y, he believes "It comes naturally a little later for some mothers and babies than others"(58). Sometimes there are physical factors that hamper those first few attempts; at other times it's just a simple lack of experience of both participants. Whatever might be keeping the baby and the breasts apart, it won't be long before they are in perfect sync, as long as the mother doesn't give up first. Some of the most mutually satisfying breast-baby relationships begin with several days of fumbling, failed efforts, and tears on both sides.As a first time mother I can relate to challenges of learning to breast-feed. I have a healthy, smart, well adjusted (not to mention beautiful) baby girl. I contribute a large part of those qualities to breast-feeding. I was a breast baby myself, and upon learning that I was pregnant, I had very little hesitation in deciding if I would follow in my mother's footsteps. I did extensive research on the pros and cons of breast-feeding and came up with very few cons. I feel that breast feeding my daughter was the first and most important gift I could give her, aside from love. The satisfaction that I received from nursing her far outweighs any inconveniences that I might have incurred. The comfort of knowing that she was getting the best, most nutritious food possible is an indescribable one, and the closeness that we share because of it is priceless. Although I was only able to nurse her for five months, I would not trade the experience or the benefits for anything. I hope to be able to nurse my next child for a year. Obstetricians, pediatricians, nurse-midwives, even manufacturers of infant formula agree that breast-feeding is best. No matter how far technology advances, there will always be some things that Mother Nature does best. As Oliver Wendell Holmes the Elder said over a century ago, "A pair of substantial mammary glands has the advantage over the two hemispheres of the most learne...
