On Tuesday was our antenatal class #5, with the focus on breastfeeding.
So we found out all about the advantages of breastfeeding, but not quite about its limitations, since the trend these days is to encourage breastfeeding.
Why breastfeed? Well there are a lot of reasons that websites, brochures, books, magazines, organisations, nurses, obstetricians, lactation consultants, midwives, mothers etc will list out so I won't bother. But three words: Less. Smelly. Nappies.
Why not breastfeed? There are only very few reasons not to, but Richard yesterday said something along the lines of 'mutilated nipples', which were more convincing than anything else. Thankfully, it wasn't a reference to Hari's cannibalistic tendencies. Instead he was outlining the importance of getting as much info as possible from lactation consultants - I think I'll most definitely do this.
So, things for me to remember:
- Feed Tadpole as soon as he shows signs of wanting to feed. It probably would have helped if I had taken note of what these signs are.
- To avoid mastitis (where the milk clots in the ducts and creates an infection), hold Tadpole in all sorts of positions (except upside-down) where he can use up all the milk ducts. Alternatively coerce Bas into massaging me after each feed.
- A newborn's stomach is about the size of a small marble so Tadpole will not want to feed a lot at first. After 10 days it will be about the size of a golf ball.
- We should give him anything other than breastmilk, including water, till 6 months. Curse my short memory, I can't remember why we have to stick to breastmilk for that long.
- Some people recommend breastfeeding till the child is 2. I can't see this happening with me. I know that this is natural and that some cultures have done this since the dawn of time, but women in these cultures also happen to have breasts like this.
We watched a video which felt a lot like an audio-visual pamphlet on why we should breastfeed. I've never seen so many naked breasts in my life. And before the guys ask where they sign up, remember two things:
- You have to get your girlfriend/partner/wife pregnant in order to be eligible to watch this video.
- These are NOT the photoshopped type of breasts you see on the Playboy centrefold. Some of them will have stretch marks. Most of them will have a baby hanging on the nipple end. All of them will have a liquid-based defense mechanism if you get too friendly.
