Home » Partners & Parents » Attachment Parenting » Reflections of a New AP Mama

Reflections of a New AP Mama

© Donna Lauritzen

I love bubble baths, and have for as long as I can remember! Nothing feels as relaxing and indulgent as sitting in a tub filled with bubbles, lights dimmed, and soft music playing. It's so relaxing to me, as a matter of fact, I've been known to fall asleep in the tub! Since I gave birth to my son, I've had to reserve my bubble baths for only the most special occasions when I really need to indulge.

Those four sentences must sound like an odd start to an article that is supposed to be about Attachment Parenting! What do bubble baths have to do with empathic parenting? You'll soon get your answer!

Just a few days ago, I celebrated my first Mother's Day with my beautiful son in my arms. Last Mother's Day William was growing in my tummy, and I could feel him kicking throughout the day. Mother's Day, 2003 was a special time for me, even if many people didn't think I was really a mother yet. In my heart I knew I was, because I knew my sweet angel was growing under it! This year was different, though. My sweet son is 8 months old, and is an active baby boy. I've had 8 months to "practice" attachment parenting, and Mother's Day was a day to reflect on that. I'd like to say it was an easy 8 months, and, I guess, in a lot of ways it was. In other ways, though, it was a little difficult.

From the start of my "official motherhood," I've had some problems with some AP "techniques". At 38 weeks, because Will's heart rate was decelerating, my doctor suggested labor induction. This was NOT what I had planned! Wanting to be a good AP mama, I envisioned laboring at home naturally until it was crucial that I go to the hospital, and then delivering a healthy bouncing baby boy. Thankfully the last part came true. But, because my son's needs were different, I adjusted.

I also expected that I would breastfeed on demand, but my body had other ideas. I tried very hard to breastfeed, and kept waiting for that magical moment when my milk would finally come in. It never did, and although I pumped all day in between nursing sessions, I never had enough milk. I usually managed to get enough from pumping for one supplement a day; every other time, I had to supplement with formula. Again, my son's needs came before my need to breastfeed, so I adjusted.

The copyright of the article Reflections of a New AP Mama in Attachment Parenting is owned by . Permission to republish Reflections of a New AP Mama in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.