5 Cool Things No One Ever Told You About Nighttime Breastfeeding

The world is full of tired parents… and the Internet if FULL of message boards with posts from worried and exhausted parents seeking information about whether their babies are normal and what they “should” do about all the night-waking their babies do.  Bookstores have entire sections dedicated to baby sleeping, authored by so-called “baby sleep experts.”  And, big-box retailers stock these books next to all sorts of gadgets from specialty swaddling blankets to sound machines, knowing, from market research, that desperate and sleep-deprived parents will fill their cart full of anything they think might improve their baby’s sleep.  Impulse shopping at its finest.

But, what do we really know about night-waking, breastfeeding babies and why they might be waking up to nurse when all we want them to be doing is sleeping?  Of course, there are the basics of why babies nurse frequently.  But, with this post, we thought we’d compile some of the cooler, less publicized things science tells us about nighttime and breastfeeding so that you, the exhausted moms of Chicagoland, might be able to look at nighttime breastfeeding in a whole different way.

So, without further ado… here are 5 Cool Things No One Every Told You About Nighttime Breastfeeding:

1) Did anyone ever tell you that…. studies have shown that breastfeeding moms actually get MORE sleep than their formula-feeding counterparts?  Yes.. you’re tired, but you did read that correctly!  According to one study, breastfeeding parents got 40-45 minutes more sleep per night on average during the first 3 months postpartum.  (Source)   Over a 3 month period, that is A LOT more sleep!  And, research also tells us that all that extra sleep is very important for mom’s mental health and serves to decrease her risk of postpartum depression. (Source)

2) Did anyone ever tell you that… in lactating women, prolactin production (prolactin is the milk-making hormone) follows a circadian rhythm?  Studies have shown that breastfeeding women’s prolactin levels are significantly higher at night, particularly in the wee hours of the morning.  Babies often want to nurse at night because quite simply, there’s more milk at night! (Source) Aren’t our babies smart??

3) Did anyone ever tell you that… babies are born with no established circadian rhythms?  They can’t tell day from night, and they take several months to develop their own cycles.  They also do not make their own melatonin (a sleep-inducing hormone) for much of their early life.  But, guess what has plenty of melatonin in it?  Your nighttime breastmilk!  (Source) So, scientists actually think that melatonin-rich nighttime breastmilk helps babies develop their own circadian cycles and helps them eventually learn to sleep longer stretches at night.

4) Did anyone ever tell you that…. in addition to melatonin, your evening and nighttime breastmilk is rich with other sleep-inducing and brain-booting substances?  The following is an excerpt from an article authored by University of Notre Dame early-childhood researcher, Darcia Narvaez, PhD:

Parents should know that breastmilk in the evening contains more tryptophan (a sleep-inducing amino acid). Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, a vital hormone for brain function and development. In early life, tryptophan ingestion leads to more serotonin receptor development (Hibberd, Brooke, Carter, Haug, & Harzer, 1981). Nighttime breastmilk also has amino acids that promote serotonin synthesis (Delgado, 2006; Goldman, 1983; Lien, 2003). Serotonin makes the brain work better, keeps one in a good mood, and helps with sleep-wake cycles (Somer, 2009). So it may be especially important for children to have evening or night breastmilk because it has tryptophan in it, for reasons beyond getting them to sleep.  (Source)

5) Did anyone ever tell you that… breastfeeding at night can be important for keeping a mom’s long-term milk production steady and strong and may actually mean less pumping during the day for working moms?  See, the lactating breast knows how much milk to make based primarily on how frequently it is emptied; these are the laws of supply and demand, which are based on the natural world’s 24-hour clock… and not just during a mom’s waking hours.

The number of times an individual mom will need to empty her breasts to maintain long-term milk production has been called her “Magic Number.”   If a mom is not nursing enough times in a 24-hour period to meet her Magic Number, her body will eventually down-regulate milk production and her supply will be reduced.  For working, nursing mothers, more breastfeeding at night means more nursing sessions in a 24-hour period, which in turn could mean less pumping sessions needed while mom is at work while still achieving her daily Magic Number.

These basic dynamics apply to older babies, who may still need nighttime nursing, too!

