The very first time I walked into my first La Leche League meeting, (I was still pregnant at the time) there was "that woman." If you have ever been to a meeting, or even if you have not, imagine "that woman," nursing a toddler whom looks about 3.
This child walked up to her, pulled up her shirt, got into position, took down her bra and begun to nurse!
ACK appalled was I! I could NOT believe it, even though I was AT a breastfeeding meeting, I sat there and tried not to stare! When the child was done, he put everything "away" and went back to playing. Then of course this woman's younger "it's normal to feed me baby" (looking about 10-11 months) then wanted to nurse! (Whom she picked up to nurse.) Now, that I thought I could handle but in NO way would or could I ever STILL be nursing a toddler, that would never be me!
I felt I could never, and would NEVER let my toddler, whom was old enough to walk up to me, pull up my shirt and nurse, nurse! I mean, a year is what the Academy of Pediatrics recommended and that's ALL I could possibly handle! I mean I was really upset by this one woman. (I feel horrible for feeling this way towards her, she's a wonderful lady!)
Anyway....
Zachary was born, it took us a good 6 to 8 weeks of working HARD on nursing to get it to work "right" and be a happy pleasant experience for both of us.
We had several different problems, from Over Active Let Down, which basically means that after Zachary latched on, my body let down the breast milk, as it did that, it was to fast for Zachary to eat it all. In turn Zachary would pull off my breast and scream!
We also dealt with too much supply. Now usually you hear new moms saying they don't have enough milk. However with me, I had too much!!! My body was used to making milk. I had pumped for almost a year with my daughter, every 3 to 4 hours round the clock! (I had A LOT of milk!)
I had made a deal with myself that I would NOT stop nursing my son until at least 3 months! So, we headed back to the La Leche League went to several meetings, actually had one of the wonderful leaders come to my home and "coach" me for hours, giving me tips, idea's and strategies to make nursing work for us!
In the end, what worked for us was "block" nursing. This is basically where you nurse for a period of hours on one side only. This helped with both the over active let down, as well as the over supply. Part of the reason Zachary was so not happy, was because he was not getting the thick hind milk that he needed. When I was doing what the nurses at the hospital told me to do, which was nurse on both breasts at ever feeding!
It took a good 6 weeks for Zachary and I to get into "sink" making nursing a happy, sweet experience for both of us!
A lot of people will try to tell you that nursing is the most wonderful experience, that you will feel an immediate connection with your baby. Sometimes it does, but 9 times out of 10 it does not. Nursing is hard work and yes it is WORK!
Nursing needs to be looked at like something you need to LEARN. Yes, a baby is born knowing how to suck, but you have to teach them how to "nurse!" Same with you, there are things that you will need to work out between your self and your baby.
Like:
Nursing, does become a beautiful thing, but it can start off not so "beautiful."
So now, I AM "that lady," going to La Leche Meetings (or for that matter the mall, Post Office, or anywhere else for that matter) who has a 29.5 month old child, whom is pulling up my shirt, getting into "position" and then tugging on my bra (only because he has not mastered how to open it). Much like the child I saw while I was pregnant. I now am the one who gets "those looks" I had been giving "that woman" and while someone might be glaring at me, wondering what on earth possesses me to be nursing this "big kid." I am able to look down and know that I am doing the very best thing for my child, and will continue until we both decide it's in both our best interests to stop! I am SO GLAD my opinions have changed, and HAPPY I am now "that woman."
Jennifer Sprague, co-owner of All Natural Mommies. She has several years of teaching experience, working with infants through adults and has a passion for helping children live happy, healthy and secure lives. Jennifer has been a nanny, daycare provider, teacher, and is currently studying to become a Doula and a Lactation Consultant.
Article Source: www.ladypens.com
