feedback for "Breast-Free Breastfeeding"

1. I work professionaly  with breastfeeding families naturall This is ver   I am working tirelessl   We teach that if   From what I have observed these women give up pumping within a couple of months because once the    

   posted by : Dewi on 1/14/2008 at 10:53 AM Flag For Abuse

2. I work professionaly  with breastfeeding families, naturall This is ver   I am working tirelessl   We teach that if   From what I have observed these women give up pumping within a couple of months because once the    

   posted by : Dewi on 1/14/2008 at 10:53 AM Flag For Abuse

3. Kudos to any mother who finds the best way to feed her baby - whether straight from the breast, bottles of breastmilk or bottles of formula.  It needs to work for everyone (physically and emotionally) to be healthy for the family.  The one thing that bugs me is that society has sexualized the breast to such an extent that this is actually cited as a reason that some women are uncomfortable considering breast-feeding their babies.  I have one friend who made this decision (she has two kids & pumped all their milk for six months each) - she said she would not let them nurse directly from her because it was "creepy" to have her children sucking on her "tits."  Hmmm... I am not judging her, I am wringing my hands at American society who values hot "T & A" above all else when it comes to what makes a woman womanly.  What makes a woman womanly is her ability to bear/raise/feed her babies in the healthiest way possible.  As a lazy breastfeeder (just lift my shirt when the kid needs a snack) I admire women so determined to provide their kids breastmilk that they are willing to deal with that darn pump (the cords, the cleaning, etc!!) many times a day for many weeks or months - that is pretty amazing.

   posted by : BBBGMOM on 1/14/2008 at 10:56 AM Flag For Abuse

4. ditto to BBBGMOM's comments on sexualization of the breast   And good for those moms who are able to pump and give their babies breast milk. I wonder what kind of pumps they use- probably electric ones, I guess. I know I couldn't get enough with my manual pump to keep a kid fed all the time... it was great for short trips away from home, but that's about it.

   posted by : AllisonWonder on 1/14/2008 at 1:01 PM Flag For Abuse

5. I had to do this b/c I had the kid who never wanted to stare at my chest while feeding. He also hated his babywearing experiences (screamed every time I tried), busted out of his swaddle immediately (note to Dr. Karp -- swaddling was NOT my son's bag), and to this day will blow up if he's staring at a blank wall while we're at a restaurant (he's 19 months old now).  The whole pumping process drove me insane and eventually my supply could not keep up with his appetite; it all sadly ended at 6 months.
   

   posted by : arirang on 1/14/2008 at 2:27 PM Flag For Abuse

6. Oh my goodness, I was an exclusive pumper for 9 months!  I wish I knew about "The Lactivist" then.  We could have traded war stories!  :)  My most "extreme" pumping locale was the Coachella music festival in Indio, CA. 
   
   For me, it was the best of both worlds: my daughter got to get "the good stuff," but I was still able to tell the doctor the amount she was eating in ounces instead of minutes on the breast (I'm a data nerd, and it made a huge difference to me), and I was able to return to work already having an established pumping routine.  Also, my husband got to feed her whenever he wanted (or whenever I asked him to, lol).  But of course, the pump was expensive and we still had to wash bottles, etc.  Everything has its good and bad points. 
   
   But it worked out great for us, and maybe with more articles like this, more women will find it a viable option!  All the literature out there is SO black and white, and both sides are SO rigid.  It's always refreshing to read about alternatives and hybrid solutions.
   
   

   posted by : julie00 on 1/14/2008 at 2:35 PM Flag For Abuse

7. i hope that articles like this will start to convince hospitals that they need to put out the money to keep good and qualified lactation consultants on staff.  my hospital had a great lactation consultant who called me once a week for a month to make sure i was okay and didn't have questions.  my pediatrician's office also has a nurse/lactation consultant who i also spoke to a lot.
   
   my daughter nursed and bottled (both breast milk and formula).  i couldn't keep up with her when i was pumping at work (my breasts just didn't respond well to pumping) plus she really had a hard time latching on, but had a suck like a mac-truck powered vacume. it was a frustrating combination.  i couldn't have continued to nurse successfully without help and encouragement.  no one should be missing that when she's learning how to nurse.
   
