Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Getting Started.
Your sweet and precious babe is in your arms. The thrill of this miracle is enough to dim the memory of the preceding hours.
"It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor.
When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.:
John 16:21 NLT
You are so thankful for this little blessing and reward. Your life as a mother is about to blossom with the reality of this little one you have carried within you for so many months, and now you finally get to meet them and hold them and see who they are. Your whole family rejoices with you and are filled with all the anticipation of what lies ahead.
Even after my first emergency caesarian birth, nothing could have robbed me of that first unforgettable moment when I gazed on my son's face a couple of hours after his birth. I could hardly believe he was really mine! He didn't look like the little one in my imagination at all! He had dark hair and dark skin and I always imagined my baby would be fair skinned and fair haired. Funny what we dream up over the long months of pregnancy, and in my case, the years before that when I wanted a baby so much but had to wait on God's perfect timing. Babies don't always come when they are planned for and hungered after, sometimes we have to wait.
Anyway, I gazed at that unfamiliar and yet familiar little face and just reveled in the miracle that was my newborn son. Any doubt, that he was in fact mine, evaporated as he latched hungrily to my welcoming breast.
A new journey began, unknown territory with this little one, one who had never had a book written about him or his unique ways and needs, one I had to get to know and discover and develop my maternal instincts to love and nurture as the Lord Himself intended. Such an exciting, challenging, scary, wonderful adventure.
The Lord's plan always includes breastfeeding. Of course there are cases where it is not possible for whatever reason, and over the last thirty years I have come across one woman who could not physically breastfeed or express milk either because of a medical/skin condition called neurofibromatosis which deformed her nipples, and another whose baby had a severe cleft lip and palate and the baby could not attach to the breast at all. There are other women who have only been able to partially breastfeed due to breast reductions or hormonal issues which affect their milk supply. These are also rare.
I have met far too many mothers who have had their breastfeeding relationship with their baby, or several babies, spoiled, interrupted and often terminated prematurely. This has usually been caused by one of several ways; bad advice disguised as being somehow "Biblical" by alleged Christian "experts"; a combination of old wives tales and negative personal experiences of family or friends; or advice that is deemed as "medically necessary' by well meaning health professionals, often compounded by blatant misinformation and lack of appropriate support.
God's perfect plan is for us all to be in fellowship with one another, as described so beautifully here;
"Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God.
They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers.
Instead, they should teach others what is good.
These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands.
Then they will not bring shame on the word of God." Titus 2:3-5 NLT
Young women need to have Godly "older women" (women who have successfully raised Godly adult children) to teach them these things. Sadly, there is a dearth of these women. Instead we hear worldly advice and humanist opinions that you would never guess come from Christians. Or we hear or read extreme unbiblical teaching held up as Godly and unquestionable.
That's why I am writing here, in an effort to offer support, facts and Godly counsel in the midst of the false teaching within the church and in the wider community, to anyone who is interested.
It grieves me, and I know it grieves the Lord, when babies, (His blessings and rewards), are treated as burdens to be controlled, manipulated and often neglected into some kind of allegedly "ideal routine" to suit some self professed "expert" that has never even seen your baby, never mind been given any Christ like compassion towards him or her.
Being a mother is a life of service, a time to grow up in Christ, a time to lay aside selfishness and false expectations and begin to grow into the woman of God you were designed to be. If you don't agree with me, you are on the wrong blog and I wish you God's blessing as you dust off your feet and move on.
For those of you still with me, I look forward to your questions and comments, your fellowship and your friendship, to the glory of God.
"It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor.
When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.:
John 16:21 NLT
You are so thankful for this little blessing and reward. Your life as a mother is about to blossom with the reality of this little one you have carried within you for so many months, and now you finally get to meet them and hold them and see who they are. Your whole family rejoices with you and are filled with all the anticipation of what lies ahead.
Even after my first emergency caesarian birth, nothing could have robbed me of that first unforgettable moment when I gazed on my son's face a couple of hours after his birth. I could hardly believe he was really mine! He didn't look like the little one in my imagination at all! He had dark hair and dark skin and I always imagined my baby would be fair skinned and fair haired. Funny what we dream up over the long months of pregnancy, and in my case, the years before that when I wanted a baby so much but had to wait on God's perfect timing. Babies don't always come when they are planned for and hungered after, sometimes we have to wait.