So, there you have it!  5 cool things no one ever told you about why your baby is (still) waking at night to nurse.   Did you ever think, when you hear your baby rouse at 2:00am, that they are actually giving you the gift of MORE sleep, lowering your postpartum depression risk, building and developing their brains, possibly reducing their risk for long-term mood disorders,  developing their own circadian cycles, getting more milk when your supply is highest, ensuring your long-term breastmilk supply, AND giving you an opportunity to pump less at work?    Hopefully, now you will.    Sleep, tight mamas!

Editor’s Note — sleep researchers are turning up some cool information about adult night-waking too.  It seems that the normal, biological state of human sleep might be very different than what we think it is.  More here and here.

Three MORE Life Lessons for Breastfeeding Mothers

by Joy Davy, MS, LCPC, NCC

Last month I wrote a blog post for Breastfeed Chicago.  The title was “Three Life Lessons for Breastfeeding Mothers.”  Writing that article brought me in touch with some of the things I had learned but had never thought to express.  My years of focusing totally on being a mother, following what we then called “La Leche League philosophy,”  was really a meditative, spiritual path. As I reflect now on what I wrote, I realize there was more.  Thus, I send you this month:  three more lessons.

1.    There is no other.

2.    Hold nothing back.

3.    All you have to offer anyone is your own state of being.

There is no other.

The wisdom of the east teaches us that we are all one on this planet.  The perception of separateness is an illusion.  In many religious traditions, the most important teaching is to love others as one loves oneself.  Maybe all of this seems like mere words until you find yourself in that state of love where you truly are merged with another being.

In pregnancy, caring for yourself literally is the same as caring for another.  What you eat, breathe, and feel…your baby eats, breathes and feels.  And then when you are breastfeeding, that symbiosis continues.  You love with a selflessness that surprises you.  (That’s not to say you never have resentments, frustrations, and awful moods.  But if you are breastfeeding on demand, without pacifiers or supplements, then you are getting the benefit of some mighty mothering hormones that make sure you are feeling some powerful love.)

If this is your first baby, then you are sure of one thing:  you will never love another baby the way you love this one.  If this is your second baby, then you are sure of one thing:  although these two children may be entirely different in almost every way, they are both your heart.

And if you can love two children this much, could you love a third?  How much love is in your heart, anyway?  And when you are “marathon nursing” a teething or sick baby, or a baby who is going through a growth spurt, that powerful prolactin might just convince you that you can really love the whole world.  There is no other. 

Hold nothing back.

As a breastfeeding mother, you learn the rule of supply and demand:  the more you give, the more you have to give.  Now, how deep is that?

You don’t have to hold back from giving, because you will always have more, and more.  This is another lesson that is taught in all the great spiritual traditions.  With your tiny baby, you learn that the more you love you give, the more love you have.

“All you have to offer anyone, ever, is your own state of being.”—Ram Dass

As a young mother, you learn and re-learn this one every single day.  You find out that taking good care of yourself is the same as taking care of your children.

If you are coming from a place of weariness, discouragement and depletion, then that is what you have to offer.  If you are coming from a place of rest, good nutrition, grateful thoughts, and peace of mind, then that is what you have to offer.  Your babies and children have a sixth sense that informs them of your moods and energy levels. They hold the mirror up relentlessly, every day!  For their sake, as well as for your own, you need to practice good self care.

I wasn’t so very young when I became a mother; my first child was born when I was 25.  Nevertheless, I feel that I grew up with my children.  I was being formed, just as they were.  If I’ve written a lot about love in this article, it’s because I remember the overwhelming love, and how it took me by surprise.  But I haven’t forgotten the other feelings:  the boredom, the aggravation, the self-doubts.  I had days when I felt I just wasn’t cut out to be a mother, and I was sure that I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.  Now I know that those are all normal feelings.

Everything that you are experiencing now with your baby is deepening you as a spiritual, thinking, feeling human being.  Just as some aspects of your child are being formed, some aspects of you are also being formed.  The happy moments—and maybe even more deeply, the not-so-happy moments– have meaning and depth.  Let them teach you and lead you.  Trust in the process.  Never forget:  we all screw up. Forgive yourself generously.  Like a child, start each day with hope and high expectations.

