A mother comments on Monday’s post: “A Portrait of Human Lactation”:
Interesting article. I have one child, now 2, and had gestational diabetes, despite having no major indications, ie, I am not overweight and do not have diabetes in my family. So throughout the last 4 months of my pregnancy, I was eating very well and taking insulin 3-4 times per day. I was so worried about how this would affect my baby — thankfully, as far as we now know, there were and are no problems at all. In fact, my baby and I were breastfeeding champions. The counselors were amazed, in fact, at how well I was producing and how well she was eating. I wonder if that has to do with the insulin control of my diet and insulin injections? That would be interesting to study — although I’m not sure pregnant women would want to take insulin injections just for the chance of better breastfeeding….
Injections might be a bit much, agreed! But there are things that all of us can do to affect the release of insulin in our bodies. Eating real food in appropriate quantities and proper proportions (of nutrients), as well as exercising regularly. And it makes a big difference when moms who want to nurse have had normal BMI’s (body mass index) their whole lives.
Preventative medicine begins at birth. The benefits last a lifetime.
A mother, nurse, and certified lactation consultant adds her thoughts:
Thank you, Dr Ketyer, for supporting breastfeeding and bringing this subject to your readers. Most parents view breastfeeding as a natural process and are surprised when challenges arise. Our American culture, where extended families have drifted further and further apart, leaves many mothers and babies without the “natural support” of grandmothers, aunts and sisters. Mother-to-mother support groups have been around since the ’60′s and ’70′s and now breastfeeding issues are being evaluated in medical settings. There are many ways that breastfeeding can be supported in medical settings, primarily the pediatrician’s office.
If it were not for my 20 year old son’s pediatrician, supporting us and giving us time to work out the challenges of the first time breastfeeding mother, I would not be the Lactation Consultant Nurse that I am. I would not have gone on to commit my career to working with breastfeeding mothers and babies.
Thank you for that important commitment! I know you do a great job!