Nancy O'Dell Was Never Taught the Basics of Breastfeeding

Richie Buxo/Splash News Online

Fear of the unknown — a common thread among expectant mamas — became a phrase that Nancy O’Dell learned all too well during her pregnancy! “There’s so much that happens that isn’t life-threatening but scares you!” she says in a new interview with American Baby. As a result, the Access Hollywood co-host has penned her first book Full of Life: Mom-to-Mom Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Pregnant, all in an effort to “demystify” the pregnancy process. Her inspiration? Fellow moms!

“I sent an e-mail to Halle Berry listing all the things I wished I’d known when I was pregnant.”

Once she delivered daughter Ashby Grace, turning 2 next month, the lack of information only seemed to continue. Struggling with the basics of breastfeeding, the frustrated mama quickly realized she had never been taught how to properly nurse. “I couldn’t figure out how to unlatch my baby!” she recalls. “Thank goodness someone showed me how to move the baby to the breast, not the breast to the baby.”

Fortunately, things improved after a few weeks of practice, as Nancy encourages women to stick it out. “It would’ve been helpful to know that nursing can feel so much better after three weeks,” she says.

Despite her difficulties, the 43-year-old proud mama relishes her role.

“Motherhood is in vogue right now, but it’s also simply the best thing ever!”

Ashby is Nancy’s first child with husband Keith Zubchevich.

Source: American Baby; May issue

– Anya

Comments

Sarah on May 18th, 2009

I can relate to Nancy. In the hospital I had such a hard time with my newborn latching onto me; I cried (really sobbed) because I felt like a failure. Plus my son was having some issues that sent him to be evaulated (and away from me) so I was torn up about that. I kept trying and trying and finally the nurse sent a lactation consultant down to my room. I felt good that at least one time during the 2 days we were there that he nursed the colostrom. For the first few weeks, I was still having some problems, but I kept at it. After a few months, I felt much more confident. I just kept that as my goal–keep on nursing. I didn’t supplement with formula, only because I wanted him to get ALL of the benefits. When my daughter was born almost 3 years later, I felt like a nursing pro. Basically, my advice is…to read as much as you can about nursing, contact La Leche League or a lactation consultant before giving birth so you feel more at ease.

Amy on May 18th, 2009

I often give the same advide to many of my friends are expecting and want to nurse. The first 3 weeks is the worse and then it gets so much better so if you really want to do it, don’t give up before the 3 week mark!

Ellen Smith on May 18th, 2009

I’m a bit wary of her comment about motherhood being in vogue. I know what she means, but it makes me wonder what her own motivation was behind having a child.

Alicia on May 18th, 2009

In vogue? Sickening. It’s plain wrong to have a child when it’s the popular thing to do but in this society of “if it feels good, do it” I’m not surprised.

ecl on May 18th, 2009

I agree that there should be support for women who are having trouble breastfeeding, but I also think women should be aware that most women don’t have any difficulty. Before I gave birth all the advice and reading on the subject made me think that it would be a challenge and something I would have to figure out. As it turned out, it couldn’t have been more simple and I wasted a lot of energy worrying.

giftbox on May 18th, 2009

I’m gonna go out on a limb and say her “in vogue” comment was just a tongue-in-cheek way of acknowledging the fact that lots of celebrities are having babies at the moment. Nothing more than that.

Guaili on May 18th, 2009

i totally understand the sobbing! when i first tried to breastfeed, my son wouldn’t latch and he’s screaming cuz he’s hungry and i’m hysterical cuz i can’t feed my baby! i was so convinced i couldn’t do it but i was uber lucky to have my extremely persistent mother-in-law not only showing me how, but literally constricting me and the baby together so he had no choice to latch and stay. in between feedings she made me pump so i had a stash in the fridge and i’d promote collostrum to turn into mature milk, which comes out faster and makes nursing a heck of a lot easier! i found that once we got past the collostrum stage (a few days) things got a lot easier. its seriously emotional but you gotta fight through it and not give up!

