Do you ever wonder how your great-great grandmother learned to breastfeed before there were lactation consultants, breastfeeding classes and the Internet? I sometimes dream of a machine that would temporarily take me back to see how women birthed and breastfed (I’d be invisible, of course). I would record everything. I would listen closely to what all of the women in her life were saying–what advice and “words of wisdom” they were imparting on her.
I’m living downtown now and have been loving all of the Movies in the Park nights. Last week they featured Ghostbusters. It was fun to see the older people sitting alongside the younger people enjoying this classic. A real sense of community—everyone enjoying a relaxing evening and a few laughs.
Moms who’ve had a bad first experience with nursing deserve a lot of credit for putting their hat into the “breastfeeding” ring again. When you’ve had a bad first experience, it can stick with you for awhile. Like PTSD-style.
Many women ask (quite shyly so as not to come across as a lush) whether it’s OK to drink alcohol while breastfeeding. There is rarely a black and white answer with me, so I’ll do my best to simplify. My answer is always “Yes, as long as…..”
Nursing your cute, incredible-smelling baby on the couch in your yoga pants is much different than hooking up your breasts to plastic, trying to let-down to a black bag that makes a machine-like, repetitive sound while worrying your male co-worker is going to walk in on you in your state of undress.
