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Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads

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SharonTaint
12/18/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
I am constantly amazed by the comments women make about other women's breastfeeding choices.

It's personal. When will people get that?

You do you and don't worry about someone else's baby.
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emilyanne
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
I think everyone should do as they damn well please. I breast fed for seven months, it was fine, then I stopped and that was cool too. My daughter is fine. I did lose loads of weight though and without even trying. I enjoyed that part but then again I didn't put on a huge amount during pregnancy as I was aware that I was already overweight and thus didn't need to pig out while pregnant.
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Tart of Darkness
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
I don't credit much of my post-pregnancy weight loss to breastfeeding. I credit most of it to talking lots and lots of long walks with baby in a front or back pack. I had the best looking legs back then that I've ever had. I fit back into my prepregnancy jeans in about 5 months.

Breastfeeding was not intuitive and I did not get much instruction in the hospital. Back then they weren't all that supportive about it. Fortunately my daughter was easy about trying to feed and we got it together.

I loved doing it and had chosen to because I worried about my ability to bond with my baby. As it happened from the first time I saw her, I fell in love so the breastfeeding relationship was a bonus.

Basically you have to do what is right for you and not listen to too much salesmanship on either side. The best thing is as someone else mentioned happy mom + happy baby.
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Mafalda para Presidente
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
My mom told me once I shouldn't worry too much about the weight gain during pregnancy (when and if I get pregnant), because I would lose the calories after the birth because of all the work and sleep deprivation and breastfeeding.

I guess she was sort of right.
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Cafezinha
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
I lost a ton of weight post-kids, like even down to the point where I was much smaller than I was before I had 'em. I think part of it was the ability to be able to stay home with the girls (and therefore spend all day on my feet wandering the city), but the fact that I was burning mad calories producing milk for twins was a big part of it, I'm sure.

I nursed the twins well into toddlerhood, which I think is what gave them their awesome immune systems--they're now six and have had only 8 colds their whole lives. :)
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SharonTaint
12/18/08

@Cafezinha: It's a crapshoot. I was breastfed until 3 months and recently got my first cold in like 2 years.
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flancake
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
Here's a question, do you nipples go back to their original size? Those I've seen on bf-ing friends were huge and it never quite seemed appropriate to ask to see them again later.
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SharonTaint
12/18/08

@flancake: Mine did, but I don't know if that's the norm or not.
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jeanclaudevandammage
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
Word one: HIRE HELP if you do this. La Leche, midwives, etc. all know stuff your moms don't know. Mrs. VanD hired two different lactation consultants.

Word two: YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW how to do this naturally. It is ok if it doesn't work right away and you are not a bad mom or inadequate woman (obvs, but hormones post-birth can make this very tough to handle).

Some ladies' funbags just don't produce the milk, or so they say ... but the ones I know who had no outside complications (c-sections, neonatal illness, etc.) and "couldn't get their milk production up" were all less driven to do this than Mrs. VanD.

And baby VanD is going to get cut off at age 1, max, as Mrs. VanD does not like the boob play when she is nursing. Unacceptable long-term situation.
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clevernamehere
12/17/08

@jeanclaudevandammage: Word three: Dudes shouldn't be giving out breastfeeding advice.

Since you don't produce milk, I don't think you have any business saying that other women aren't driven enough.

And the boob play comment is mega creepy and controlling sounding.

Not your issue dude.
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ucelluccia
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
See, neither my older brother nor myself were breastfed because apparently my brother was allergic to the breastmilk? Or lactose intolerant or something, but he grew out of it? So he got put on soy formula posthaste and my mom didn't even bother trying with me--I was on soy formula immediately. My sister-in-law is breastfeeding, and all the other females in our family have done it, but I may not, esp. if the whole baby-lactose-intolerance thing happens for us, too. But! I totally admire women who can and do breastfeed (i.e. my mother-in-law, who breastfed both of her kids until they were two).
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Mkp-hearts-NYC
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
Also, it's not a contraceptive!!
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BlondeGrlz
12/17/08

@Mkp-hearts-NYC: According to my doctor it is, but not a truly reliable one - more like pulling out than condoms. Actually, she asked what I wanted to do about post-baby BC the day of my first appointment, since many of her patients apparently end up pregnant with surprise baby #2 within six months of giving birth.
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TheFormerJuneBronson
12/17/08

