h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hey Abbi!


I'll have to make sure that I have some pics of the babe in the belly cast - then I can post a link to them here if people are interested.

I've just got back from a breastfeeding workshop at a local hospital (strongly suggested by my midwife). I find it sad that most women of my generation have never held a baby before, much less seen breastfeeding and so now need to be taught how.

I'm so lucky to have been at 4 births and seen how beautiful natural childbirth and mothering can be.

Thanks Fynn, I don't mind dead bodies really, after all, we all sleep in dead dust mites night after night... And headlice do live onthe scalp rather than in the hair, so they shouldn't be too bad.

I'll wait for it to be long enough to plait, I don't want any melting going on on my head!

I didn't harden my nipples for breastfeeding. They did get a bit sore, but there's a herbal cream that the midwives recommend - can't remember the name now, but I think it began with C and was a sort of yellowy colour. It's ok for babies if they get some off your nipples, and really works. Of course, if you/they latch on properly, they don't get sore. Just remember that breastfeeding position is very different from bottle feeding position - I laid J on his side so he had to turn his head to me - after a while you realise that you should lie tummy to tummy so the baby 'fits' properly. I'd fed too many foster babies by bottle and picked up that position by mistake.

A few years back they started teaching breast feeding here in the US because there is more to it than many whom have never seen or done it know. It can be quite upsetting and unfair to the mothers not to have some instructions, encouragement and help.

Moms should not be made to feel badly whether it is impossible or a personal choice not to breastfeed.

Hello everyone.
Fynn, you sound blooming marvelous. Wish I could have seen the turtle impression in Cornwall.
When I trained as a midwife in the eighties we taught nipple preparation and advided antiseptic sprays and the nicer one camillosan. Studies have since shown that no preparation prevents nipple trauma and camillosan was banned due to something in it's formulation. Correct baby positioning prevents nipple trauma.
"TUMMY TO MUMMY" baby's tummy against yours, with her looking straight ahead at your breast.
"NOSE TO NIPPLE" Her nose is in line with the nipple as babies tilt their head back before feeding.
Wait until she opens her mouth as wide as possible so she latches on areolar not nipple
current product for treating soreness in lasinoh (pure lanolin). Pricey, so don't buy unless really needed.
NCT breastfeeding helpline (UK) 0870 4448708.
I'm near Glastonbury the week commencing 26th september if you'd like a visit

LSF

<> please don't do that! I know someone who did just that and suffocated her baby!

There's lots of new advice for bedsharing in the new Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSIDS) leaflet. can't remember the website address.

Camillosan! That's the name of the cream that I was trying to remember - thanks Meg.

I often drifted of when feeding J when he got to a few months old, but only on the side that meant he was in the middle of the bed so he wouldn't fall out. I read somewhere at the time that most babies who were suffocated in the bed had a mum who had drink or drugs in her system, so didn't wake up at the crucial moment.

Thanks for the info Meg.
I guess it's a good thing that I took my nipple ring out some time ago...


I like the idea of bedsharing, but have to admit to not being able to figure out the practicalities of it, so am off to have a look at the FIDS website.