   

   posted by : serahrose on 1/14/2008 at 2:52 PM Flag For Abuse

8. Like BBBG, I am a lazy breastfeeder, and I admire the commitment women have to sitting at the pump for hours out of the day. I would not know how to get my child to sleep or comfort him when he's upset without the breast--it's the magical fix it all that is there all the time, no worries about temperature or safety or 'can I get this through security to be able to feed the kid on the plane?'  I wanted to second BBBG's comment on sexualization of the breast with another bone to pick on the culture--women are advised to breastfeed exclusively for the health of their babies, but what about the health and well being, and yes, convenience, of the babies' mamas? The public health message is always focused on the child's health and this is where we see people reading dr sears and getting a complex about all the things they don't do for their child. For me, breastfeeding was painful at first (until I had a LC show me how to shove the baby on and get a deep latch--sounds graphic to non BFeeders I am sure), but now it is a pleasure--I find it relaxing, and I know he does, and just the most delicious and sweet bonding experience of my life.  It does a mother good.
   
   I admire you who exclusively pump for your babies, truly--it's tough and you are wonderful moms!
   

   posted by : colleenewelsh on 1/14/2008 at 2:54 PM Flag For Abuse

9. I just gave up pumping after 8.5 months, after starting on day three in the hospital after my newborn lost more than 10 percent of his body weight. I've pumped while driving, every few hours for the first 4-5 months, all with the effort to feed my kid whatever milk I could provide. Despite taking a ton of herbs, drugs, water, and such, I just never produced enough for him to eat exclusively breast milk, and after nursing, pumping, and formula feeding for five weeks, something had to go and nursing was the easiest thing to drop. I kept reading that low milk supply was something rare, but for those of use for whom it was a reality, nursing was a frustrating experience of baby hunger, crying, and never feeling adequate. Being able to pump was the only way to know how much breastmilk my kid was eating and whether it was enough (and how much formula to give him as well) and while it was a ton of work, I'm glad I was able to stick it out as long as I did. 
   
   Another great resource I found was a Yahoo Group of exclusive pumpers called Pumping Moms. I urge anyone pumping to check it out.
   

   posted by : calkon on 1/14/2008 at 3:15 PM Flag For Abuse

10. Regarding the sexualization of the breast--much to my husband's dismay, I've had the opposite reaction from the writer since our son was born. ("Don't touch those! Those belong to the baby.") I'm sure he's looking forward to when I wean, but our son is 19 months old and shows no intention of giving up nursing (and I'm happy to oblige).   I also pumped for the first 10 months of his life to supplement, so I could go out and, later, go back to work, and I hated every minute I spent with that machine. I'm impressed by anyone that can keep it up so frequently for so long. Like others above, the convenience of breastfeeding, particularly at night, keeps me going with it.   Ultimately, I think if the baby is healthy and happy, *and* the mom is healthy and happy, then you are doing the right thing.

    posted by : raincitykitty on 1/14/2008 at 3:21 PM Flag For Abuse

11. I wish I would've known about the Lactivist too!  I breastfed for one week and then my daughter went on strike.  I was very emotional and bawled my eyes out!  It was hard too because she had my nipples rubbed raw and they are still scarred.  My husband comforted me by telling me that I didn't fail and that by pumping, it's still breast milk, just not from the breast.  From that day on, I pumped faithfully anywhere from 6-9 times a day.  I did it for an entire year and I am so glad that I did.  I work a full-time job and I had to go back after 5 1/2 weeks off.  Breast feeding just wasn't a pleasurable experience for me or for my daughter.  We could bond over the bottle and be fine!    Let's see, my most extreme pumping is probably while I'm driving.  That's right!  I would pop a blanket over those bad boys and drive away home.  It worked out great so that I could spend time with my daughter as soon as I got home instead of sitting down to pump.  The worst place I had to pump was in a bathroom stall during a seminar I was attending.  That just sucked! 

