Comp Feeding for those not in the know, is where a baby is dually fed both breast and bottle. Bottle fed can be either formula or expressed breast milk.
I was delighted to read an article in the latest edition of Practical Parenting, called 'The best of both worlds', a commonsense approach to comp feeding. I did scratch my head as to why such an important article that could help soothe an anxiety filled situation for most new mothers, would be right at the back of the magazine.
Maybe we haven't quite broken the taboo of Comp Feeding as of yet.
Medically proven that breast milk is best, there is no argument about the importance of mother natures own liquid gold. The longer the breast milk is offered the better, but some breast milk is better than none at all.
The first few days after a baby's birth, is the most vital in getting the important antibodies. Colostrum, the 'first milk' (immediately available after birth and the first 3 days) is incredibly high and rich in immunity, these antibodies that will help protect our newborn babies from the nasties out there. We are talking about germs.
When the 'milk comes in' around 3-4 days after birth, this milk provides the nourishment that a baby needs to survive.
Most women are under the impression that the first 12 months is the maximum sentence handed down for breastfeeding, actually 18 months to 2 years is the optimus prime when it comes to feeding the liquid gold.
In an ideal world, the goal would be to strive for weaning that is baby led; where the baby denotes when they no longer want Mummy's Milk, which typically for most babes is around 18 months of age and only having 1 to 2 feeds a day.
In an ideal world there would be no obstacles, such as life, that would get in the way of that goal.
Life has a funny way of getting in the way of ideals.
A mum who is having a less than perfect time at breastfeeding, might give up all together, or a mum that needs to go back to work sooner than wanted might not give it a chance at all. A tired, frazzled, concerned mum on the verge of 'losing it' will feel the need to self correct the situation by ending breastfeeding with a horrible sense of failure and guilt thrown in for good self punishing measure.
What if all 3 situations could be eased and rectified by introducing 'Comp Feeding'. There would be a high chance that the baby would achieve being fed breast milk to the World Health Organisations & pediatricians recommendation of 18mths to 2yrs of age.
There is also the fact that mums might be offloaded the burden of guilt, which is always a good thing. A guilt free mum is a happy confident mum.
As society readily accepts working mothers and mums in jeans in our midst, we should also readily accept and encourage comp feeding as opposed to non existent breastfeeding.
There are many reasons why total breastfeeding isn't successful or tangible, almost as varied as how long a piece of string is. Each situation is unique and should never be judged harshly in comparison to other scenarios. In a lot of cases, Comp Feeding could have been successfully implemented, taking away the emotional trauma, trauma that for some mothers have spent years dealing with.
Comp feeding has benefits for families as well as mum, even if it is just a simple break time for mum. Fathers, often overlooked in the new baby care routine other than nappy changing and general house maintenance duties can emotional benefit greatly when feeding their baby the bottle. Fathers that actively engage from birth in bottle feeding and carrying their baby around in a hammock style sling will bond closer to their child earlier and make a far more confident parent in their own right. Dad will parent effectively, dad style.
Grandparents, siblings, aunts & uncles, cousins or friends or who ever makes up the greater family circle will also benefit greatly with the bonding of feeding.
Most mother's will substitute the most difficult feed of the day for the bottle, which statistically speaking is the 'devils hour' feed, anywhere from 3pm to 7pm. Mum is by this time of the day very tired, maybe dehydrated (a significant problem with milk flow), older children to cart around to after school activities, dinner to be prepared etc. Handing the baby over to either someone else to bottle feed if the baby is fretful or have some one else do all the chores, but return to breastfeeding for the feeds that are enjoyed, can eliminate so much stress and pressure rather than throwing it all away because its just too hard.
One of our graphic designers Luca, has successfully comp fed her 13mth old baby since she was 3 months old. I remember Luca fretting about her struggling with breastfeeding and the rigours of a busy family and work life, when I suggested that she should try comp feeding, rather than giving up breastfeeding all together. Luca replied "Can I do that?"
Luca has continued to enjoy what she calls 'our special morning/ evening time' with her bub.
I am certainly all for 'outing' closet comp feeders. I too, practised comp feeding for 5 of my children. If I had the guts to comp feed my first child, he too would have been breastfed till he weaned himself at around 18mths like his younger brothers & sisters did, except for Little Miss Mischief who was 3 and a half, when I decided I should start to encourage booby disengagement . Unfortunately for Ry, my beautiful chocolate eyed first born son, after months of battling the loosing battle, and feeling lower to the ground than an ants knee, I gave up.
I give up, I give in, I let go, lets begin (from the immortal words of songbird Colbie Callait) I gave him the bottle and packed away my boobs, wrapped tightly in wilting cabbage leaves. I felt so guilty that I couldn't do such a simple natural process such as feeding my son. I had lost my mothers right of passage.
After #2 was born, which I triumphed breast feeding quite easily, I was angered by the fact that the guilt was so incredibly needless. I felt guilty about feeling guilty when I didn't really need to feel guilty in the first place.
After #2 was born, which I triumphed breast feeding quite easily, I was angered by the fact that the guilt was so incredibly needless. I felt guilty about feeling guilty when I didn't really need to feel guilty in the first place.
There are a lot of reasons why some women cant breastfeed at all, and those, who have successfully breast fed, should never lay blame or instill guilt, because woman who couldn't breastfeed have done enough of that already, OK.
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