Anyway, I gazed at that unfamiliar and yet familiar little face and just reveled in the miracle that was my newborn son. Any doubt, that he was in fact mine, evaporated as he latched hungrily to my welcoming breast.
A new journey began, unknown territory with this little one, one who had never had a book written about him or his unique ways and needs, one I had to get to know and discover and develop my maternal instincts to love and nurture as the Lord Himself intended. Such an exciting, challenging, scary, wonderful adventure.
The Lord's plan always includes breastfeeding. Of course there are cases where it is not possible for whatever reason, and over the last thirty years I have come across one woman who could not physically breastfeed or express milk either because of a medical/skin condition called neurofibromatosis which deformed her nipples, and another whose baby had a severe cleft lip and palate and the baby could not attach to the breast at all. There are other women who have only been able to partially breastfeed due to breast reductions or hormonal issues which affect their milk supply. These are also rare.
I have met far too many mothers who have had their breastfeeding relationship with their baby, or several babies, spoiled, interrupted and often terminated prematurely. This has usually been caused by one of several ways; bad advice disguised as being somehow "Biblical" by alleged Christian "experts"; a combination of old wives tales and negative personal experiences of family or friends; or advice that is deemed as "medically necessary' by well meaning health professionals, often compounded by blatant misinformation and lack of appropriate support.
God's perfect plan is for us all to be in fellowship with one another, as described so beautifully here;
"Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God.
They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers.
Instead, they should teach others what is good.
These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands.
Then they will not bring shame on the word of God." Titus 2:3-5 NLT
Young women need to have Godly "older women" (women who have successfully raised Godly adult children) to teach them these things. Sadly, there is a dearth of these women. Instead we hear worldly advice and humanist opinions that you would never guess come from Christians. Or we hear or read extreme unbiblical teaching held up as Godly and unquestionable.
That's why I am writing here, in an effort to offer support, facts and Godly counsel in the midst of the false teaching within the church and in the wider community, to anyone who is interested.
It grieves me, and I know it grieves the Lord, when babies, (His blessings and rewards), are treated as burdens to be controlled, manipulated and often neglected into some kind of allegedly "ideal routine" to suit some self professed "expert" that has never even seen your baby, never mind been given any Christ like compassion towards him or her.
Being a mother is a life of service, a time to grow up in Christ, a time to lay aside selfishness and false expectations and begin to grow into the woman of God you were designed to be. If you don't agree with me, you are on the wrong blog and I wish you God's blessing as you dust off your feet and move on.
For those of you still with me, I look forward to your questions and comments, your fellowship and your friendship, to the glory of God.
Breast "Preparation"? (this will be brief)
Don't be misled by all the worldly hype about "breast preparation"! Research has proven none of it is of any value!
The Lord, in all His wisdom, will make all the necessary "preparations" necessary for birth and breastfeeding. You don't need to do anything. You can trust Him!
The Lord, in all His wisdom, will make all the necessary "preparations" necessary for birth and breastfeeding. You don't need to do anything. You can trust Him!
Before the Beginning.
Way before your baby was conceived God had a plan for his or her life, as He did for each one of us. Your baby wasn't any "mistake" or as a result or any of your planning or determination to have a child - God planned your baby and allowed conception to occur.
You can also be just as confident that you are God's chosen parent for your baby, and that together with your husband or partner, if you have one, you will be the best people to lovingly nurture and train your child up to lead a Godly adult life.
The Lord gave me this message:
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed." Psalm 139:13-16 NLT
You can also be just as confident that you are God's chosen parent for your baby, and that together with your husband or partner, if you have one, you will be the best people to lovingly nurture and train your child up to lead a Godly adult life.
The Lord gave me this message:
" I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.
Before you were born I set you apart.." Jeremiah 1: 4 and 5 NLT
Before you were born I set you apart.." Jeremiah 1: 4 and 5 NLT
and
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed." Psalm 139:13-16 NLT
Monday, November 14, 2011
Where Have I Come From?
Almost three decades ago I was a breastfeeding counsellor for a national organisation here in Australia. Apart from telephone counselling and running group discussions, I would also speak at "Basics of Breastfeeding" classes, usually for first time parents, at the local hospital. In those classes I would discuss the common concerns of most mums to be. I tried to impart confidence and factual information to prepare them for whatever challenges may lie ahead with their newborn babe. In my own way I was doing the best I could with what I had; a group of people I'd never met before, some basic physiology and lots of vain humanist philosophies and feminist ideas. I didn't know much better myself back then!