    posted by : lisaloeb7 on 1/14/2008 at 3:31 PM Flag For Abuse

12. I will count myself one of the lucky ones. I had no problems breastfeeding, and did so for the first two months, because I was on summer break and didn't have to worry about going back to work right away. However, I started pumping and introduced the bottle (which my daughter took right away, no confusion--she also nursed) because I knew that when I went back to work I wanted her to have breastmilk. I was able to keep it up for until she was almost 7 mos. old--I got really sick and was under a lot of stress at work, and my supply basically dried up--and I'm happy that I had lots of support from my husband (he thinks it's cool that my breasts "work"). I just wish our society wasn't so all-or-nothing about these things (the SAHM vs. WM thing is another one that bugs me)--WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU, WORKS FOR YOU. If you want to pump, pump. If you want to bottle feed, bottle feed. If you want to do a combination, do it. And let the devil take the hindmost, because this guilt thing is ruining us.
    

    posted by : katydidmama on 1/14/2008 at 3:49 PM Flag For Abuse

13. Wow, more power to anyone who can keep it up pumping exclusively.  When I went back to work at 12 weeks, my daughter refused to nurse from me.  I had all these grand plans to nurse her in the mornings and evenings and pump during the day, but she was having none of it.  I pumped for another three months, but I never could make enough for her, not without pumping during the night, which I just couldn't do.  Those three months pumping were awful for me- I hated the pump just about every single second.  I'm so happy for those moms who manage to make it work for them. 

    posted by : Dwtintx on 1/14/2008 at 8:44 PM Flag For Abuse

14. This is such a wonderfully balanced, smart article. I love it. Great job.
    

    posted by : hanabel on 1/15/2008 at 8:53 AM Flag For Abuse

15. As the husband of a lactating wife, I don't begin to understand why the sexualization of the breast is perceived as an obstacle to breastfeeding. I am a guy, I think breasts are hot, and I think breasts that are doing what they were meant to do -- nurturing babies -- is beautiful and contributes to sexiness of breasts.
     
    Was there ever a time when breasts were not sexualized? I highly doubt it. I think men in every cultural, western or otherwise, are obsessed with breasts -- we are wired that way. We are wired to be attracted to breasts BECAUSE they help our children survive. I think some of these women who consider breastfeeding unsexy should have a talk with their husbands, or poll the neighborhood construction team.
    
    
    
    

    posted by : papajohn on 1/16/2008 at 1:12 AM Flag For Abuse

16. I'm really glad to see this article. I pumped for 6 months and I doubt I would have been able to keep at it that long if I didn't find support on the internet. There is an exclusively pumping message board on iVillage with a wonderful group of ladies available to offer advice and support from a "been there done that" perspective.
    

    posted by : crys323 on 1/16/2008 at 1:16 PM Flag For Abuse

17. "While no reliable statistics exist on whether more women are exclusively pumping, and the breastfeeding activist organization La Leche League declined several requests for comment, there's been more and more talk about it in recent years especially online."
    
     
    
    Ok, this is a pet peeve of mine.  How can you speak of "Exclusive pumping's growing popularity" when you have absolutely no data to back it up?  Just because "people on the internet are talking about it" doesn't mean that more people are actually doing it.  What is it with you people and the fake trends?  If you are going to say something is a trend, you need some data to back it up.
     
    And this is what I don't get - why can't you just write an article about exclusive pumping?  This is a great article otherwise.  There's enough to say on the subject without trying to make it look like it's a trend.
    
    
    
    
    
    

    posted by : raininspain on 1/16/2008 at 3:05 PM Flag For Abuse

18. I've heard of women feeding pumped breastmilk because they found nursing too painful or because they were anxious about their child getting enough milk and bottlefeeding allowed them to see the number of ounces being fed.  But pumping milk because the breast are "reserved for sexual activity?"  How weird!  That woman needs therapy to deal with her rigid views about the body.  
    

    posted by : BeansMom on 1/17/2008 at 1:31 PM Flag For Abuse

19. I found the article very interesting, as it seems to be a logical extension of a mother's desire to provide the best she can for her child, yet struggle with problems our society has created surrounding the breast mystique.  My husband was the one who had trouble being sexual with me, not only around my breasts, but almost totally after birth.  It took him a while to get back into our couples rhythm as he could see the parts of my body that used to be exclusively for him were in actuality a baby factory.
    