Joy Davy is a therapist in Hinsdale, Illinois, focusing on parenting challenges, postpartum depression, and new mothers’ issues.  For 12 years she was a La Leche League Leader, and breastfed all of her 5 children.  She can be reached at 630-935-7915.  Check out her website at http://www.joydavy.com.

Three Life Lessons for Breastfeeding Moms

As a former La Leche League Leader, with five children who are now ages 16 – 30 years old,  I would like to share with you breastfeeding mothers a few simple things I have been able to figure out so far on my journey, and I think I can break them down into three simple rules to live by:

1.     Honor yourself as you honor others.

2.    All big things can (and should) be broken down into small steps.

3.    Be mindful:  be here now.

Mothers of babies and small children can feel “touched out” and overwhelmed by the needs of their little ones and partners.  I remember it well!  That primal and satisfying “skin-to-skin contact” that is so important to babies and mothers on so many levels—hormonal, emotional, psychological—is an ingenious way that Mother Nature keeps mom and baby close and connected.  (It’s also great for father and baby.)  Babies understand the importance of this connection so well, that many of them are virtually glued to mom’s breast or hip the entire day, and roar in protest if mom so much as thinks of shutting the bathroom door between herself and baby. If mother has more than one tot, she gets double—or triple– the skin-to-skin contact.  Toddlers and pre-schoolers typically wander off to explore and play, and do not sit in mother’s arms all day (unless sick), but they may still return often for hugs and kisses or a little cuddle or nursing time.   Lots of prolactin may be flowing, keeping mom in that sleepy-patient-satisfied kind of state of mind for most of the day.  However, for many moms, there does come a time of the day—typically just about the time her partner may be coming home, perhaps around dinner time—when she may feel the need to peel baby off and take a shower or take a bit of time with no one requiring anything of her, for just a few minutes, if you please.

It’s at that time that her partner may have some hopes or expectations of affection, attention, conversation, etc.  The new mom may feel frustrated that the demands just keep coming.  Or she may feel guilty that she is just not able to give anything to a loved one who has every right to hope for a sign of connection from her.

I have found that many very giving and self-sacrificing mothers become resentful as they feel there are too many demands on them, they are being taken for granted, and that no one considers their needs.  Here is where Lesson Number One comes in:

Honor yourself as you honor others.

The old adage says that people will treat you the way you teach them to treat you.  This goes for partners, relatives, friends, and it goes for older children.  Babies, of course, are pure need in the beginning, and don’t yet understand anything of this.  However, if you feel that others put too many demands on you, ask yourself:  How am I putting too many demands on myself?  If you feel others take you for granted, ask yourself:  How do I take myself for granted?  If you feel that no one considers your needs, ask yourself, In what ways do I not consider my own needs.

This way of thinking puts a spin on things.  It does seem that the world holds up a mirror to us, and treats us as we treat ourselves.  You will find, if you start honoring yourself, if you are intentional about having reasonable expectations of yourself, if you appreciate yourself and your own efforts, that others in your life (partners, friends, older children, other relatives) tend to follow suit.

Just as you meet the needs of others, you may give yourself permission to ask that some of your needs be met, as well.  Your partner can hold baby while you shower, or take a little time to do whatever you need to do to re-energize.  What other examples do you have of needs of yours that are not being met?  How can you get those needs met?  Who could help?  How will you ask?

On to the next lesson:

All big things can be broken down into small steps.

Another old adage, a favorite among moms, is:  “When all else fails, lower your expectations.”  You are probably not going to be able to accomplish as many items in as short a period of time as you did pre-baby.  As obvious as that sounds, it’s a stumbling block for many moms.  You are moving at a new rhythm now, and it is called baby-rhythm.  You will be interrupted often and insistently.  You will begin a simple task, and return to it again and again before it is done.  Can you be at peace with this?  If you can, you will enjoy your life.

