Believe it or not, a breastfeeding post.

[chargirlgenius]

Holy crap! Why didn't I have YouTube when I was trying to nurse Henry? Seeing a real mom nurse is such a huge help. Since we can't always see anybody in person, you can now see them online

Comments

[molly_world]

You'll have to discuss the concept of a "good enough" mother with Minna sometime. It's not an excuse to be a slacker as a parent, but it helped me to be OK with being "good enough" and letting some over-idealized expectations go.

Oh...and realizing that, sometimes...other parents lie. Sometimes little Sarah Ann really isn't a rocket scientist, Mother Teresa reincarnated and a musical prodigy all rolled into one. Sometimes...Sarah Ann is just a kid with a really proud Mommy, grin. Caring makes you a good mommy...obesessing...well that just makes you tired, hahahah

[janinas_nest]

La Leche League was my savior 26 years ago. G#1 and I just couldn't figure it out, and the medical unadvice I got aspirated. G#2 arrived ordering pizza with everything so we didn't have trouble. Both of them were done with it all by 6 months because I wasn't portable enough. Somewhere I have pics of G#1 crawling around with a bottle in her mouth.

[greta_k]

I think that our society puts some unrealistic expectations on women. I'm gratefult that maternal unit M told me for years that to obesess over how to raise the child is counterproductive, and that babies are resilient. It takes a lot to really screw them up at this point.

I was also fortunate to have a close friend who was unable to lactate. I had really wanted to breastfeed, but it never happened for Small Person and me. Honestly, I was relieved when I finally stopped trying. It was THAT frustrating and painful for me. Found out that my ob/gyn who delivered Small Person couldn't lactate,either. Her three kids turned out just fine, and she has nothing but supportive of my need to bottlefeed the Small Person.

[bunnyjadwiga]

Thanks!
So far, I've had lots of help, though the frantic midnight first feeding (ohmigod have to feed him NOW because of the blood sugar, I can't see, I can't think, and he's ASLEEP!) was ... difficult.. Pictures help a lot.

[morrghan92]

I think LJ is the reason I succeeded. Every time I had a question I could post to the breastfeeding community, and there were twenty women telling me their story, and encouraging me. I also had a wonderful Birth Center, that gave me a place to go once a week where I could ask questions, be reassured, get advice, and see all the beautiful babies. My guy is 20 months old, and we have a bond like none other I have experienced.