    
    My son is now in his teens, and I had to pump plus breastfeed as I worked more than full time.  At that particular time in my life, many people were appalled that I chose to pump, as formulas were touted as being sufficient.  Somehow I doubted this, so kept at it, and took quite a bit of flack at work for the breaktime, even tho others would take longer just to smoke!  As my son was very healthy, with few illnesses and always at the top of the size\weight charts, it was worth the effort to me.  The bonding time we shared as I picked him up from our sitter was priceless, too.  And he managed to wean himself as he matured, and found other things more interesting than nursing to capture his attention.
     
    So although I had a different experience than the women in the article, I applaud their choices to do the best they can for their children.  That love comes thru no matter how the children are fed.

    posted by : WittyKitty on 1/18/2008 at 12:40 PM Flag For Abuse

20. Back in 1998 when my daughter was born, I was determined to breast feed her. I bought an expensive, Medela Breast pump so I could also pump between feedings. (and keep the supply up)
    One of my breasts squirted milk out in 4 little streams. She would sometimes cough, almost choke on that one. The other one didn't do that, but it also produced less milk..  She would cry and refuse to nurse. I forgot to mention ,when we were still in the hospital they were concerned about her weight, and wanted to give her a supplemental feeding. I went along with it,  so she drank from a bottle too.
    later, I would become engorged before she was ready to eat, so I would pump some out. I didn't want to waste it, so I gave it to her in the bottle. In a few months, she decided that she liked the bottle better. It wasn't streaming out in 4 places. She would cry when I tried to nurse. It's silly, but I kind of felt rejected.
    So I pumped until she was a year old. I would've rather she'd take it from the breast, but at least she was still getting the benefits of breast milk.
    My son, born in 2000 was born very hungry.  He nursed almost right away. He liked it, and never wanted a bottle. He wanted to nurse all the time. If I pumped between feedings and tried to give it to him in a bottle, he would cry. My "super boob" (the bigger one that squirted milk in 4 streams) was his favorite.

    posted by : Happymom on 1/18/2008 at 2:57 PM Flag For Abuse

21. Been pumping full time for 15 1/2 months now!!!!  Not because I want to but because I had problems with latching.  Any mom who pumps because they want to is kind of selfish!!

    posted by : a on 1/18/2008 at 7:46 PM Flag For Abuse

22. I think it is a blessing when a mother breastfeeds, even if she has to do it indirectly through a bottle.  I was successful at breastfeeding directly and did some pumping during the first 6 months for my exclusively breastfed 13 month old.  I found pumping to be so much harder and exhausting then direct breastfeeding and because I was not consistent about giving him a bottle at 6 month he refused to take a bottle anymore. It was not a problem because we began a slow tranizition into "solids" at that point. Actually spoonfeeding breats milk until his extrusion reflex stopped. 
    
    
    I have a friend who had a bad hospital experience when it came to breastfeeding and no family support. Her daughter never got a good latch and she eventually went to pumping.  She pumped for about 6 months while working. I admire her so much for making that choice to do what is best for her daughter's development.  Because pumping is so hard and exhausting and you get flack in the work culture for it, as well as potentially the family culture (I got some of this as well), I think in some ways it is a harder choice to make then direct breastfeeding.  At least with direct breastfeeding I can get the support of other mothers who are putting the baby to breast and have magazines to read for support.
     
     My son has a developmental delay that hopefully is just visually based and just effecting motor skills. Because of the breastfeeding benefits including eyesight and IQ, I can feel a sense of calmness that I am doing and continue to do everything I can to assist his development.  Even if I had had to pump to give him this benefit it is worth it!  
     