We live in a society that values super speed and great volumes of accomplishment.  If you are respecting the rhythms of your baby, if you are answering your baby’s needs, you will have to make a values decision:  do you want to achieve the tangible accomplishments that the world can see?  Or do you want to learn this new way of being in the world, moving at your baby’s rhythm, and discovering a different kind of satisfaction and peace?

Whatever it is you want to do:  clean a closet, write a novel, create a website, organize a playgroup… you name it… it can be done in many small steps.  It can be broken down.

Anne Lamott’s book, Bird by Bird, tells about the author’s brother when he was in grade school, and his dilemma when he had procrastinated beginning a big project and then had to finally start to write all about the birds of North America.  His dad comforted him in his anxiety and gave him this advice:  You will do it:  bird by bird.  That is also the author’s advice to anyone who would like to write a book.  You don’t write it all at once.  You break it down into small parts.

What is it you would like to do?  How would you break it down into small parts?

 

Be mindful.  Be here now.

Everyone tells you.  The little old ladies in the grocery store, your older sisters, people on the street.  They all tell you:  “Enjoy this time, dear.  They grow so fast!”  So you already know.

The actress Valerie Harper, who is quoted in a celebrity gossip magazine this month, says, “If you aren’t here now, where the hell are you?”  According to the article, she is dying quickly, and it seems she has come to that sense of immediacy and appreciation that so many people reach when they see that there is little time left.  And in a way, that is all of us.

When you are nursing that baby, don’t waste time being upset that the living room is a mess.  Your living room can be as clean as you please someday, but this is your one chance to hold your baby in this moment.  This moment will not come back.  How precious it is.  When you have to stop a project to attend to an urgent call for “Mom!”—take a deep breath, and let yourself enjoy this moment.

I think of all the moments that I have had with my babies, and later children, teens, young adults.    There has been sweetness and sadness, pain, confusion, laughter and healing. Our lives have not been perfect.  I have not been perfect.  Far from it!  And honestly, that is okay. I forgive myself for my own imperfections, and I am on friendly terms with life. How lucky, how blessed I have been and continue to be to have my children in my arms and in my life.  What a privilege it truly is to be “MOM!!”

Joy Davy is now a therapist in Hinsdale, Illinois, specializing in parenting challenges, postpartum depression, and new mothers’ issues.  For 12 years she was a La Leche League Leader.  She breastfed all of her 5 children.  You can see her website at http://www.joydavy.com

Breastfeeding Support Group, aka The Best Two-Hour Meeting Ever

I call it “group.”  I used to call it my “nursing group” but it seemed that got lost in translation and others thought I meant nurses, as in RNs, and I’m not a nurse.  And for some reason, “breastfeeding support group” is just too long.  ”Group” seems to cover it nicely.

But what is it really, and why has it become such an important part of my life? I began attending a breastfeeding support group offered by my midwives’ practice when I gave birth to my first daughter over 4 years ago.  I remember being nervous, and I actually had my husband call to ask specifics about the meeting: Could I show up anytime? Was I supposed to bring the baby or go by myself?   Did it cost anything?  What exactly went on during it?  In short, I was clueless.  All I knew was that I wanted what was best for my baby and I was breastfeeding.  It seemed like a fit.

I don’t really remember my first visit, but here’s what I can tell you about the sum of my weekly visits over that first year.  I learned so much. So much about myself, my baby, and my body.  I was normal. Hormonal, but normal. My baby was normal. Fussy, but normal.  Breastfeeding is amazing.  Our bodies are amazing.  Sharing stories with other mamas who would look me in the eye and respond with “Me too!” kept me sane, strong, and a made me a better mama.  No one tells you the ins and outs of becoming a breastfeeding mother.  You didn’t know you had questions about the color of baby poop, until you changed that first diaper that looked like mustard. You didn’t know what a cluster feed was until you sat on your couch for 4 hours with a baby who only wanted your breast and nothing else.   It was at group that all of these topics were covered.

You see, my baby was fussy.  As in glad-she’s-not-your-baby-fussy.  Group became one of the only places where I didn’t get 1 million suggestions as to how to fix her.  I quickly realized being surrounded and supported by like-minded peers was of the utmost importance in my success as a breastfeeding mother.  I needed to be able to look around that room, and see women feeding their babies just like me.  I needed to see mamas with their 4 month olds, their 7 month olds, their toddlers, nursing their babies and smiling and nodding my direction as I nervously sat down and latched my teenie, fussy, little lady to my breast.  Turns out, I would be them before I knew it.

