Breastfeeding is a meaningful topic for me, because I wanted
my son to be exclusively breastfed until he was at least 1 and planned for him
to self-wean. I never thought that he would not latch and that I would end up
exclusively pumping, but that is what happened. I noticed when he was 3 months
old that he was tongue-tied which is why he wouldn't (couldn't) really latch, I
had it snipped as soon as I noticed it. We saw a lactation consultant because I
really wanted him to start latching. She informed me she had never seen a more
stubborn child in her life, milk was pouring on his head and he was screaming
for the bottle. The second he was given the bottle he stopped crying and
started eating. I managed to pump for seven and half months, after that I could
not take it any longer.
In Ghana a national policy was developed that said babies
should only receive breast milk and breastfeeding rates have increased 22% in 5
years. Women are taught to breastfeed the minute that the baby is born. Women
are expected to feed their babies wherever, whenever and are not expected to
use any type of cover, but the culture is very modest tight pants and low cut
tops are not acceptable. I find it very interesting that in America breast can
be shown in sexual ways, but it is not as acceptable to openly breastfeed in
some places.
I feel that this information will impact my future work, in
many ways. For one I am a doula in training, and I would like to be able to
help clients be successful with breastfeeding, I have learned how to spot a
tongue-tie now which is a very common problem with breastfeeding. I also want
to open a child development center, and I want to promote breastfeeding by
allowing mothers to breastfeed in the classrooms and offering a quiet place to
breastfeed if they would prefer. I also want to be able to offer my staff the
time to go breastfeed their child during the work day, instead of just offering
space for them to pump.
Hi Tonya
ReplyDeleteI breastfeed both my of children. I think you brought up a great comparison about how it is acceptable to see women expose their breast in a sexual way by wearing very low cut shirts and dresses but, some of society frown when they see a mom breastfeeding her baby with a cover in public. I think it is great that you would allow your employees time to go and breastfeed during the work day. I never thought about that option in my future childcare center. I think this would be a great addition to any center or school where moms would like to breastfeed their child during the day instead of just pumping.
I remember my sister telling me when she was in the hospital with my niece; that breastfeeding was not an option for her because it was painful so automatic gave her a bottl. I would definitely call you a brave soldier. I think it is good that you want to offer the freedom for moms to come and breast feed their child.
ReplyDeleteBreastfeeding for me is a very tricky subject. When my daughter was born I was 20 years old and when I thought of breastfeeding, I automatically thought pain. It seemed that most women felt discomfort and regreted starting to breastfeed. Once I had my daughter they asked if I would like to try and I refused; the doctor then reported that I was lucky I had refused because my body had not produced any milk. I instantly felt like my options were taken away, like I was not a real mother because if I needed to breastfeed I couldn't. We take so many things for granted and it taught me a vauable lesson; I will never "knock something until I try it". With my next child, I plan to breastfeed for the first year if I produce milk. I enjoyed reading your post.
ReplyDelete