    The physical benefits of sucking from the breast on development aside, Breastmilk is best no matter how you get it in the baby.  And any mom should feel wonderful about herself for sticking to it whether through pump or direct.  One day, hopefully, our culture will figure this out and truly give mothers the support they deserve to feed their babies this undisputably better way.

    posted by : BaltimoreMom on 1/19/2008 at 3:02 PM Flag For Abuse

23. It is normal for the breast to produce milk from more than one place on the nipple.
     
     

    posted by : BaltimoreMom on 1/19/2008 at 3:05 PM Flag For Abuse

24. It's important to remember that breastfeeding not only supplies breastmilk, but the opportunity for babies to develop appropriate tongue thrust, swallowing tecnique, and oral muscle and motor development.  These in turn can lead to appropriate speech and language development.  
    Also, any liquid comes out of a baby bottle faster than it does the breast, and breastmilk does begin to break down the minute it is stored - no matter how quickly, and how coldly.
    We all do the best we can, and sometimes breastfeeding is just not an option.
    But if mother's continue to struggle with their breasts as being only sexual objects, long term effects of self image and female sexualization will do more harm, than an attempted and failed breastfeeding relationship. 
    ~wheelvita

    posted by : wheelvita on 1/19/2008 at 5:15 PM Flag For Abuse

25. My fiancee and I don't plan on having children for a couple of a years but I don't see what is so weird or wrong about not wanting to directly breastfeed. I don't plan on direct breastfeeding when we do have children mostly because I think I would find it odd for me personally. I don't view women who do as gross and I don't view my breasts as being dirty completley sexualized objects. Yet, up until the point we have children our breasts are used as being completley sexual and pleasurable for both people involed and the whole concept of moving away from that may not come as easily or at all to some people. I'm still young, so whenever I do think about it in a personal way my first thought is "eww."  Many girls my age feel this way, and I'm sure as we grow older and ready for children our thoughts and feelings will change- especially during pregnancy. However, if these feelings don't change and they choose to do indirect breastfeeding, I don't think they should be picked on for that. It's not like they don't love or care about the child. I think it should be encouraged for women who don't feel comfortable about breastfeeding because it is better than formula.  Also, if the mother is feeling uncomfortable and awkard breastfeeding her child, I really don't think that is going to help bond with them. If anything it seems as though that would make bonding even less and harder for the mother.  I think she would bond better if she would just do what she is comfortable.  Just because a woman has a child doesn't mean her feelings and emotions don't exist or don't matter anymore.

    posted by : Curious on 1/20/2008 at 11:26 PM Flag For Abuse

26. "Jessica Barie, a mother in the
    Boston suburbs, said she felt tied down to the pump during the day, "but
    if I wanted to go out at night with friends, I could pump really intensely during
    the day and then go out, be able to drink alcohol, and just throw it out."
     
    You do NOT have to "pump and dump" after drinking alcohol. (unless it's to relieve fullness or keep up your supply).  When your blood alcohol goes down, so does the (much lower) alcohol content of you milk. Basically, if you are sober enough to drive, you're sober enough to breastfeed.
    
    
    More on this here:
    http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/alcohol.html
    

    posted by : Rosomaqa on 1/26/2008 at 3:59 PM Flag For Abuse

27. I don't have a judgement about the decision to pump exclusively if that works for you.
    
    
    But I am troubled by the idea that women see their breasts as sexual objects and are creeped out by having their child suckle at their bosom.   That is just terribly disheartening.  So sad.
     
    Of course I have a theory - my guess is the women who feel their breasts are primarily sexual are those who have big breasts - and have been objectified as a result for most of their lives!  I'm guessing those of us on the itty bitty committee are more willing to embrace the opportunity to use them as they were designed!!! 
    I know that has been one of my fallbacks in defending my small breasts - that they are perfectly capable of doing what they are supposed to do!

    posted by : clicky on 1/26/2008 at 11:09 PM Flag For Abuse

28. All pumping moms need to google "Easy Expressions" for the most useful $25 purchase they'll ever make.  It's a pumping bra that allows for hands free pumping at work (the car for some apparently!) or at home so you don't have to feel so trapped holding the gadgets to your chest.  I was lucky enough to be able to nurse and pump at work to keep things going to 10-months when we weaned.  But one of the moms at my daycare pumped exclusively and I was so impressed by her dedication to give her son the best nutrition possible, even though she was unable to get him to nurse.  Go moms!  Whichever choice you make, as long as it's toward the best care of your child you're a star!

    posted by : Allison on 1/30/2008 at 1:33 AM Flag For Abuse

29. "I think men in every cultural, western or otherwise, are obsessed with breasts -- we are wired that way. "
    
    Wrong. In many African countries for example, breasts are not sexualized.
    As a proof, you may have seen on TV images of bare-chested African women.
    
