During our meeting ( they are short and sweet usually less then 30 min), numerous topics come up. Pain relief for labour, babywearing ( carriers/ slings/ wraps), places in Ottawa to seek help with breastfeeding, as well as meeting customers while in labour. Over the last year I have gone to 4 meetings where mom was in labour,another meeting had to get rescheduled as she was in pushing stage, and another I was feeding ice chips, and catching vomit.
We are one of the only companies that does in house meetings about cloth diapers. The number one reason we do it, is so that our customers are successful when it comes to cloth diapering. We meet with new "parents to be" 2 weeks before their due date. Showing them how to do different folds,, how to use a snappi, what a booster is used for, and of course answering questions. During our meeting ( they are short and sweet usually less then 30 min), numerous topics come up. Pain relief for labour, babywearing ( carriers/ slings/ wraps), places in Ottawa to seek help with breastfeeding, as well as meeting customers while in labour. Over the last year I have gone to 4 meetings where mom was in labour,another meeting had to get rescheduled as she was in pushing stage, and another I was feeding ice chips, and catching vomit. On another meeting we might be helping a new mom with breastfeeding. Every meeting is different & unique. We also have youtube videos on our website & blog to assist, offer to Skype with customers if they can't meet, and answers all questions via email too. We meet during daytime hours when we are already out on the road delivering diapers. It is not necessary that both parents be at the meeting, the information can be shared with the other one at a later date. If there is no time to meet before baby arrives, we meet with baby. We place baby on change pad/ or towels and do through all the diapers ( usually getting pooped on a couple of times during this process!). The owner of Ottawa Cloth Diaper Service has both Postpartum & birth Doula through CAPPA.
It is no secret that I hated pumping. Loathed it. It maybe was due to working full time at a workplace that wasn't supportive of it. My daughter was at daycare full time, but I still was nursing ( quite common & recommended to age 2years +). Part of the reason I detested pumping, was I wasn't able to produce very much, and yet my daughter breastfed just fine. It was in the middle of winter when I returned to work, and I would pump in my car. I would move my car to the attractive spot near the dumpster, crouch over and try to will my body to stay warm enough while I pumped. My manager called it " my lactation issue", as if saying the words nursing, pumping, or heaven forbid "breast" might make him break out in hives. He tried to convince me that I needed to start my work from my office, as then I could pump before going on the road to visit clients. However anyone who has done any long term pumping knows, it is better to have a schedule that mimics the baby. I pumped daily at 11am, and 2 pm. Venturing out to the car, moving the car, and pumping, was still quicker then the 15+staff members that took smoke breaks. If you are planning to pump when you return to work, set up a room that you can pump in. Even better if it has a lock on it, and isn't a bathroom. Bring a picture of your baby to help with letdown, think about your birth & memories that you have of it. The above picture is the pump I used pump in style from Mededa, and a cooler bag for bottles. Even if you are unable to pump great amounts ( I was able to pump 1 oz from each side- so not a lot at all!), you are still stimulating your milk production for your child. Keep in mind as well that your child will always be able to get more from you then your pump. My schedule looked like this: Morning cluster feeds 6-7:30am- my daughter would nurse 2-3 times during this time, plus eat breakfast ( keep in mind she was quick nursing 5 min) 7:30-11- drop off at daycare, drive to work ( I know someone that used to pump on the way to work, I don't recommend this) 11- pump in car 2pm- pump in car 4:30- pick up from daycare ( often my daughter would want to nurse at daycare), snacks in the car, cluster feeds till bedtime at 6:30-7pm I continued to pump at work for 2years. This wasn't something I planned out, nor did I get any pleasure from doing it. Sometimes you do what needs to be done, to make your children happy. My daughter liked "milkies", it kept her healthy, and that is what kept me going. I do wish that in future years companies will see the importance of healthy moms & healthy children. This means less sick time, and healthier communities. I wish that it wasn't such a fight to ask for a "pumping room", and that just because a mom asks for this it isn't considered preferred treatment. That just because that mom doesn't want to pump in a bathroom, this doesn't make her demanding. I also wore a nursing tank under my work clothing to make pumping easier ( ie less skin showing). I had been prepared to have a natural childbirth and had expected the pain, however I didn’t expect to have issues with breastfeeding. I guess I had thought you would place baby near and on breast and they would latch and get fed. I mean you never in movies see women curse, cringe or scream when the baby breastfeeds. When my son was born my milk was slow to come in, we had latch issues, and my supply was low. We hired a lactation consultant, I took herbs*(fenugreek and blessed thistle), and I pumped. I pumped until I felt like a cow-and that was before I got the double pump. When all of this wasn’t working and my son still hadn’t gained weight, and yes I felt like a failure(something else they don’t tell you- all the mommy guilt you will experience), I started *Domperidome.Domperidome is a prescription that doctors will issue you- it is to assist with disorder of gastrointestinal tract, however the side effect is that it will increase your milk production. I was able to breastfeed until I got pregnant again, when my son was 14 months. The second time around I went on Domperidome right away, and everything went a lot smoother.Struggling with breastfeeding is not fun. I firmly believe that a well fed baby is a happy baby, and it is a devastating feeling that you are starving your baby. I wish I had asked for help earlier with my son, I wish I had gone on Domperidome sooner, and I wish I had gone to classes or drop in to talk about my struggles. However I learned from my first mistakes and fixed them for my second child. The other day I was volunteering in my daughter's JK classroom. Meeting the another mother outside the door, we were talking about her youngest (how he was more challenging then her first). Then in a low whisper she confessed not enjoying breastfeeding, and how it had been a struggle. She was elated that I had felt the same with my son. Breastfeeding can be challenging. It can also be wonderful. It can also be taxing, and exhausting. Having other moms around to talk to, helps a lot. It makes you feel less alone, and you can share the feelings(that chances are at least mom is feeling). Make sure you get the help you need. There is a link to Ottawa breastfeeding sources in our links. Photo from Sara M Photo .http://www.saramcconnell.ca/ |
AuthorAnne Loucks: mother of 2 child who used cloth diapers throughout. Archives
May 2020
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