of any consultant that advises something that the American Academy of
Pediatrics expressly warns you not to do, such as advising you to sleep
with your baby. Likewise, if you are getting more parenting philosophy
from the consultant than breastfeeding mechanics, or if you are told to
feed your baby every hour, carry him in a sling, or anything else sounding
extreme, consider looking elsewhere for help.
If you come across a consultant offering advice such as above, share
her name with other moms as a warning, especially Babywise moms. Let
them know what you discovered. Equally, when you find a consultant that
is sympathetic and helpful, share her name with your friends.
When you do find the right consultant, openly share actual feeding
times and precisely what you are doing. Although parenting philosophies
will differ, any technical lactation intervention is applicable, whether you
demand-feed or use a routine. If you hear something that does not sound
right or seems extreme, consider getting a second opinion, keeping in
mind what is normal for attachment-parenting babies is not necessarily
normal for PDF babies.
In some cases, intervention and correction are immediate. In others,
such as with those infants who have a disorganized or a dysfunctional
suckle, retraining the infant to suckle correctly will take some time and
patience on your part. Depending on the circumstance, the lactation
consultant might suggest using devices such as a syringe (minus the
needle), finger-feeding, or a supplemental feeding device to help your
infant learn to nurse. Sometimes these are effective, other times they are
not. They also can be time consuming to use. Discuss the choices with
your husband and make your decision together. Should you use a device,
reevaluate its effectiveness at some point.
Breast-feeding proficiency is usually a matter of standard review in
childbirth classes. For additional help, consider taking a breast-feeding
class at your local hospital or renting a how-to video. You can attend a
class and learn proper techniques of breast-feeding without accepting the
instructor’s personal parenting philosophies that sometimes accompany
such classes. Remember to keep the issue of nursing in balance. Going
the “extra mile” to correct a nursing difficulty or deciding to stop and
nora
(Nora)
#1