    Do you consider ankles to be sexual? Well, in Victorian society, they were considered to be sexual, and women were supposed to keep their ankles covered, lest they arise desire in gentlemen.
    
    So it's totally cultural.
    
    The Japanese too, sexualize breasts a lot, but it is because of Western cultural influence (Japan is the N°2 consumer of American films after the US for example). Yet, they don't find breastfeeding shocking or anything. Because their culture is not a culture of shame like the Judeo-Christian one, which teaches people to be be ashamed of their natural bodies. People in Europe didn't wash until recent times because the Church said it was sinful to undress in order to take a bath!

    posted by : BreastSexualizationIsCultural on 5/8/2008 at 4:17 PM Flag For Abuse

30. Julie00, i too pumped and dumped at Coachella in 2007!!! how hilarious that someone else shared in that experience. :) i have such a great memory of sitting in the paramedics air conditioned trailer...pumping... while listening to Arcade Fire's set across the field.
    
    anyway, kudos to all of you who also exclusively pumped...for whatever that reason might be. no shame in that whatsoever.

    posted by : sillymisslily on 7/11/2008 at 12:52 PM Flag For Abuse

31. Thank you so much for this article. I'm a new mom, and have been an EPer (eclusive pumper) since she was born due to me inverted nipples and nipple confusion after a c-section. I've been feeling guilty about the fact that I can't nurse and have to pump 8 times a day. But your article made me feel better about it and realize I'm hardly alone.
    
    At the end of the day, I guess I'm just glad my daughter is getting breastmilk!

    posted by : HKATEE on 9/7/2008 at 10:35 AM Flag For Abuse

32. I had to exclusively breastpump because my son was in the hospital for 4 mos ( he was born 16 weeks early). He has a very high palate because of having a breathing tube for 6 wks so breast feeding was difficult (I've flat nipples). He was also bottle fed by hospital staff. I've been pumping for almost 14 months & will be stopping at the end of the year. Wish I'd had more support. Friends & family were great, but work was difficult.

    posted by : branwyn on 12/19/2008 at 2:48 PM Flag For Abuse

33. Hey clicky - I'm part of the Big Boobie Crew (as opposed to the IBTC - my fam is split roughly 50/50) and am actually happy that many a former boob-gawker has quit doing so :-).  For once in my life, they aren't objectified.  My sisters on the BBC have felt somewhat the same...I have one sister on the IBTC though who had the sexualization issue at first.   My hubs doesn't seem to have an issue, but then, he is an engineer and is fascinated by how "those things work" anyways.
    
    Currently I do what I can to make things work - I pump at work (I work at a very family friendly small company...I suspect I would catch he!! from my male coworkers if I fed the bumpkin formula...just a suspicion and nothings been said, but they've been very supportive of my pump breaks) and either pump or nurse at home.  Heck, sometimes pumping at home is not optional.  My son is getting to the age where he'd rather play than nurse sometimes; of course, other times, he wants to nurse and he wants it NOW.  It (pumping) allows my husband the chance to cuddle our son and feed him, it allows his Grandparents a chance to do the same, it allows me the chance to get out of the house for more than two hours at a time.  But he will not even consider taking a bottle from me or my sisters  (three of them have tried). 
    
    I was one of the lucky ones - my "Mommy & Baby" nurse at the hospital was wonderful, and the hospital's two LC's were great and helpful.  I have had several friends who went to different hospitals had sucky (okay, bad pun, sorry) experiences with either lousy or no LC's, mandatory weight gain guidelines, and nurses who'd ignore the notes on the newborn's bassinette in the nursery and give them a bottle of formula at 2 am regardless that Mom wanted the baby brought to them.  I was also lucky that Humana Health Insurance offers phone and online support to expecting/new mothers including access to an LC via the phone.   All of the LC's I spoke with told me that if I were going back to work, I needed to "befriend my pump" by the time he was three weeks old.  I pumped after he ate during maternity leave - helped build supply, and it helped me create quite the stash of milk for him. 
    

    posted by : WhamMom on 5/22/2009 at 9:12 AM Flag For Abuse