Make Breastfeeding the Law: Gisele

[Lyn1001]

I cannot tell you how horrible I felt after I had DD. I was determined not to have a c-section. Actually had my breech baby flipped (talk about pain!!) so I wouldn't have to have a c-section. Ended up with an emergency c-section after being induced, 24 hours of labor, and 1.5 hours pushing. I was unconscious for the birth and did not wake up for 2 hours after she was born. Had to wait another hour to see her due to my incredibly low blood pressure. Would have been better to have scheduled it when she was breech. THEN, I tried and tried to breastfeed. Couldn't. Her first few latches were perfect. After that, she pulled back and chewed. The nurses tried to help, DH tried to help, nothing worked. I still stuck it out. Also used a tube with formula (so she was getting something) and had it running down my breast so she would "understand" breastfeeding. By the time I got home, she had torn me up so bad I was full of scabs. Kept trying for two weeks. So scabbed up, I couldn't even pump anything out. Finally had to give up. Since nothing was coming out, I stopped producing. Actually started again about 5 weeks postpartum, but by that time I had been through surgery and had narcotics in my system. Funny, DD chewed the crud out of her bottles too. DH didn't think it was as bad as I said until, while I was crying one day, he attempted to break her latch like the nurses had shown him (with his pinky finger). She broke skin with her gums.

 

[mom2six]

Yes, breastfeeding can be incredibly hard! You go in thinking it's so natural, it'll be a piece of cake. Not always. With my first, I had an epidural, not knowing it can have effects on the baby which make breastfeeding difficult. My son was very sleepy and lethargic his first week, he didn't really learn to nurse well. Then I ended up in the hospital again with a postpartum infection and a 10-day course of antibiotics and told not to breastfeed until they were done. I went back to nursing after that, but he had such a bad latch we supplemented with formula and he weaned about 5 mo of age. By that time he was crawling and had figured out he could tote a bottle but not mama and had enough of me.

All the rest of mine have gone soo much better, but #6 was a trial at birth. Because of my training, I knew how to deal with her issue before it became a problem. She would clamp her jaws shut just before or just as she was latching. OUCH!! I had to hold her lower jaw down every time she nursed until she learned to do it right. It doesn't sound that difficult, but try it sometime. You almost need to be an octopus to get the right angle on that lower jaw! Praise God, she learned quick and was nursing perfectly by day 3, but if she had been my first or even my second, we'd likely have been done.

Here is an excellent reference for anyone having difficulties with breastfeeding: Dr. Jack Newman . He has videos demonstrating techniques to solve various problems, along with articles, but best of all he will answer any question by email. I have known several people who contacted him, and even did so myself.

Congratulations to the new mommies here!

 

[Nova]

THANK YOU!!!

I have been wondering; What, exactly, is it about having a baby that makes everyone think they have the right to tell you how to live your life?

Not just in terms of breastfeeding, but EVERYTHING... We had a few family members get all pissy when they heard we were going to cloth diaper, telling us how bad for the baby it would be (I fail to see that logic, but oh well...) or the fact that we have kitties, and how we need to get rid of them ASAP because somehow the fur will cause our baby to get ear infections (SERIOUSLY, where does this crap come from???)... I could go on-and-on...

Jenni, I think there's something built into our biology as a species that makes us instinctively protective of pregnant women and children. That's not always a bad thing, of course.

But we also have rational minds, presumably, and ought to be able to fight the urge to butt in except in cases where a child is in clear and present danger.

In my house, we wouldn't dream of telling the kids how to raise the grandkids (unless they asked a specific question). They (parents and grandchildren) are all doing just fine.

 

[butwhatif?]

No way should it be a law, imo! There's been too many cases where babies have died because the moms were pressured into breastfeeding only, even though they didn't have enough milk supply.

I had problems with the latch on, and spent hours on a breast pump for months after having my babies. Some nurses even critisized me for that, even though my babies were still getting 100% breastmilk! And for using a nipple shield so that they could latch on more easily.

We all know that breast is best, but it should be up to the parents how they choose to nourish their newborn based on their own individual circumstances.

JMO

 

[Pandora]

Some women need to go back on meds they gave up during pregnancy IMMEDIATELY after giving birth. These same meds are often transferred through breastmilk. Hmm, Gisele, every think of that one????

 

[grammieto5]

What is it with all these people trying to take away our freedom to choose! Our country is always at war to protect our freedom to choose, and people like this nut come along and what everyone to believe as they do!!! What ever happened to " I may not agree with what you say but I will defend your right to say it" If you want to do something then do it, but don't try to push what you want on me. If you don't want to do it then don't do it, but don't try to tell me I can't choose to do or not do what I want! I was born and raised in the greatest country in the world, where we have the freedom to choose what we want!!! Of course the USA needs some changes but one thing that will never change is our freedom to choose!!!!

 

[not_my_kids]

Hey, let the lawmakers make the laws, the mothers care for their children and the supermodels...do whatever they do for society.

