Enfamil, Thanks, but no Thanks

In a very generous marketing campaign, Enfamil sent me this...

Thanks Enfamil, but I didn't give you my mailing address, though I'm sure Target or Amazon has some deal with you to obtain the Baby Registry addresses, but more importantly what are you trying to say?

Having had big breasts since I was 13, (yes, there were many teasing conversations like "This is an A, B, conversation so C your way out of it...")  I am SO excited to have new purpose for them that is so magical and life giving!  So Enfamil, why are you trying to take that away from me and other women before we have even started?

It is so common to ask pregnant women "IF" they are going to breastfeed.  Of course I'm going to breast feed!  I'm making a baby and that's part of the deal.  I want all the goodness of this experience, the hormones, the bonding, the assist in weight loss, the immunity for me and the baby, the assist in eating, the cost effective nature of breast feeding, the full experience.

But Grace, Enfamil, if just being nice.  Why are you so put off by this way better than a coupon gift?

Because here's what I know, thanks to my and other mama's to be mentor, Midwife, Ina May Gaskin.

• Most of the baby's first 48 hours are going to be spent sleeping. 
• Small amounts of colostrum (which at 34 weeks is already leaking out a little on it's own) will satisfy your healthy full term baby's need for liquid, so there is no need for extra nourishment.  
• Sugar water, formula, ect. can actually interfere with the initiation of breastfeeding.  
• Even if the baby is born a little early (35-39 weeks) and may need supplementation, it should still be colostrum from breasts.
• The use of a bottle, in those early days, can interfere with sucking mechanics.
• Many babies aren't born hungry.
• Newborns always lose weight in the first three to four days of life.
• Nature prepares newborns for birth by filling their liver and other vital organs with enough nutrition in the form of glycogen to sustain the baby for two or three days.
• True hunger comes in on day three or four, just when the milk supply starts to come in too.

And because here's what I can also imagine happens to new moms and dads who are stressed out, tired, not to mention in awe and fear at the same time.  "The baby is not eating enough and sleeping too much!"  Quick make up a bottle!

Society has already placed the fear (even in my mind) that many new Moms just aren't "good" at breast feeding.  Shoot, my Mom didn't even get to attempt to breast feed me because of the doctor's ultimatum that her milk wouldn't be good since my sister had dropped weight.  But that was the early 80's, surely we've come further along and women know better. 

Maybe.  

But maybe we new moms are also incredibly vulnerable during this magical and yet extremely taxing time in our lives.  I'm choosing a midwifery birth center for lots of reasons, but certainly one of the reasons is, I will be further away from the pressure and temptation to have drugs, interventions, and be further away from the clock counting and dreaded "failure to progress" prognosis that has moved many a mom quickly into the operating room.  

A box of formula might not be so dramatic as that, but it also is.  

Here's why.

I'm stressed, I'm tired, and instead of calling up the lactation consultant, I say to my mother, "Go ahead and see if you can feed her.  There's a free bottle that Pea in the Pod dropped in my shopping bag and get that free box of Enfamil I was sent in the mail.  I'm tired, I'm going to sleep." OR  nobody wants to wake the new Mom so let's just make up that little bottle of newborn formula over in the corner and feed the baby to give her a break, after all, she did just go through labor.

It doesn't seem too dramatic and maybe sounds quite the opposite, but here's what's really happening in that situation.  

• The Baby is not bonding with me, from that essential skin to skin "laying in" period.  
• My body is not getting the nuzzling and nipple stimulation required to help bring in the full supply of milk- even the baby's cries help send signals to my brain to produce milk. 
• My body isn't being given the signal to help shrink my uterus back down and help heal itself, either.

 These are all PRETTY IMPORTANT objectives that don't just happen without the cause and effect that is supposed to happen when a mom gives birth.

I know certain medical conditions can interfere with breast feeding, work conditions can interfere with breast feeding, and lack of post natal support can greatly effect breast feeding, but I don't want the temptation from marketing campaigns to interfere with my journey into breast feeding my child.

So... Off to the Food Bank I go with this formula.  I really don't think it's something that needs to be in the house with a new Mom.  I live in suburban America.  In 10 minutes I can have my husband drive to the store and be back with 5 varieties of formula and 7 different kinds of bottles.  But you know what?  Even separating myself by that 10 minutes encourages me to be patient, keep trying, and call the midwife if I'm having trouble.  I want to be really good at this and naturally feel like I will be.  For a Tiny House future I know less is more and in this case, less interference, will mean more breastmilk for my baby.

If you're curious about studies, hormones, and breastfeeding limitations check out this article: Breastfeeding Limitations: Are some women incapable of breastfeeding? Are formula mothers neglectful?  Warning it is a particularly U.S. POV, but sites a lot of good further reading below.

If you're getting ready to breast feed here's my recommended bible: Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding.