Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Nursing Joy

M (3.5 years): Mommy, when I get bigger maybe I can pump milk and feed it to Baby J.

9 comments:

Right Said Red said...

Obviously a little gender confusion ;-) Charlie (2.5) sometimes tries to nurse his stuffed pig. This is disturbing on numerous levels.

texas mommy said...

As chief milk producer in this house, having pumped literally thousands of times, both of my big boys pretend to pump as well. God bless their future wives!

Juris Mater said...

Tex, my godson is allowed to pretend pump? Too many more of your tofu meals and he'll actually have something there to put inside the pump's suction cup : )

texas mommy said...

I'm not saying it is *encouraged* to pretend pump...but when the alternative is Dash sitting on Jack-Jack or Incredibaby going on a wild ride in the swing while I have no hands free to intervene, the boys are allowed some leeway as long as they aren't injuring each other or burning the house down while I pump the next meal.

Man, Mr. Incredible is going to demand the boys eat raw (non-mad cow) meat tonight!

Kate E. said...

I think this is awesome...they will be wonderful supportive husbands one day! My little guys has never pretend nursed a thing, but now that a bunch of friends have nursing babies he is definitely more interested in the whole process.

Anonymous said...

Tex, just curious -- why do you pump instead of nurse? I'm expecting my first any day and I'm exploring all the options! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I love this! I was recently visiting my sister to help with her 6-week-old twins and her 4- and 7-year olds. She is nursing both (alternating with pumping). Both my daughter and nephew were also breastfed, but this is the first time either have been regularly exposed to a nursing mom while they are at "the age of reason." It was so funny hearing one 7-year-old say to another, "And SOMEHOW they get food that way!"

texas mommy said...

Anon,

I pump because I have to. I would not recommend it unless absolutely necessary. I was misdiagnosed with thrush with my first 2 babies, a common infection for nursing mothers. I saw 5 lactation consultants. My babies and I went on antibiotics, tried intense diets to eliminate thrush, but to no avail. It turns out that a circulation disorder that I have called Raynaud's is to blame for my nursing woes. Basically I have frostbite on my breasts, even if it is 100 degrees out because of an overreaction called vasospasm. It is excruciatingly painful to nurse and will never go away. I literally cry everytime I try to nurse. Pumping still hurts a lot everytime, but, since there is less compression, it is better than nursing, though still not fun. I would love to be able to nurse, but, since I want to give my babies breast milk, pumping is a cross I have to bear. There are some benefits...other people can feed the baby, though I do 95% of the time for bonding reasons. I donate my extra pumped milk to a milk bank, so I know it is going to preemie babies who need it.

If you have trouble nursing at first, as almost everyone does!, see a lactation consultant as soon as possible. But if you have to pump for any reason and have any questions about pumps/pumping, I'm your girl! Don't hesitate to ask!

Anonymous said...

Texas Mommy--wow, learn something new everyday. In all of my 11 years of breastfeeding, I've never heard of this. I looked it up here:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/nipple-blanching.html

Very heroic to continue pumping!! God bless you!