After giving birth I read A LOT of books on parenting. It started with me learning everything I could about breastfeeding. I was very excited to nurse my daughter but was having difficulties because it was very painful. We thought she was not latching properly, that I should use another position, that I should squeeze my breast, etc, etc. I remember telling my husband that she wasn't hungry while Pumpkin was crying. Simply because nursing her made me cry with extreme pain. He would let me hold his hand with all the strength I had until the latched on and the pain got manageable. After several weeks, having my boobs exposed daily, and having lactation specialist and pediatrician examine my breast with a magnifying glass it turned out I had thrush. I can't believe I was so willing to show my breasts to anyone who might be able to help me. I had my breasts exposed so many hours a day that I imagine JA thinking it was no longer sexual and was border line exhibition.
As you might know, there are so many different approaches to parenting and thus to feeding. Yesterday we were at a friend's house celebrating her birthday. Our friend with the newborn was there. A lot of people were saying the baby was hungry. And his parents, especially dad, was responding that he couldn't because 4 hours hadn't passed by. I know people ALWAYS have comments, suggestions and rules to follow because well, they DO know how to raise a baby. And feeding is one of those topics as hot as religion and politics. We filter was people tell us and try to just keep what might be helpful. And here I was thinking, maybe they are right and this little baby is hungry. Is it cruel to not feed him because the clock says otherwise?
I am not critiquing those who choose to feed on a schedule. At some point I did it to. But after yesterday I wonder if I did the right thing. I might have left her hungry simply because I thought she should still be full. I know that when I am hungry I get cranky. Maybe she was going through the same thing. When I have another baby, will I also feed on schedule? Or feed on demand? If I feed on demand, will the baby have a higher risk of becoming obese? It is sad to say this but our first born are our guinea pigs, we try all kinds of things with them. I heard someone say that usually the oldest one of the children is more protected and spoiled by the parents than younger one. If this is true, maybe it is our way of making up for all the stupid things we did while experimenting how to be parents and being content with them turning out mostly functional.
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