Sucks.

This week things that suck have been on my mind. No reason in particular.

A few weeks ago after telling our Doctor, Dr. B (who in the words of the non-religious but fairly spiritual Nana-to-Z post birth, "that man walks on water") that Baby Z was nursing for hours at a time (apparently called non-nutrative nursing). Babies hang out on boobs for fun and comfort apparently (kind of like teenage boys? too far?). And that's what Baby Z was up to, chilling with a boob in her mouth, wrapped up in a blanket and resting on a pillow. Kind of makes sense when cast your mind to it.

I digress. Dr. B ("that man walks on water" I hear it in my head whenever I say 'Dr. B') said, "but she's not actively nursing all that time is she?". I cocked an eyebrow and asked, "well, sometimes her mouth moves differently, flutters rather than gulping". A-doih. Dr. B ("that man walks on water") in addition to having miraculous skills also is quite patient with overtired NM's. He said, "you could use a pacifier". Praise heavens. Numerous blogs and health nurses had said we couldn't introduce a pacifier because before the magic 6-week mark it could interfere the GOLDEN LATCH and screw up my boob relationship with Baby Z.

It was a huge boost because it seems the advice/action tree goes like this as far as I can reckon:

Dr.B

|

My Own Mother

/ \

Health Nurses Moms-I-Know-and-Like

/ \

Mayo Clinic Baby Center KellyMom

/ | \

Parenting Mags Moms-I-Don't-Like Bartenders

/ \

W ikipedia Mother-in-law

|

People-who-don't-have-kids

(no offence intending as I was a long time DINK*DoubleIncomeNoKids)

Permission granted despite pacifier related fears of : ear infections (true), speech impediments (possible), GOLDEN LATCH-ing problems (not a problem) and last but not least the fear of being accused of lazy parenting (one day pacifier, next day orange pop in a formula bottle). As the one thing that trumps all, "our Doctor said we should".

Anyways, the pacifier we use (and love love love) is orthodontic shaped, all nice friendly non-cancerous rubber, hypoallergenic, non-face marking and impossible to hurt your mouth when you bang your face against your Mom's clavicle as you learn to hold your eggshell melon up.

I highly recommend....

The Natursutten Orthodontic Pacifier. Available at all well-meaning but somewhat hoighty-toighty baby stores around. You know the ones I mean.