@BlondeGrlz is having a BlondeBoyz!: Mine said that with the extra fertility in the first year, you could treat it as one form of BC during a time when you should be using 2 forms at all times. We took that to heart. My own mother thought it was a good form of BC, and my brother and I are fourteen months apart as a result.
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Fridge Hussy : Is finally heading back to uni!
12/17/08

@BlondeGrlz is having a BlondeBoyz!: @Mkp-hearts-NYC:

My mum is a breastfed all of her kids and gave birth 4 times within 5 years. So, yeah - not foolproof!
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debo matar la zombi goldberry83
12/17/08

@TheFormerJuneBronson: My Mum and her oldest sister? Eleven months apart.
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Maritsa
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
I've been breastfeeding for almost four months and it's definitely not been easy, but it's worth it to me. I've had clogged ducts (ouch) and a yeast infection in my nipples (SUPER ouch). We had latch problems in the beginning and now sometimes my son will refuse to nurse. I definitely didn't think it would be this hard.

My BFing class was basically "Here's two different holds, pinch your nipple like this, and it will be fine." Uh...not so much. I think that does a BIG disservice to women, because then when they struggle they think something is wrong with them and it probably causes some women to quit when they might've kept going with support.

As for the weight loss...I dunno. It did help my uterus contract more quickly, I think, but it's hard to lose weight when I can't restrict calories much and it's difficult to find time to work out.
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burnside13
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
I'm one of the lucky ones who dropped a lot of weight while breast feeding. I couldn't shove enough food into my face, but the pounds dropped off. I'm not naturally slim in any way, so the weight loss was a very nice surprise. My baby was 8 1/2 pounds and ate a LOT, so I'm sure that had a lot to do with it.

Yes, nursing can really hurt the nips when baby has a bad latch, but it can get better.

Breast feeding feels SO GOOD in your brain, though. When the milk lets down, oxytocin is released, and to your brain, it feels like a narcotic kicking in. Instant brain pleasure, relaxation, and a sweet drowsiness wash over you.
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littlebunnyfoofoo
12/17/08

@burnside13: I didn't lose any weight at all until I stopped nursing but that stoned effect you are talking about was THE GREATEST THING EVER.
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creme egg
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
I don't know about the rest of it but my friend breast fed until her kid was 2 1/2 and it was seriously creepy watching her try to ween him. He would throw fits, screaming for milk and lunging and her boobs. For that reason alone I'm planning on stopping before my future baby is walking and talking.
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TheFormerJuneBronson
12/17/08

@miele: Yeah, we're in the tantrum stage now, and am I ever glad that none of his fits are ever about breastfeeding. It's bad enough that he doesn't want to take naps anymore. A more personal separation might kill us both.
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EkaterinaBallerina
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
I remember reading Salma's quote and being pretty angry. Not everyone responds to breastfeeding, or even motherhood for that matter, the same way! This is just another example of celebrities believing that what happens to them is universal. I asked my mom and she said that she did lose weight breastfeeding. It honestly depends on the woman. Additionally, she had to stop breastfeeding both my brother and I because we starting getting so distracted. And well, because I cut a tooth early and bite her once. (Surprisingly, it was more the distraction problem than the biting, that made her stop. My mother has one amazing pain threshold)
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PilgrimSoul
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
So I should have a kid to lose weight? Done. How long til the Hollywood folk get on this bandwagon?
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sarah.of.a.lesser.god (aka Mrs. BrutallyHonestHobbit)
12/17/08

@PilgrimSoul: The best part is that you can get a tummy tuck after your C-section! And you can fake people out by saying your implants are just natural and filled with milk.
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Raspberry Swirly
12/17/08

@PilgrimSoul: Aren't they already on this? There's a baby explosion.
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katie.scarlett.o'hara
12/17/08

In reply to Breastfeeding Myths Debunked For Barren Broads
I just can't get over the fact that she named that kid "Hermes."

And whenever I hear about breastfeeding, I always think of the Toni Morrison book where the kid is breastfed until he's, like, twelve or something. SARVISSSS!
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nex0s
12/17/08

@katie.scarlett.o'hara: "Song of Solomon". I think he's fed until he's about 6 or 4 though. Not 12. Poor thing gets called "Milkman" after that, and never knows why.
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Fridge Hussy : Is finally heading back to uni!
12/17/08

@katie.scarlett.o'hara:

Aw it's not too bad. It might be after the Greek god. Might be...
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katie.scarlett.o'hara
12/17/08

@nex0s: Yes, you're totally right. I liked that book, but all her stories are so strange!
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