These things should probably not mix. JMO.

 

[KaylynnCouture]

I breastfed my children, and medically I do think it has more advantages than formula. However, to make it a LAW that every woman should breastfeed her children is ridiculous, IMO.

 

[reportertype]

What is it with all these people trying to take away our freedom to choose! Our country is always at war to protect our freedom to choose, and people like this nut come along and what everyone to believe as they do!!! What ever happened to " I may not agree with what you say but I will defend your right to say it" If you want to do something then do it, but don't try to push what you want on me. If you don't want to do it then don't do it, but don't try to tell me I can't choose to do or not do what I want! I was born and raised in the greatest country in the world, where we have the freedom to choose what we want!!! Of course the USA needs some changes but one thing that will never change is our freedom to choose!!!!

I totally agree with the right to choose. It's MY body and my boobies.

 

[BlOnDe_GuRrL]

Unbelievable!
I guess it's a good thing it's NOT a law.. all 4 of my kids would've starved to death.
I never made a drop a breast milk.. NONE
Even if I did, I would've bottle fed anyway..

 

[Elphaba]

In the fashion of "Keep your rosaries off of my ovaries" (banner I saw at a DC Pro-Choice rally) my banner will say:

Keep your law of the land off of my mammary glands...

 

[Soulmagent]

I breastfed my youngest for 3 months. I got wic when he was born for formula and decided to breastfed so I donated all the formula to Hurricane katrina food drives. That was the best thing I got out of breast feeding and had it not been for Hurricane Katrina my son most likely would not of been breast fed that long because it was horrible. I pumped and watched news coverage for weeks. All I did was pump and fed. I thought my nipples were broken for a year.
Why do they lie and tell you it is easier than making bottles ?? They lie ! It isnt!

 

[Angels_Not_Forgotten]

I breastfed my youngest for 3 months. I got wic when he was born for formula and decided to breastfed so I donated all the formula to Hurricane katrina food drives. That was the best thing I got out of breast feeding and had it not been for Hurricane Katrina my son most likely would not of been breast fed that long because it was horrible. I pumped and watched news coverage for weeks. All I did was pump and fed. I thought my nipples were broken for a year.
Why do they lie and tell you it is easier than making bottles ?? They lie ! It isnt!

Respectfully BBM. I agree. Unfortunately when my son was born the nurses continued to give him bottles after VERY strict warnings not to do so. So on top of it being hard, the nurses were of NO help. I think there are many ways to put out there that breastfeeding is a very healthy method than wanting to make it a law.

 

[Kat]

In the fashion of "Keep your rosaries off of my ovaries" (banner I saw at a DC Pro-Choice rally) my banner will say:

Keep your law of the land off of my mammary glands...

Love it!

 

[Mr. E]

soulmagent -- different people have different experiences, I guess. When I was in La Leche League, we did promote that it was easy, but I know that some people find that to be untrue. My first two nursed very easily, and I really liked the ease and convenience of nursing.

It wasn't until my 3rd (her sisters were in their teens when she was born, so it had been awhile since I'd nursed a baby) that I understood what it really meant to have sore nipples. They cracked and bled and it was horrible.

I loved the convenience of never having to deal with bottles, BUT getting bottles together for a trip was never that big of a deal. The only thing that was really annoying was the expense, and since we were both working it wasn't that bad.

So, while I used to be a Nipple Nazi, I have definitely changed my tune. Helping my kid get stuff together for college (SATs, scholarships, transcripts, applications) was infinitely more taxing on my nerves than bottle vs. breast ever was.

 

[charok]

Was she drugged? Medicated? I had my last one totally natural, not even a Tylenol, and I can assure you that it hurt. Very definitely it hurt.

I have heard that some people seem to birth their babies without much pain. Of my three, they all hurt, but the last one without meds was wicked.

oh no supermom giselle had NO drugs...:hand:
puh-leeze.
if time and circumstances allow, EPIDERAL all the way.
breastfeeding, some cant do it for medical reasons too. i say id encourage it, but ultimately each is his ( or in this topic, HER) own.

 

[Cappuccino]

They're my breasts, so I'll choose who I feed with them, (if anyone).

 

[Kensie]

I had one child without meds and it was so painful that I got delirious ( I know I have this spelled wrong).

Gisele has hit a new low. Good grief, who is she to say what needs to be done.
The only think I like about her, is her husband Tom Brady.

Gisele, MIND YOUR OWN FREAKING BUSINESS.

 

[jjenny]

Does she realize that some infants will starve to death because not all women actually produce enough milk?

 

[jjenny]

Some women need to go back on meds they gave up during pregnancy IMMEDIATELY after giving birth. These same meds are often transferred through breastmilk. Hmm, Gisele, every think of that one????

There are also some women with diseases (such as HIV) that actually forbidden/discouraged from breasfeeding so they don't pass it on to the infant.
I guess she just thinks that every woman is a perfectly healthy supermodel. Or something like that.