The client I mentioned back in September finally had her baby.... via a truly emergent cesarean. I understand it, and am glad that we have safe cesarean's available when they're needed, but I miss vaginal birth. I wanna see a baby come out the old-fashioned way!! I go on-call again tomorrow, for two moms with the same due date, and am also back-up for another doula. Surely 1 of these will be a great vaginal birth?
As the nurse was prepping the room for Mom to return from surgery, I told her that when Mom was ready to breastfeed, I didn't mind helping with that. She replied with a very skeptical "good luck". I calmly said "I'm aware of her history - but I'm sure its still managable" (she had a breast reduction). "No no." The nurse said "Her boobs are flat. There's nothing in them and she'll never be able to feed her baby. You just know these things after a while" I was stunned, but only said "Well, it never hurts to try"
Mom & baby did not latch in the first hour, but did have skin-to-skin time, and we covered breastfeeding basics for when Mom & baby were both ready. I encouraged Mom to have as much skin-to-skin time as possible, and suggested that when learning to breastfeed, its usually better to stop a session before Mom or baby get too frustrated. Then express/pump and feed by finger, SNS, or cup, and try latching again at the next feeding. If you get frustrated everything becomes even more difficult - there's always another feeding to try at. And most babies get the hang of it by 6 weeks or so, if Mom has good support and keeps at it. I heard from my client later that while the baby wasn't latching yet, she had pumped lots of colostrum and was giving it to baby by cup. Good for her - - so much for "empty flat boobs"!
Two doctors approached me separately after the birth, and asked if they could have my card and refer some of their young/high risk Mom's to me (they are both aware that I do that kind of work through the non-profit job).
The next few weeks will be full for me - - clients and doula work is a big part of it (yeah!) but there are also extra events and activities with both my jobs. It'll all work out though.
As the nurse was prepping the room for Mom to return from surgery, I told her that when Mom was ready to breastfeed, I didn't mind helping with that. She replied with a very skeptical "good luck". I calmly said "I'm aware of her history - but I'm sure its still managable" (she had a breast reduction). "No no." The nurse said "Her boobs are flat. There's nothing in them and she'll never be able to feed her baby. You just know these things after a while" I was stunned, but only said "Well, it never hurts to try"
Mom & baby did not latch in the first hour, but did have skin-to-skin time, and we covered breastfeeding basics for when Mom & baby were both ready. I encouraged Mom to have as much skin-to-skin time as possible, and suggested that when learning to breastfeed, its usually better to stop a session before Mom or baby get too frustrated. Then express/pump and feed by finger, SNS, or cup, and try latching again at the next feeding. If you get frustrated everything becomes even more difficult - there's always another feeding to try at. And most babies get the hang of it by 6 weeks or so, if Mom has good support and keeps at it. I heard from my client later that while the baby wasn't latching yet, she had pumped lots of colostrum and was giving it to baby by cup. Good for her - - so much for "empty flat boobs"!
Two doctors approached me separately after the birth, and asked if they could have my card and refer some of their young/high risk Mom's to me (they are both aware that I do that kind of work through the non-profit job).
The next few weeks will be full for me - - clients and doula work is a big part of it (yeah!) but there are also extra events and activities with both my jobs. It'll all work out though.