Breasts
Breastfeeding. Since the beginning of people, breasts are the biological norm. Not best. Normal!
Over the past decade and a half, I have been teaching mamas-to-be about this miracle. I have also on occasion been given the opportunity to teach others how to determine what is going well and what isn't--and even, teaching nurses simple ways to empower brand new moms in their innate ability! But one thing I have been aware of over and over is this: I am very uncomfortable with teaching moms "The Right Way" to breastfeed! DVD's and visuals, videos and posters all claim to teach "The Right Way" to breastfeed. Myself, I am a firm believer in not fixing something that ain't broke! So. How do we counteract this?
Like so many things with birth, we figure there is a better way developed over time. We believe that we can create a better posture, a better pillow, a better hold. Many years ago, I had the privilege of attending a workshop taught by Dr. Jack Newman. Have you heard of him? I will tell you more about him in a different post. But today, just know this: he has spent many many years teaching about the benefits of breastfeeding, that art which was lost somewhere in the medicalization of birth and the disconnect between generational supports among other things!
Armed with his intention of bringing back normal, he showed us a slideshow. Women and babies were breastfeeding. Laying down, standing up, sitting, babies sitting on laps, laying over shoulders, laying on beds, on bellies, on pillows, on arms and off. About 200+ images! Each one different. My takeaway? That babies KNOW what to do! We don't have to use the right hold, the right pillow, perfect posture.
Do babies know? Well, lets think about this in terms of yesterday's post. Hormones are in place. Birth has hppened. The placenta once fed this little person, what now? In the last couple of decades, as breastfeeding becomes vogue once again, it seems we have had to relearn what once was KNOWN. And it is this: babies know! In fact, in a birth that is medication free, where a baby is left with mom and not removed for "cleaning" (really? where did they get dirty..?) they will follow their ancient instincts to find food and warmth and comfort. The breast! They will crawl right up there and help themselves! In the wise words of Dr. Nils Bergman, babies are born exceptionally competent and competely immature. So, they know how to get where they need to go and what to do once they get there--they just need their mama to learn their way of communicating! Again, I will leave some of this for another post. Today, breasts!
Babies know how to find what they need, how to access it and how to make more happen by suckling as much and as often as they wish.
So. for this time, let's look at biological nuturing for optimal breastfeeding. Birth is completed, all three stages. The fourth stage- along with baby learning to live in air, to get its own oxygen, to communicate and be loved, it's time to continue the feeding relationship where the placenta left off. The breast. Prolactin and oxytocin along with more hormonal cocktail work to create milk. The first milk is colostrum. One of it's major purposes is to coat that whole digestive system against intrusions. It lays down a foundation, a protection for the whole future of this baby's life! In fact, it is the only thing that will dissolve meconium, the byproduct of digested amniotic fluid. Any new parent will tell you that the black substance that makes up those first bowel movements is tar-like and stickier than anything else at all! But colostrum dissolves that, moves it throough that digestive system and, in it's place, provdes the protective coat against allergies and other illnesses. At any time this is disturbed before the coating is in place, it leaves a space in the digestive system for sinister activity! Yes, disturbing this means using artificial breast milk. Breastmilk is the biological- and logical!- norm.
Posture, pillows and holds? Left on their own, moms want to first find comfort. We say to sleep when baby sleeps, but how? Well, how about if we say, make yourself a comfy nest, lay back and let your baby nurse! Really, you say? Lay back? Be comfortable? I thought this was supposed to be uncomfortable, to expect some pain!Now, why would something that is the biological norm be difficult or uncomfortable? In the last few years, biological nurturing has taken the place of the paternalistic ideology of "we know best". Suzanne Colson, an observant midwife, discovered the neaurobehavioural approach to breastfeeding that has been normal for babies since the beginning of humanity! With moms and babies being left undisturbed after birth, she observed that babies will latch themselves onto the breast in a way that is comfortable to mom and to baby! The breast warms up to keep baby warm outside of the womb. Milk flows freely into baby's mouth, to the roof of it's mouth where it is captured then swallowed in the baby's own rhythm. Mom can rest while she does this, which is good, because oxytocin is released and she will feel relaxed and sleepy! Baby gets what it needs and can access its food source whenever it needs. We will talk about this in more detail in another post. But for more information on biological nurturing, find S. Colson through TedTalks, YouTube or Google. For now, suffice it to say, babies know! Human babies are at least as clever as any other mammal and can access just what they need if we can simply trust them and not put roadblock in their way!
Breasts. We give them a lot of attention! Some unwarranted, unwanted. Some very well deserved. They are there to nurture and feed our babies. They are well made for the job, big or small, no matter! That is not the important feature. The most important things are these: trust in the design and cultural and community and family support. The rest comes with patience and helpful, knowledgeable supports. Birth doulas are trained in breastfeeding beginnings and post partum doulas are trained in duration. Midwives, nurses, lactation consultants, breastfeeding counselors and more can help! Women have what it takes to feed their babies. They are well-designed to continue to sustain the baby that their body grew! In this time of reconnecting this wisdom, let's do what we can to pass this message along. Breasts can!
