Topic : 10/07 The Latest Debates

im thinking baby centered. 

here are a few facts on normal infant behavior. normal being bf, because we are after all human moms of human babies. 

a human infants stomach is very small, think the size of her fist at birth. breastmilk is perfect, custom made milk that is rapidly digested. babis are born with a instintual need for human contact. put these things together and youll see that you comment on "scheduling feedings" does not apply.  

try this: today pay attention to homw many times you eat. gum, water, juice, meals. and how long you took at each and what time it was... i can bet it varies from day to day.  same goes for baby. 

a mom who meets her babys needs is baby centered. you cant make everybody happy. everyday we are going to see people waering or saying something that may offend us. and though i may find something "unattractive" it reminds me that we are a diverse nation,  and that we have rights. the basic human right to feed her child just doenst seem like something that needs debating to me. 

I have a granddaughter whose mother gave her all of the education about birth control.  She was active in church and was talking abstinence. Last year she and her then boyfriend decided that they wanted to have unprotected sex even though his mother had made sure condoms were available to them.  Even the best education doesn't always work.  The end result was an unplanned pregancy.  I very much admire my granddaughter.  She was a Junior in high school at the time.  She does not believe in abortion and neither do I.  She also realized the "boy friend" was not a responsible individual and there was no future for them.  She made the decision to give up her son for adoption.  It was painful to hold my great grandson and know that he would not be a part of our family.  But there is a couple out there that has the family they never thought they could have.  Because of current adoption options, our family is sent regular pictures of the baby and updates on how he is doing.  My granddaughter is now a senior and making plans to go on to college.  I have to admit that the experience matured her a lot and made her a more confident young lady.  I am very proud of her. 

I agree that there needs to be in depth sex education in the schools.  I believe that our youth should be given both the contraceptive information and the abstinence information.  They will inevitably make their own decisions but at least we can know that they knew what there options were.  I do not believe that condoms should just be handed out like candy.  That doesn't help anyone. 

I am a mother of a beautiful 3 month old and never thought I would breastfeed.  When I realized how beneficial breastfeeding was to my child I knew it was the right thing to do.  I feel, like many others, that breastfeeding should be allowed in public.  However, I do feel that a mother should be modest and  resect others with covering up while feeding.  I purchased a great product that allowed me to breastfeed my baby and cover up at the same time.  It seems that the issue of breastfeeding wouldn't really be a hot topic if mothers would just take the time to breastfeed discreetly.  Noone is saying that you shouldn't  feed your child but to just whip out your breast at any time you feel without consideration to your surroudings is abnoxious.  Just because you gave birth doesn't mean you have the right to disrespect others. 

The bathroom is an utterly inappropriate place to ask a woman to breastfeed.  This is a nourishment / food issue, not an elimination function.  The level of hygene is deplorable in the best of circumstances.  You wouldn't eat there, don't ask my baby to.   

Also regarding keeping everything covered up, sometimes that's a logistical impossibility.  I've got nursing bras and nursing tops designed to keep everything as hidden as possible, and I do  try.  However my 4 week old baby hasn't quite figured out how to latch properly on her own and I have to manipulate my pregnancy enlarged 38DDD boobs into this tiny little mouth.  There's no way to do that and remain completely covered up.  Later, when she's several months old or, better yet, when she's toddling (my older daughter started walking at 9 months) breastfeeding will work very well as we'll both know how to do it.  Of course then our anti-breastfeeding friends will say that she should be "over that" breastfeeding thing.   

I'm very proud of the fact that my older daughter never had formula and I breastfed her to 21 months.  I weaned then only because I was pregnant with #2.   

What people don't understand is how much it's a way to love your baby.  It feels like the love I feel for my baby turns into a liquid and I nourish every cell in her little body with love.  In the middle of the night , when the rest of the world is asleep and it's just you and your baby, it feels like angels are watching and smiling to see you and your sleepy little baby cuddled up and feeding.  What more pure love is there? 

Evelyn 

I agree.  I have nursed 2 children.  After about 2 months old, my children pulled at the blankets or cover-ups I purchased to cover them while I nursed in public (or even in my own home with company over).  The little ones want  to look around, look at you and play while the eat at about that age.  It is very hard to keep everything covered all the time while you nurse, I do the best I can for others' comfort, but my child and I should not have to worry and be uncomfortable while doing the best and most natural thing in motherhood.  Breastfeeding is a natural thing to do, and accroding to the research- the best for your child.  Eating your dinner in a restroom would never be considered. I do not thin Dr. Phil did a good job of making these points.  

I praise the state of the art department stores (Nordstroms) and malls (Westfields) for having family restrooms and pretty nursing stations these days - thank God someone sees nursing for what it is.  I try to use them when it is convenient for me and my situation at the time.  However, there are many things that make me uncomfortable about people in public as well, and I ignore them or look away.