Sometimes Nature Needs a Little Nudge.
Chamberlin Childbirth in THE UNION, feature article by Liz
Keller
“It's supposed to be natural, so when it doesn't go well,
you feel like a failure,” said lactation educator Laurie
Chamberlin. “For nine months, you focus on childbirth,
which is one day in your life. We barely focus on
breastfeeding, which is a year” or even two.
Chamberlin, who also is a certified childbirth educator and
certified doula, has been teaching prenatal breastfeeding
classes since 2004. She offers phone consultations and
office visits, as well as free classes once a month, in
conjunction with Future Generations, a children's store in
Grass Valley.
John and Kristy Hannan, whose baby is due Oct. 6, attended
Chamberlin's breastfeeding class as well as her childbirth
preparation class.
“I wanted to learn as much as I could so I could be any
help I could,” said Josh Hannan. “She communicates so well,
not just with the women but the men, too. We learned a lot
of techniques.”
Rob and Robin Rush, another pair of first-time
parents-to-be, will be as ready as they can be for their
baby, due Thursday. They've taken both the aforementioned
classes and are taking a newborn care class tonight.
“I really want my husband to feel as prepared as possible,”
Robin Rush said. “I think I have an idea, but I haven't
really been around babies that much. The classes have been
incredible, it's taught us a lot.”
At first, Rush said, she didn't think her husband needed to
be involved in the breastfeeding class.
“But then I thought I wanted him to know how to help me and
how important the breast milk is,” she said.
Rush said Chamberlin's use of fun props during the class
will help her remember what to do when the time comes.
“She has a fake boob and a monkey, like a puppet,” Rush
said. “She got all of us involved.”
Rush called the class an “eye-opening experience,” adding,
“I'm glad we're prepared in case we do come across a
problem. And if it isn't getting solved, I can just pick up
the phone and call Laurie and she'll be down to help us.”
Chamberlin, who has a degree in communications, was working
in graphic design when she decided on a radical career
shift.
She had “such a great breastfeeding experience” with her
first child that she wanted to share that with the
community, she explained.
But her second child was a different matter.
“I had every breastfeeding problem that exists,” she said.
“Those days were so dark. ... I weaned him at 2 1/2 months.
I threw in the towel. ... If I had it to do it over again,
I would have hired someone to come in every other day, to
keep me on track.”
But in the end, Chamberlin's failure turned her into a
better teacher.
“I tell people, I've done both, I've done bottle-feeding
and breastfeeding, I've had a wonderful experience and a
challenging experience,” she explained. “It actually
deepened my work.”
One reason young mothers don't have that knowledge of how
to breastfeed is that almost two generations of women
skipped breastfeeding, Chamberlin said.
“There's so much to know and you're supposed to be an
expert right away,” she said. “I tell people the first six
weeks is practice.”
Chamberlin encourages pregnant women to take her prenatal
class, so they have a smooth transition once the baby is
born and learn the best way to breastfeed right off the
bat.
“I love this work, it's so darn rewarding,” she said. “If I
can show them how to latch the baby on and there's no pain,
they can enjoy the experience instead of wanting to escape
it.”
To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail
lkellar@theunion.com or
call 477-4229.
"I highly recommend these classes. My patients thoroughly enjoy them and are much better prepared for labor, birth and babies."–Brian S. Retherford, MD FACOG
"I am so glad I took these classes. They changed my perspective on everything and made me more confident in myself and the labor and birth of my baby!"– Amanda