavily against us when I don't even intend 
> to use my actual breast to feed once home, and my bottle method is 
> pretty solid. Perhaps I'm worried for no reason, but I do want to be 
> prepared for potential situations since the months are passing 
> quickly. I'm five months along now and thinking literally of everything
both good and bad.
>
> Sincerely,
> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> Read my blog at:
> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
>
> "History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
> The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan
>
>
>
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