Tuesday, July 15, 2008

What is the Truth About Breastfeeding?

Here is my commentary on the following article. Just a little rant on one of my pet peeves.

http://ezinearticles.com/comment.php?What-is-the-Truth-About-Breastfeeding?&id=1270365

I wish that in an article entitled "the truth about breastfeeding" the truth would really be told. I would agree that all or most of the comments in the article are true; however...

I'm not sure if Eugene Williams ever breastfed a baby, but I've nursed 2 children for a total of 20 months of breastfeeding. The real truth about breastfeeding is that it is hard! It takes a lot of commitment, it can be very painful at first (no matter what the lactation consultant tells you), and let's face it, it leaves the mother doing a larger part of the work of caring for a new baby.

I cannot count the number of women who have told me that they wished they had known how hard it would be. So let's just say that many women would agree that it is harder than the labor (especially if you get the epidural!)

That said, I would encourage all new mothers to hang in there as long as you can. But you need to know that it may be a fight, and if it doesn't work for you and your family, you shouldn't feel ashamed or disgraced.

If you need help with breastfeeding, www.kellymom.com is a good resource.