My Personal Lactation Coach
Lara Colo
Paris France
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 21 No. 4, July-August 2004, p. 128
When I found out I was pregnant,
I didn't decide to breastfeed: there was no "decision" about
it, no weighing the pros and, well, the pros. I was pregnant. I was
going to have a child. I would breastfeed.
Nothing could be more natural.
Of course, this was a big first for me and I avidly read everything
I could get my hands on about breastfeeding. As I read, I got more and
more worried. Everyone seemed to focus on the problems and difficulties
involved. Cracked and bleeding nipples, thrush, latch-on problems, nipple
confusion, milk production, oversupply. The list went on, or so it seemed.
Could I really breastfeed my baby?
Then
my daughter was born. My midwife and the nurse's aide placed her on
my breast. After what seemed like an eternity of fiddling, fussing,
twisting, and pinching my breast, and jiggling and re-positioning my
daughter, she finally latched on. Whew! First hurdle overcome.
After my daughter and I were
moved to our room to rest, recover, and get to know each other, the
best lactation coach I could ever want, Margot, entered my life. Her
dedication and devotion to breastfeeding were instantly visible, but
she didn't have much experience. I was her very first client. Learning
to trust her judgment was both the hardest and best thing I could have
done for our breastfeeding relationship.
Every time my hyperactive,
hormonally driven worry motor went into overdrive, Margot reminded me
to look at the baby. Was my daughter thriving? Yes. Happy? Yes. Margot
would remind me with every breath she took, every look she gave me:
"If it's not broke, don't fix it." Her common sense, "just
do it" attitude to breastfeeding got me through all those early
hurdles, most of which were hurdles only in my mind. My daughter took
to breastfeeding like a champ.
One year later, my daughter
and I are still nursing strong. Margot is still a constant source of
encouragement and support. She got me through the first terrifying growth
spurt when my well-meaning, if misguided, husband offered to go buy
formula. Margot helped me realize that all my baby needs is me. She
comforted me. She was there when my supply kicked in to fill the demand.
Margot convinced me I could pump when I went back to work, and it was
a good thing she did, too. My daughter wouldn't (and still won't) have
anything to do with formula of any kind. I learned about breast massage,
breast compression, and different nursing positions under Margot's watchful
eye. She taught me to breastfeed while lying down, and to even sleep
while doing so. In short, she taught me everything.
She's the best lactation
coach I could ever want and I know that, with her continued presence,
I will keep nursing until my daughter decides it's the right time for
us to wean.
I know what you must be thinking.
A lactation coach who is with me for all hours of the day and night
seems a bit excessive. Don't my husband and I want time alone? No, not
at all. It's not expensive either. I pay Margot in an unlimited supply
of love, cuddles, and mother's milk. You see, Margot is not only my
personal lactation coach, she is also my daughter.
Last updated Tuesday, October 24, 2006 by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:30:47 UTC 2007.