At group, I was being encouraged to be the mother I was meant to be.  I was encouraged to hold, snuggle, and breastfeed my baby. That alone was so wonderfully refreshing! No one said, “She can’t be hungry again! You just fed her!” Not a single person asked “Is she sleeping through the night, yet?” Instead, we celebrated each other’s small victories: uninterrupted showers, pumping 2 whole ounces while out for the first time away from baby, and our babies rolling over. And of course I learned some of the real ins and outs of breastfeeding: correct latch, how much baby should gain each week, how to treat clogged ducts, what cold medicine was safe to take, and on and on and on. I received fantastic support, from the most wonderful and knowledgeable labor and delivery nurse and IBCLC who lead (and still leads) the group.  I remember a day being in tears, and her hugging me and saying only “you are doing great!” And isn’t that what we all need to hear?

Fast forward 4 years. I still have playdates with mamas I met during my first visits to group.  We bonded in ways that only new moms can. I’m currently nursing baby #3 as I type this. She’s 3 months old and a champion nurser!  With 3 kiddos, I don’t make it to group nearly as often as I’d like to.  But when I do, I realize that now I am the mama who sits confidently feeding my baby, nodding and smiling to the new moms w ho aren’t so sure what they’re doing there.  It’s a beautiful, special place that I know has shaped me and my babies’ lives in such a positive way that I will always be grateful for.

So calling it simply “group” probably doesn’t do it justice, but calling it “The Best 2 Hours Each Week You’ll Spend As a New Mom Where You’ll Receive the Exact Support You Need” just doesn’t roll off the tongue.  ”Group” it is.

Molly Donofrio is a stay-at-home-mom to 3 beautiful “yahoos.” She is also a massage therapist when life allows.  She has been pregnant and/or breastfeeding for the past 5 years straight, and really wouldn’t wish it any other way.

Are you ready to find a breastfeeding support group? Click here to find our breastfeeding support group map! Don’t like the group vibe? Try another one!

Top Ten Things I Learned from Breastfeed Chicago (except that there are 22 things…)

Thank you to the ladies on the Breastfeed Chicago Facebook group for their contributions! In no particular order:

1. Coconut oil apparently can cure ANYTHING.
2. Find a supportive mama tribe – toxic relationships aren’t worth your time.
3. Breastfeeding in public is not only possible; it’s normal!
4. Preemies CAN learn to breastfeed!
5. Twins can too!
6. If your boobs look like they are covered in blood, check to make sure it isn’t just ketchup from lunch.
7. Never quit on a bad day.
8. Trust your baby and trust yourself.
9. You’re not alone.
10. That there are tons of mamas just like me who want to challenge society’s norms of breastfeeding.
11. Toddlers can breastfeed, too!
12. Don’t put limits on your expectations for nursing…do it until it no longer works.
13. When you think you’re the only one with an issue, one of two things will happen: you will find that you are not alone, and you may learn something new in the process.
14. Breastmilk has amazing antibacterial properties!
15. What you pump isn’t an indication of your supply.
16. Read up on “normal” baby sleep – it’s probably not what your grandma or girlfriend is telling you!
17. Your breasts are never empty – you are always making milk.
18. Pumping straight into storage bags will save a ton of time!
19. Keep on keepin’ on and get help if you need it. Perseverance in those early weeks is key!
20. “Put a little breastmilk on it.” Breast milk is to me as Windex is to “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”
21. Side-lying nursing can save your sanity.
22. AND… the number one thing that I’ve learned from Breastfeed Chicago is to never doubt the power of well-informed and supported moms to change the world, because we’re doing it every day.

Pumping for My First, Feeding from the Breast for My Second

My first son Liam was born in February 2011.  I had every intention of breastfeeding.  I took a breastfeeding class, read a few books and attended La Leche League meetings.  But once Liam was born, everything changed.  I forgot what the books said and I had no support in the hospital.  We came home, and it was a downward spiral.  On day four my husband made a desperate call to a lactation consultant and finally we were able to get Liam to nurse.  But the next 12 weeks were a painful, emotional and exhausting journey.

