[blparent] Sensitive breast feeding concern, ladies only

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Erin,

Thanks for the advice. It's not the nonvisual aspect worrying me so much
as just the size and weight of my breast, but also there are concerns I
failed to mention before which I already addressed in a previous post
relating to my type 1 diabetes. I'm by no means opposed to trying breast
feeding from the breast along with any other methods and techniques for
babies, but I also want to be cognizant of what my options are.

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

Message: 18
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:46:00 -0700
From: "Erin Rumer" <erinrumer at gmail.com>
To: "'Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blparent] Sensitive breast feeding concern, ladies only
Message-ID: <001c01cd1bf0$67f123d0$37d36b70$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Hello Bridget,

I would advise you strongly not to set a feeding plan until you've
really met your baby and tried several different methods.  Right now
you're in over thinking pregnant mode which is something us moms all do
as we plan and nest for our little ones, but often times it interferes
with reality.  It's not until we're really doing it that we can see what
truly works and doesn't work.

Just so you know I am extremely well endowed and I too was concerned
with certain aspects of nursing like suffocation and not being able to
see my baby latch on.  Well, my breast feeding nurses in the hospital
were truly my "Boobie Angels" and I had them come into my room whenever
possible so that I could practice and get advise as much as I could
before going home.  They encouraged me and also informed me that breast
feeding is not a visual thing at all once you get the hang of how proper
nursing is supposed to feel and they were 100% correct.  Nursing is not
harder for us who are blind but just like every new mom we must learn
how to do something we've never done before.  We can't even relate
breast feeding to anything we've ever done in our lives so that makes it
so challenging at first.  Like all moms though, if you can get through
the first week or so it's really second nature after that.  The good
Lord made our breasts to do this wonderful and miraculous thing to feed
and nurture our babies and it's truly a gift.  I wouldn't throw that out
until you've really given it all you can because it's an amazing and
wonderful bonding method that you will look back on as something very
special between you and your baby.  I'll never forget when one of my
lactation nurses in the hospital came in right before I left to go home.
She asked me if I had any last concerns or questions before I headed
home. I told her how worried I was about my baby suffocating under the
breast. She smiled and told me that new born babies are like little Pugs
and that like the dog, they can breathe out the sides of their nostrils
as they flare out from the breast.  She showed me what she was talking
about as my son nursed and his little nostrils flared out to the sides
to breath. Additionally, you'll get to know very quickly how your baby
sounds as they breast feed and like this nurse told me, a baby will pull
away with their head if they truly aren't getting air.  It's more about
being in tune to your baby's cues more than anything.  Pumping is so
much harder than natural nursing, especially at first so I really
encourage you to allow yourself that close, skin on skin, bonding time
with your baby and go from there. It's frustrating at first because you
feel like your baby is starving to death but they really aren't and
practice makes perfect and utilizing those lactation nurses is key.

Erin