Yah breastfeeding!
My class tonight was AWESOME. The instructor, Andrea, is the lactation consultant for the hospital and she is neither a crazy hippie or a breastfeeding Nazi. She was funny, relaxed, enthusiastic and, most importantly, knew her shit. She was like “So all that stuff the magazines are trying to sell you – the pumps and the nipple shields and the lotions and the pillows – don’t buy it. Really.” She explained that after you give birth, getting support and encouragement to breastfeed is the most important thing. If you decide later you want to pump, she can hook you up. If your nipples hurt, she has the good kind of lotion. If you have problems or questions, she will come to your house and help you. She will tell your mother/grandmother/sister/whoever it is that says “Well I didn’t breastfeed MY baby and they turned out alright” to shut the hell up and bury them in research studies on why they should get on board.
Despite her obvious enthusiasm for breastfeeding, she emphasized that it is YOUR decision – and I felt like she really meant it. I wish every pregnant woman I know could take this class – I am 100% less scared of my nipples falling off now. Andrea wants you to live you life (eat a cheeseburger! have a beer! watch tv! shop at Target!) while you give your baby the best possible start to life. She said even if you only nurse one time, you’ve done a great job.
I really can’t say enough good things about this class, but I think my favorite part was when she compared the way the baby swallows milk to the way you would take a shot. Anyone who can relate babies to drinking is my friend.
Tags: breastfeeding
Considering he’s coming from you and E, that kid will almost certainly be downing his milk like it’s a shot. Your instructor sounds great, though. Did she have an opinion on the zombie issue? I mean, if you were dreaming about vampires there would be an obvious connection.
Oh wow that’s awesome. I hope she doesn’t put pressure on you, but it doesn’t sound like it. If others do, or act like you’re terrible because you have a few problems with it, tell em to bite you. Wait, bad choice of insult.
My dad wouldn’t let my mom breastfeed. Yeah, I try not to dwell on that too much. I am not sure why, either.
This lady sounds rad!
“eat a cheeseburger! have a beer! watch tv! shop at Target!”
Sounds like I’m already doing everything right and I’m neither a mother nor expecting a baby.
@ sarrible: Have you ever seen Suzanne take a shot!? Love of alcohol does not equal good at doing shots :)
Hey, freshman year is all about learning new things! By the time my bachelorette party rolled around I was DAMN GOOD at shots. Ask pretty much anyone in New York city. Although after the last 9 months of not drinking I might be out of practice.
Yay for cool lactation consultants! My mom used to do this sort of thing (L&D nurse, LaMaze teacher, lactation coach), and I think she’s pretty cool…though she is sort of a crazy hippie (where’d you think I get it from?).