I started pumping on day three.  During the day I would try to nurse Liam; the nights were too hard.  My husband would hold my hand because the pain was so intense.  My nipples cracked and bled, but I didn’t want to give up.  I cried and cried.  The session ended with me pumping and my husband giving milk through a syringe or bottle.  On day five I was engorged and later mastitis set in.  I pumped and pumped.  Every time Liam ate, I would pump.  In the early weeks it was 12-15 times a day.  I tracked every pumping session in time and ounces.  I needed to feel accomplished in some way since my breasts could not feed him.  All I did was work on breastfeeding and pumping.  I remember falling asleep while pumping, the milk spilling everywhere and I so angry that I lost that hard earned “gold” milk.  

When Liam was 12 weeks old I went back to work.  There was not enough time in the evening to work on breastfeeding and pumping.  Liam was happy with the bottle.  The milk came instantly and his belly was full.  My husband and family enjoyed feeding him and we had a little routine.  So I stopped nursing Liam and became an exclusively pumping mom, but my heart still ached to breastfeed.

It was the hardest job I have ever encountered.  Each phase during the 54 weeks was difficult.  When he was a newborn, there were SO many pumping sessions.  When he was older, he would crawl towards me while I was pumping and suck on the tubing.  Every time we left the house I had to bring milk for Liam and the pump for me.  I rented a hospital grade pump.  It was expensive, but cheaper than formula and I was more productive.  I set up a breastfeeding station in front of the computer and worked on his milestone chart and baby photo book.  At work, I would write letters to him and read up on developmental charts.  I followed blogs and Facebook groups on natural parenting and breastfeeding.  I attended a support group and took notes about every pumping question discussed.  My husband packed my pumping bag in the morning and cleaned the bottles at night so that I could feed Liam.

My breastfeeding goal for Liam was one year and I was determined to reach this goal.  I took supplements and never missed a pumping session.  Even to the very end, I was pumping 5-6 times a day.  I pumped for a total of 54 weeks.  Fortunately my body made a lot of milk and I was able to freeze 1,050 ounces.  My son had breast milk until he was 15 months old.  I am a very proud mama to have reached and surpassed my goal.  It was not the way I imagined, but my husband and I made the best of the situation.

My second son Rory was born in December 2012.  I wanted to try breastfeeding again.  I knew I could not do this alone and needed my village for support. I asked friends with experience to advise. I read the book “Breastfeeding, Take Two” by Stephanie Casemore and moved forward from my first experience.  I made sure my husband and I had the same feeding goals.  I hired Beth Bejnarowicz as my postpartum doula, and we established a breastfeeding plan.  I left the pump packed up in the garage.  I was determined to breastfeed.  I did not have the time nor energy to exclusively pump for a newborn with a toddler running around.  I wanted to bond with my baby through breastfeeding.

When Rory arrived he self latched within 20 minutes of his birth and did not let go for 20 hours.  He was a big baby and Beth explained he was putting in his large order for long term breastfeeding.  Beth helped me with every struggle in the early weeks including position, engorgement, mastitis, side nursing, and lip/tongue tie.  He is now 9 weeks old, 15 pounds and a nursing champ.

I will never know why Liam chose to not nurse.  For a long time I blamed myself but those days are long gone.  When Rory cries Liam looks at me, signs the word “milk” and says “more mama”.  I asked him the other day if he wanted to try nursing just like the baby and he shook his head NO.  He helps me set up my pump and carefully examines the milk dripping into the bottle.  He occasionally asks for a drink of the pumped milk, which I hand over with a big smile.

Both my kids were breast fed, just in different ways.  I am proud to have experienced both.

 

Kelly’s Pumping Tips 

-Put everything related to pumping and bottle feeding that needs to be washed into one big bowl by the kitchen sink.  Fill with soapy water and only wash once per day.  Ask your husband or family to wash.

