Breastfeeding in the 21st century.
How can breastfeeding work well when 23% of mothers are back to work within 2 weeks of giving birth, with the average length of time for maternity leave being 10 weeks? https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-long-is-the-average-maternity-leave-4590252 Here’s how: breastfeed exclusively for as long as you can, sleep safely with your nursing baby, learn about your breast pump so that.. read more →
Observations from a 20-year old nursing student.
I did my maternity rotation at Bellevue Hospital in 1970. Even then, at age 20, I was horrified at the care given by hospital staff. I wrote this essay for a class assignment. I wonder about the impact on all the nursing students who were taught to accept, to abet, and to function in a.. read more →
Common Sense breastfeeding II
I was referred to a young couple, parents of a 3-month old, by a friend. The couple was struggling with their baby’s reflux, wanted information about TummyTime!, and breastfeeding. Thanks to the miracle of ZOOM, we all spoke together today. I got to see their sweet baby and their dog. The parent in greatest distress.. read more →
Common Sense Breastfeeding
A nurse from Mississippi sent me an email today that captured the essence of my teaching so well that I want to share it. She said,“You have given me so much to think about regarding breastfeeding – you make it sound like “common sense!” She went on to tell me what she understood after taking.. read more →
Why did I breastfeed?
Why did I breastfeed? I was born in 1950; my baby dolls all came with bottles. The little siblings of my peers in the neighborhood were all bottle-fed. I remember sitting in my high chair, watching my mother making bottles of formula….store-bought formula was too expensive for our family. (To this day, the thought of.. read more →
Long-Acting Reversible Contraception
A paragraph from this recent study jumped out at me: ( Pearlman Shapiro, Marit et al. “Breastfeeding and contraception counseling: a qualitative study.” BMC pregnancy and childbirth vol. 22,1 154. 25 Feb. 2022, doi:10.1186/s12884-022-04451-2) “Among women who attended a prenatal visit at Montefiore, more than one-third did not return for a postpartum visit, highlighting a.. read more →