As the world becomes more and more pro-breastfeeding, a percentage of the population is being left out. This came to my attention recently, when a friend of mine chose to have her baby adopted. She is very much pro-breastfeeding – she nursed her firstborn for 19 months. When she began to consider adoption, one thing she wanted was to find an adoptive mother who would be willing to nurse the baby. Now, I’ve looked, and there is a LOT of information and support networks out there for adoptive mothers who want to breastfeed. But what about the birth mother? Is she just doomed to a few days of, as my friend put it, being a “proud owner of two giant, hot rocks?” And if she gets on her computer to look it up, what will she find? Not a lot, that’s what. I even went digging around on message boards for formula feeders looking for information. While I’m 1000% for nursing, I also think that we’ve got a problem when its become taboo to publish information on how women who are NOT nursing their baby can make those first few days postpartum a little more bearable.
So far, I’ve found this – cabbage leaves, ice packs, sage tea, benadryl/Sudafed, wearing a bra. I know they’ve quit making that drug that dries you up after childbirth. But really, is there nothing more to say about the topic?
Thus begins my quest for information to help the non-nursing population – whether it be because they are using formula, or because they’ve given the wonderful gift of adoption. If I ever find anything more, I’ll be writing an article about it. stay tuned...
No comments:
Post a Comment