Over the past decade and a half, I have been teaching mamas-to-be about this miracle. I have also on occasion been given the opportunity to teach others how to determine what is going well and what isn't--and even, teaching nurses simple ways to empower brand new moms in their innate ability! But one thing I have been aware of over and over is this: I am very uncomfortable with teaching moms "The Right Way" to breastfeed! DVD's and visuals, videos and posters all claim to teach "The Right Way" to breastfeed. Myself, I am a firm believer in not fixing something that ain't broke! So. How do we counteract this?
Like so many things with birth, we figure there is a better way developed over time. We believe that we can create a better posture, a better pillow, a better hold. Many years ago, I had the privilege of attending a workshop taught by Dr. Jack Newman. Have you heard of him? I will tell you more about him in a different post. But today, just know this: he has spent many many years teaching about the benefits of breastfeeding, that art which was lost somewhere in the medicalization of birth and the disconnect between generational supports among other things!
Armed with his intention of bringing back normal, he showed us a slideshow. Women and babies were breastfeeding. Laying down, standing up, sitting, babies sitting on laps, laying over shoulders, laying on beds, on bellies, on pillows, on arms and off. About 200+ images! Each one different. My takeaway? That babies KNOW what to do! We don't have to use the right hold, the right pillow, perfect posture.
Do babies know? Well, lets think about this in terms of yesterday's post. Hormones are in place. Birth has hppened. The placenta once fed this little person, what now? In the last couple of decades, as breastfeeding becomes vogue once again, it seems we have had to relearn what once was KNOWN. And it is this: babies know! In fact, in a birth that is medication free, where a baby is left with mom and not removed for "cleaning" (really? where did they get dirty..?) they will follow their ancient instincts to find food and warmth and comfort. The breast! They will crawl right up there and help themselves! In the wise words of Dr. Nils Bergman, babies are born exceptionally competent and competely immature. So, they know how to get where they need to go and what to do once they get there--they just need their mama to learn their way of communicating! Again, I will leave some of this for another post. Today, breasts!
Babies know how to find what they need, how to access it and how to make more happen by suckling as much and as often as they wish.
So. for this time, let's look at biological nuturing for optimal breastfeeding. Birth is completed, all three stages. The fourth stage- along with baby learning to live in air, to get its own oxygen, to communicate and be loved, it's time to continue the feeding relationship where the placenta left off. The breast. Prolactin and oxytocin along with more hormonal cocktail work to create milk. The first milk is colostrum. One of it's major purposes is to coat that whole digestive system against intrusions. It lays down a foundation, a protection for the whole future of this baby's life! In fact, it is the only thing that will dissolve meconium, the byproduct of digested amniotic fluid. Any new parent will tell you that the black substance that makes up those first bowel movements is tar-like and stickier than anything else at all! But colostrum dissolves that, moves it throough that digestive system and, in it's place, provdes the protective coat against allergies and other illnesses. At any time this is disturbed before the coating is in place, it leaves a space in the digestive system for sinister activity! Yes, disturbing this means using artificial breast milk. Breastmilk is the biological- and logical!- norm.
Posture, pillows and holds? Left on their own, moms want to first find comfort. We say to sleep when baby sleeps, but how? Well, how about if we say, make yourself a comfy nest, lay back and let your baby nurse! Really, you say? Lay back? Be comfortable? I thought this was supposed to be uncomfortable, to expect some pain!Now, why would something that is the biological norm be difficult or uncomfortable? In the last few years, biological nurturing has taken the place of the paternalistic ideology of "we know best". Suzanne Colson, an observant midwife, discovered the neaurobehavioural approach to breastfeeding that has been normal for babies since the beginning of humanity! With moms and babies being left undisturbed after birth, she observed that babies will latch themselves onto the breast in a way that is comfortable to mom and to baby! The breast warms up to keep baby warm outside of the womb. Milk flows freely into baby's mouth, to the roof of it's mouth where it is captured then swallowed in the baby's own rhythm. Mom can rest while she does this, which is good, because oxytocin is released and she will feel relaxed and sleepy! Baby gets what it needs and can access its food source whenever it needs. We will talk about this in more detail in another post. But for more information on biological nurturing, find S. Colson through TedTalks, YouTube or Google. For now, suffice it to say, babies know! Human babies are at least as clever as any other mammal and can access just what they need if we can simply trust them and not put roadblock in their way!
Breasts. We give them a lot of attention! Some unwarranted, unwanted. Some very well deserved. They are there to nurture and feed our babies. They are well made for the job, big or small, no matter! That is not the important feature. The most important things are these: trust in the design and cultural and community and family support. The rest comes with patience and helpful, knowledgeable supports. Birth doulas are trained in breastfeeding beginnings and post partum doulas are trained in duration. Midwives, nurses, lactation consultants, breastfeeding counselors and more can help! Women have what it takes to feed their babies. They are well-designed to continue to sustain the baby that their body grew! In this time of reconnecting this wisdom, let's do what we can to pass this message along. Breasts can!
Comments
Post a Comment