Christie on May 18th, 2009

I feel her frustration with the breastfeeding in the first few weeks. With my daughter, now 4 1/2, I only last a couple of weeks with the breastfeeding and then switched to formula. Looking back I now know I let a lot of post-partum emotions and a definite “I am a woman I should know how to do this easily” attitude get in my way. I also did NOT like the lactation consulatant at the hospital and did not want to see her again. My daughter did just fine on formula – never sick once in her whole first year and still very healthy. But now that I am expecting baby #2 (a boy), I plan to try again at the breastfeeding. I know several people who have breastfed and all have given me great advice – like someone else said, it seems to be the first 3-4 weeks that are the toughest and once you are through those it will be fine. I am trying to be more informed and armed with more info this time around and I am happy knowing there is a new lactation consultant at the hospital that I have heard great things about.

daniela on May 18th, 2009

This is totally off topic but I couldn’t hold back…But dang! Nancy doesn’t look a day over 30!!! I wanna look like that when I’m in my 40s!!!

Bottle fed on May 19th, 2009

Of course you new moms felt like a failure – the constant mommy wars are all about making other mommies who don’t do (or can’t do) things the same way you do, feel bad! I am 25 and my mother never breastfed me. Of course if it was today, a huge group of self righteous mommies would criticize her and tell her she is a failure. I also keep reading how kids who are breastfed have i.e high IQs, better behaved etc. I don’t doubt that “breast is best”, but lets not put down mothers who do not breastfeed to get your message across. Look at it this way – I was raised by single mother, not breastfed, ate moderate junkfood and was allowed to ride my bike and venture outside without mommy worrying about me being kidnapped, and I am now a healthy weight University graduate with a degree in law. Ironically many of my friends were raised oppositely and things did not turn out so well for them. The point is, none of you mothers should be beating yourself up for doing things differently or unconventionally, because despite the self righteous bunch, your child might grow up to be a wonderful human, even if they were not *horrors of horrors* breastfed. You do what is best for your child and if any other mother (either on the street or on this site) has a problem with it, tell her to take a hike.

Gina Ciagne, CLC on May 19th, 2009

As a former pumping and breastfeeding momma, I am also a certified lactation counselor and in my experience, while breastfeeding is natural, it does not always come naturally. Every baby is different and every mom’s body is different so there is no sure-fire way to know how it will all work together. Given the history of breastfeeding in the US, it is common for women to have no breastfeeding mentors–if their friends, relatives, or moms did not breastfeed, it can be difficult to know what is normal and natural and how to do it. There are a lot of great resources and breastfeeding educators/professionals who can help with breastfeeding and getting those resources in your corner before there is a problem can be super helpful. Give yourself a break and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You are not supposed to know everything right away and asking for help especially before the situation gets dire can be so important. Breastfeeding resources includes other breastfeeding and pumping moms. When I was facing challenges, it was so helpful to hear that I was not alone in what I was doing and they offered tips to help me in my experience. Unfortunately, the myths that are perpetuated about breastfeeding make moms feel as though they can’t succeed with breastfeeding. Technical skills are obviously helpful but the confidence and commitment to do it are a huge reason I kept going during the tough times. That and not overthinking something that is what nature intended.

Gina Ciagne, CLC
Director, Breastfeeding and Consumer Relations
Lansinoh Laboratories
http://www.bymomsformoms.net

Rachel on May 20th, 2009

Our hospital offered a breastfeeding class in addition to the usual prenatal classes. I thought it was a bit strange to be going to a class before the baby was born, but am SO GLAD I did. I think it really gave me confidence and helped me (and my husband) prepare for successful breastfeeding. I think it helps a lot to know beforehand how to get the baby to latch on and off successfully, and that you need to nurse frequently at first to establish a good supply and because babies’ stomachs are so tiny and they metabolize breastmilk so fast. They gave us a good book too “So that’s what they’re for”.. very easy to read and understand.

zara on May 24th, 2009

i’m with you bottle-fed.

seriously, boob or bottle, WHO CARES?? pacifier until they are 4, GO FOR IT! bangs in the eyes and no cardigan, BRING IT ON??

bad mommies unite.