Savvy Vegetarian Blog

news and opinion on vegetarian diet and nutrition, vegetarian lifestyle, green living, and environment

Got Something To Say? Tell Savvy Veg!

Thu, 09 Mar 2006

Robin Weiss, Pregnancy, Childbirth, Breastfeeding Expert and Amazing Human Being. Vegetarian Too!

Robin Weiss, pregnancy & childbirth editor at about.com had the last word in our breastfeeding conversation, posted on 3.7.06, following my breastfeeding rant posted just below that

Robin: One small thing, I am sorry I didn't stress enough how I feel about breastfeeding. The baby should IMMEDIATELY come to mom. Unfortunately, this is not the common practice in many hospital settings, even when there are no complications. So I usually try to point out that even AAP says moms and babies belong together.

It reminds me of what my mom said about not touching baby animals or their mothers wouldn't smell them "right.

Judy: I guess when childbirth is a medical event, the emotional connection, the bonding between mother and baby tends to be overshadowed. That moment immediately following the birth, when baby latches on and baby and Mom gaze at each other - oh! hello! it's you! - I think is possibly the most significant event in both of their lives. It's the one thing I clearly remember about each of my children's births.

I'm delighted to have met and talked with you, Robin. I just visited your home page on about.com, and looked around. And read about you. Pretty impressive. Seven children - my goodness, AND all those initials after your name, and books, too!

Please keep me posted about anything at all.

Robin: Thanks, Judy. I couldn't agree more about the problems with the medical model in these terms. I had really great births at home with my last 6, including a set of twins! But as my doula work takes me to the hospital I see this removal a lot. Though I did have a mom skin-to-skin during her caesarean surgery 2 weeks ago. I didn't even ask, I just snuggled baby next to her.

Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE
About Pregnancy/Birth
About.com is part of The New York Times Company

Note from Judy: I'm glad I didn't go read about Robin Weiss before I got up on my soapbox and ranted, because I was struck speechless, an event that occurs in nature only once in a thousand years. If you want to know about anything to do with pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding - she's your woman! And I thought I should mention, Robin is a newish vegetarian and her husband is vegan. Go read all about Robin - an amazing human being!