baby-friendly certification

Hey, the hospital I work at is baby-friendly! Of course, many of the woman who deliver there grumble that it's not particularly mom-friendly to promote exclusive breastfeeding and rooming in.

The thing that makes me CRAXY more than anything else is the lack of breastfeeding education done in prenatal clinic appointments. At least three times each shift I'm at work, I answer a call light to find a woman looking mournfully at me saying, "I don't have any milk and my baby is hungry." Sometimes I wish I could carry a recording of my answer and just press 'play': "Colostrum good, very high in calories, very rich and nutritious, your body knows exactly much milk it needs to make for the baby each day, baby's stomach is tiny, babies aren't super-hungry the first 24 hours and often are crying not out of hunger but because they'd rather be held than lay in the crib, breastfed babies eat more frequently, regular milk will come in like gangbusters real soon now, just put the baby to breast every time s/he's hungry and s/he'll be just fine."

Yeah. Every. single. shift., more times than I can count. And these women get so discouraged, because no one told them that breastfeeding is really fucking hard, and exhausting, and sometimes painful, and not at all the "instinctive" thing that romanticized versions of it would have us believe--it's something both mom and baby need to learn how to do. If women heard this at every prenatal checkup, perhaps the fact that the baby wants to eat once an hour and that colostrum won't be replaced by milk until around the third postpartum day wouldn't come as such a surprise.

Mm, hospital jello! No, wait, not a good idea...

I've been resting lots! I went to work Wednesday and Friday, but I probably got 12 hours of sleep every night--I wasn't going out and doing anything in the evening or anything! And when not asleep have just been sitting on my couch. Grrr.

I do get paid sick days, but it's rather frowned upon to take any time away from work (um, including weekends) for the next couple months. So I'm trying to avoid it (though not planning to go in today).

Just bitter cause last time I felt a lot worse, but I got better a lot more quickly.

Hey, um, has anyone here gotten seriously low blood pressure when they've gotten their period? Or, at least, does anyone know if that's possible?

I started my period yesterday, and starting around dinnertime, I got really really fucking dizzy -- like almost pass-out dizzy -- and today it hasn't gotten any better. [Note: I also take blood pressure medication -- to lower it -- so I have the meds trying to bring my BP down, and now I'm wondering if I'm having a double whammy of drugs and blood loss.]

Anyone?

I was supposed to get my bro and SiL from the airport in half an hour, but I can't even stand up for more than the time it takes to get to the bathroom.

Also, I've been having horrible muscle cramps in my legs and arms for the past 18 hours, if that helps with making a diagnosis.

And these women get so discouraged, because no one told them that breastfeeding is really fucking hard, and exhausting, and sometimes painful

I. Love. Jen. If someone had explained to me ONCE that the burning nipples of fire (for the first few seconds of feeding and for the first few weeks) was NORMAL, I wouldn't have been all "THE BOOKS SAY IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HURT!!!" and weepy because I felt like a heel for wincing and complaining that the little sucker beast attached to me was a pain.

Steph, when I had my fainting/dizzy spells last taken to a doctor, one of his questions was whether I was on my period. It is blood loss, after all.

But I know nothing about the rest of your symptoms, and hope you feel better soon.

And these women get so discouraged, because no one told them that breastfeeding is really fucking hard, and exhausting, and sometimes painful, and not at all the "instinctive" thing that romanticized versions of it would have us believe--it's something both mom and baby need to learn how to do

I know I've mentioned how happy I am that one of my regular nurses, when I was in for my billionth NST, told me that, a: it would probably hurt a little for the first couple of days while my nipples got used to use; and b: it gets better after the first few weeks. The honesty and encouragement were both refreshing.

If women heard this at every prenatal checkup, perhaps the fact that the baby wants to eat once an hour on the second day of life and that milk won't pour out of their breasts like a fountain until around the third postpartum day wouldn't come as such a surprise.

Ideally, I think lactation consults should start in the third trimester, and continue through the first month. Even if you've got latching down while you're recovering, once the milk comes in, you'll probably need help again on account of Holy Mother of Painful Fullness. I got help on day 2, day 4, and again on about day 6 or 7.

I've encouraged my friend who's due in November to talk to an LC a month before her due date, and to have her nipples looked at to make sure they're not flat, and to start her on shells if they are. Not doing that's the closest I get to regret, because a newborn deflatting them for you isn't exactly comfortable. (I avoided shields, as even with improvements, I've heard negative things about their effect on production.)

I hope you feel better, Steph. Does your doc have weekend hours or a nurse that you can call today?

I've encouraged my friend who's due in Novemeber to talk to an LC a month before her due date

I'm going in EARLY this time--before the baby comes, instead of dealing with it in the baby's first week.

Steph, when I had my fainting/dizzy spells last taken to a doctor, one of his questions was whether I was on my period. It is blood loss, after all.

Yeah, which is why I'm wondering if it's a double-whammy with my BP meds.

Which might mean that, when I'm not on my period, my BP is low enough that I don't need the meds anymore, which would be cool.

In the meantime, I'm trying to find out info via google (it's what I do, you know? at my job, I mean), but I'm feeling so fuzzy-headed and headachey and dizzy (even lying down) that I'm having a hard time with my reading comprehension.

Also, I'm amused that I'm engaged in that most Buffista-ish of activities -- posting while medically unwell. (Like "I'm delivering my baby RIGHT NOW!!!! Hey, does anyone know if BSG is new this week?")

Tep, I'm not sure how much help I'll be but I'd be glad to help google symptoms or whatever else. Give me a task! Is someone else picking up your bro and SiL from the airport? (Obviously I can't be *any* help there but I definitely don't want you swerving off the road.)

Hmm. Don't hit people with your car, Teppy. That's my advice. Also, maybe eat a banana. Or drink some Gatorade.

I want to rent some movies, and buy some jello. But the grocery store and Blockbuster that are next to each other are like, a mile away. With no parking. So I am still sitting on my couch. Hmph.