What a blessing it was to discover that God has much better ideas for teaching us His ways concerning mothering and breastfeeding! The Bible actually gives us all the information and encouragement we need and I no longer associate myself with the organisation with which I trained, as they have always considered it "unethical" for their counsellors to discuss their own spiritual beliefs. I must say, however, that I am sure in the area of emotional and physical support to women and families, they would put many churches to shame!
14 Yet Jerusalem says,
“The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.”
15 “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?
Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
I would not forget you!
16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
Isaiah 49:14-16
What a blessing it was to discover that God has much better ideas for teaching us His ways concerning mothering and breastfeeding! The Bible actually gives us all the information and encouragement we need and I no longer associate myself with the organisation with which I trained, as they have always considered it "unethical" for their counsellors to discuss their own spiritual beliefs. I must say, however, that I am sure in the area of emotional and physical support to women and families, they would put many churches to shame!
14 Yet Jerusalem says,
“The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.”
15 “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?
Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
I would not forget you!
16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
Isaiah 49:14-16
Sunday, November 13, 2011
An Introduction
Fifteen years ago I wrote a little booklet with a similar title to this blog, "The Basics of Biblical Breastfeeding". It was published in a magazine for Christian women called "Welcome Home Australia".
Recently I have been reading so much about the Bible being used in a negative way in regard to the feeding, care and nurture of tiny babies. There are a couple of books around that I find alarming, and even Facebook pages devoted to this misguided and destructive style of parenting.How self proclaimed Christian people in "ministry" can teach such things is impossible for me to imagine, but I must assume they do not know the same loving merciful Lord I do!
Then there are the baby whisperers and nannies, all apparently "experts" with many fans. Most of these people aren't saying they are Christian, and that's just as well!
It's all quite confusing for new parents, who do you listen to, how do they know what is best for YOUR baby, who to believe and why believe them? All good questions from intelligent people.
I guess my great concern is for Christian parents and this is whom I will address in this blog although all are welcome to join me.
I will publish my booklet here, in parts, and create a forum for comments and further discussion in more blog posts.
I look forward to sharing with you, hearing your thoughts and comments and also hearing about your own experiences and in all things, above all, giving the glory to God. All scriptures I use are from the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible available online at http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/
and here is the first one to launch this new blog, from Isaiah 66
11 Drink deeply of her glory
even as an infant drinks at its mother’s comforting breasts.”
12 This is what the Lord says:
“I will give Jerusalem a river of peace and prosperity.
The wealth of the nations will flow to her.
Her children will be nursed at her breasts,
carried in her arms, and held on her lap.
13 I will comfort you there in Jerusalem
as a mother comforts her child.”
I can only assume from scriptures like this, that breastfeeding is a blessing and that babies are to be fed, held and comforted.
Looking forward to sharing this new journey with you
love
Lynn xx
Recently I have been reading so much about the Bible being used in a negative way in regard to the feeding, care and nurture of tiny babies. There are a couple of books around that I find alarming, and even Facebook pages devoted to this misguided and destructive style of parenting.How self proclaimed Christian people in "ministry" can teach such things is impossible for me to imagine, but I must assume they do not know the same loving merciful Lord I do!
Then there are the baby whisperers and nannies, all apparently "experts" with many fans. Most of these people aren't saying they are Christian, and that's just as well!
It's all quite confusing for new parents, who do you listen to, how do they know what is best for YOUR baby, who to believe and why believe them? All good questions from intelligent people.
I guess my great concern is for Christian parents and this is whom I will address in this blog although all are welcome to join me.
I will publish my booklet here, in parts, and create a forum for comments and further discussion in more blog posts.
I look forward to sharing with you, hearing your thoughts and comments and also hearing about your own experiences and in all things, above all, giving the glory to God. All scriptures I use are from the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible available online at http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/
and here is the first one to launch this new blog, from Isaiah 66
11 Drink deeply of her glory
even as an infant drinks at its mother’s comforting breasts.”
12 This is what the Lord says:
“I will give Jerusalem a river of peace and prosperity.
The wealth of the nations will flow to her.
Her children will be nursed at her breasts,
carried in her arms, and held on her lap.
13 I will comfort you there in Jerusalem
as a mother comforts her child.”
I can only assume from scriptures like this, that breastfeeding is a blessing and that babies are to be fed, held and comforted.
Looking forward to sharing this new journey with you
love
Lynn xx
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