- You don’t need to wash all your pumping supplies after each pumping session.  Just pop everything in a resealable bag, refrigerate, and wash everything once at night.

-Massage your breasts when pumping.  For me, the milk came faster and I was able to finish sooner. Massaging after a pumping session to get a little extra milk out also helps to increase your milk supply, especially in the early weeks.

-Do not stress when you pump a few ounces less than the day or week before.  There are lots of factors that go into milk production. Are you taking care of yourself? Are you drinking water and eating healthy food? Are you stressed about something else? Did you miss a pumping session? Try to relax and concentrate on what’s within your control.

-Taste and smell the milk.  Follow the recommended guidelines for storage but don’t stress over it.  If you would drink it, its ok for baby (as long as baby is healthy and normally developing).

-If the baby doesn’t drink the full bottle DON’T throw it out! Breastmilk is not like formula; you can refrigerate and offer to baby again.

-If you are out of the house, running errands or visiting at friends, take your pump.  You never know what could happen or how long until you return home.  Pump in the car and as soon as you arrive at your location.  My husband would drive and I pumped in the backseat while sitting next to my son.  It was easy and enjoyable.

-Buy a second set of the valves and membranes.

-Get a cheap nursing cover and wear while pumping if you have company visiting (close family or friends).  An exclusively pumping mom should not be forced to sit alone while everyone talks and visits with the baby.

 

Kelly Zownorega studied business management at Dominican University in River Forest.  She is employed at True Value Company as a senior import inventory planner.  She lives in Elmhurst with her husband, two sons and her first child, Lia a 7 year old Weimaraner. 

Chicago Tribune, You’re Completely Missing the Point!!!

This is in response to “Has breastfeeding been oversold?” 11/26/12 and its reprint entitled “Is breastfeeding oversold?” 1/13/13 by Nara Schoenberg in the Chicago Tribune.

The first time you published Ms. Schoenberg’s piece “Has breastfeeding been oversold?” (11/26/12), I was dismayed at the total want of quality journalism that I have come to expect from Tribune material. I certainly sympathize with her breastfeeding experience. I, too, had a difficult beginning to breastfeeding, and I also had a very negative experience with lactation professionals in the Chicago hospital where I gave birth. Unfortunately, my sympathy ends there, and more unfortunately, you actually re-printed the article!

Ms. Schoenberg references a book written by a political scientist (not a medical or lactation professional, might I add) that attempts to characterize breastfeeding as a nice thing to do, but not really all that important. As her back-up, she cites three studies that show little to no difference between breastfed babies and non-breastfed babies in a few indicators. Big deal. The fact of the matter is that a lot of evidence was also ignored. Not long ago, the Tribune cited a study from Pediatrics that found that if all babies were exclusively breastfed to 6 months, the lives of 911 babies and billions of dollars in health care costs would be saved. The additional claim that breastfeeding holds women back from employment opportunities and advancement is cause for concern, but is also being partially addressed through our new federal health care and employment legislation, though there is still more work to do.

Yes, breastfeeding can be hard, as the author claimed, and women have the right to choose not to do it, but printing and then re-printing an article like this is not only irresponsible; it is insulting to the intelligence of Tribune readers. Your readers expect a level of journalism that is un-biased and based on evidence; not personal experience, agenda, or opinion.

Instead, one might investigate why Chicago’s breastfeeding rate is below the national average. Why is it that a downstate hospital beat out all the Chicago hospitals in becoming Baby-Friendly? Why have Chicago hospitals cut their lactation support to a bare minimum, and why do they have so much trouble weaning off of free formula? The last time I checked, no one gets free anything in a hospital. Why is it that mothers regularly complain that their Chicago-area doctors are giving them advice that completely ignores the AAP protocol for caring for breastfed babies? And why are mothers still getting grief about breastfeeding in public, though they are protected by state law?

More importantly, why are we still arguing about this as if it were just a “mommy-war” issue, and not an issue of gender equity, public health, and the influence of commercial interest?

It baffles me that these are not topics of investigation by a world-class newspaper, replaced instead by something that might keep investors happy, but does nothing for more deeply understanding the issue.

 

Katrina Pavlik

Director

Breastfeed Chicago