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Nursing provides a special bond between mother and child during the highly important infant stage that is mutually rewarding for both parties in terms of physical satisfaction, nutrient level and emotional reward. However, nursing does have several challenges, especially to the new mother, which can be easily overcome with some special training, instructions and lots of motivation.
Nursing your child should be a personal issue between you and your infant, but often arises to be a case of discussion for all family members, whether invited or uninvited, to voice their opinions. Once you have made the decision to nurse your child, be proud of your decision and prepare yourself for both positive and negative reinforcement from both family members and co-workers. Comments such as “why in the world would you want to nurse your child”, or “I tried to but it hurt too much and was too time consuming, or even “If you nurse your child he won’t get enough to eat” are some of the basic feedback you will need to be prepared to hear. As you continue to satisfactorily nurse your child, you will also hear comments such as “Are you STILL nursing?”
Be prepared with answers and dates, such as “Yes, I am nursing, and I plan to nurse my child for eleven months.” Stick with other mothers who are going through the same experiences you are by joining local mother support groups or even online support groups. If you don’t feel like arguing with everyone, just simply say “Yes I am nursing and I’m enjoying it” in a flat non-emotional tone, indicating that that is all you have to say on the subject and it’s not open for debate.
This also gives you the opportunity to educate others on the importance of nursing. Let them know about immunity and how the mother’s milk passes on special immunities to the child. Emphasize the need for the child to suck and bond with the mother. Let them know how close this makes you feel to your child and how mutually rewarding the experience is for both mother and child. Stress that your child is only a baby once in his life, and this is the most important time for a child to feel the emotional and physical bonds that nursing helps to provide to get him through the important developmental toddler years and the rest of his life.
As a nursing mother, there are times when your child will begin to bite down as teeth develop. When the baby bites, stop nursing immediately. You can even talk to your child and explain that it hurts, or try changing your position. Pull down on his chin and firmly tell him not to bite you. You can get to learn your baby’s facial expressions and perhaps anticipate when the child is ready to bite. Nurse your child when he is hungry, not when he is bored. If you sense or feel that he is dawdling, stop nursing and move on to something else.
Raising a child is an emotionally rewarding yet exhausting experience. Naps are worth their weight in gold, and many mothers stop nursing when they become overtired. If you feel yourself starting to wear down, increase your vitamin intake after talking with your doctor. Try to take a good long walk at least once a day and replenish your Vitamin D intake. Get as much rest as you can and maintain a healthy diet to ensure that your baby is getting all the benefits he needs. Above all, enjoy this rewarding and bonding time with your child.
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