breastfeeding delema

I start college again on Tuesday, and all was good and ready for me to go back. My school had promised me that all my classes would be webclass.

(a qucik explaination of webclass~One teacher instructs from somewhere in the province while there are students from all over the rest of the province logged into the same program and can hear the teacher talk, see what they're writing, etc....the same as being in a classroom, only you can't see your teacher. And the classes are all recorded so you can log back on and listen to them at any time)

Well, up to this point I have worked my ass off to complete most of my courses in the last year and during summer school, and have done really frickin well (not to gloat, just the people at this school try to do nothing but make me fail and it pisses me off). I only have three courses left to do now.

But, yesterday i find out that one of my classes has enough students locally that it won't be on webclass now, even though there are tons of classes that have lots of students and are still done webclass...I have taken 4 of them already! This now means that I would have to actually go to school for the class.

The plan was for me to go to school until the baby comes, and then I was supposed to be doing webclass from home until I could go back in Febuary, when Cody would take over and stay home with him and be able to give him pumped milk. This way, by staying home after he's born but stll attending class, I still qualify for my Student's Finance (ie. my pay check) (they keep regular track of your attendance, and by attending webclass from home, I can still participate in the class).

Well, the problem now is that I would have to go into the school for at least that one class, which is 80 minutes long. My other two classes I'm taking are webclass, so there's not a problem there. However, I am determined as hell to breastfeed this baby. Anyone who was around when I first had Leane knows the hell I have had to face with figuring out why it just didn't work with Leane, and everything that I had done wrong. This time I am not letting anything get in the way.

cody suggested a bottle, but I explained that I want to wait at LEAST 6 weeks to even put a bottle of pumped milk close to his face. I don't want to do anything to screw this up! No artificial nipples! Well, the head instructor of the school believes that I should be back at school within the week of the baby being born.

What really pisses me off is that there IS another class running that IS webclass for the same course...but the senior instructor at the college will not let me take that one because then he is somehow loosing a student, and to him, student numbers are more important that the student suceeding. (This guy really needs to get fired).

I can't just leave babes home with cody for 2 hours with no food. I told cody he could possibly use a syringe (sp?) instead. But I wanted to ask the other mama's on here if anyone knows of any other methods that Cody would be able to feed him while I'm gone for the first few months so that it won't screw up the breastfeeding.

 

I know you've probably done this, but how high up have you gone above the instructor's head? I would go to the president of the school if I had to (and actually have at my school ) because expecting you to go back to an in class sitting so soon after having your baby is ABSOLUTELY ridiculous. Go as high up as you can and advocate like hell for yourself. Even if you have to plant yourself in someone's office until they listen to you, do it. Can you talk to the registrar rather than the instructor? I'm sure you've already raised hell but you need to keep pushing.

In my case, I live on campus and have several dietary issues (celiac disease so no gluten, dairy allergy, no meat but fish, and low glycemic diet because of weight loss and genetic diabetes predisposition) and was essentially told by the school nutritionist that all I could eat was dry salads because nothing else would fit my diet and that I also could not get off my 2K a semester meal plan. There was no one over her head in the health department so I planted myself in the president's office and threatened to tell the school newspaper and local papers that a student's dietary needs were not being met (the nutritionist said I should "just drink milk" because it "only" gives me rashes). Now my meals are cooked in the back so they aren't cross contaminated. To me, that's a much less serious issue than a baby getting fed!! People will find it hard to argue with a pregnant mother, especially since you are 100% correct.

 

I'd go above the senior teacher to the dean of student services/welfare, get the nursing department heads on your side, have letters from Le Leche League explaining the situation, as well as letters from your midwives/OB team explaining that a woman should be allowed AT LEAST 2 weeks of rest IF NOT MORE following a normal, vaginal birth. And that while webclasses are fine (because you can take them at your own pace/when the baby is sleeping or nursing quietly), the burden of going to the college for a class so close post-partum isn't healthy for you, your child, that bond, or your well-being as a student.

Clearly write out all of your points in a letter if need be, have lots of references and letters from professionals, and even show your history as a student (grades, attendance, etc). If they deny you, take it even further to province educational boards and the media. Any college that denies a young family a chance to better themselves needs to be made an example of!

 

I agree... I'd fight this one! Attending school within a week of giving birth is insane... SOMEONE has got to give you a chance! (((((((((hugs!!!)))))))))

 

thanks mamas.
Yeah, I thought the week thing was ridiculous, too! My midwife told me that they tell all moms to take a month off, and she's freaked out that I need to get back so soon. My midwife did say that without question, I need to have at least one week with no computers. When I told the senior instructor that, he was actually genuinely confused about why she said that.

Cody said that same thing as silverclover about going above the senior dude's head, and going to the news stations. At our campus, he's as high as you can go, but if we go to the downtown campus, we'll see what we can do. Unfortenately, I have met the president of my college a number of times, and the guy is the hugest cheapskate you'll ever meet. But it's still worth a try.

Freek, I know this isn't even close to being a the ideal situation, but me being a student is also our only major source of income. I looked into maternity leave, etc, and the only way I could have done anything was by working 40+ hours/week for the whole pregnancy and quitting school last semester, and even then, it would have been iffy about getting any leave because the gov't requires that you have 52 weeks of working. I also wouldn't have been able to go back to school for 5 years if I left (Student Finance rules). I decided it was smarter not to take the chance, and instead worked my butt off to make this upcoming semester as easy as possible. With the webclasses, I can't actually go at my own pace...when I'm at home, I still have to attend the class, I just log on from home instead of at school. That way my attendance is still tracked. But at least I would be at home, sitting at the computer and able to nurse if need be.

Cody and I are also going to get letters from all the midwives at the hospital where I'm having him, the LCs on staff, and if I can, a letter from the LC in the city who runs the breastfeeding clinic. If this guy wants written proof, I'll give him his proof. I am scared, however, that he's just going to tell me to quit....which pisses me off, cuz I do, for a fact, have the highest grades in the college right now. I DO know that he's going to tell us to just give him a bottle. No one seems to understand the importance of breastfeeding anymore, and it sickens me! I don't think it's my job to have to fight and defend the healthiest thing for our child!

The really shitty thing is that my mom also works at the college I go to, and she doesn't even think I can do it. I mean, that's not really an option, I have to inorder to live. She told me that at their last staff meeting was when it was decided that I should be back after a week, since she was, and the other female instructor there was. Then they were like, "well, the chinese are back out in the feild the day after their babies are born, so she can do it, a week is plenty." I am clearly fighting a pain in the ass battle here...

 

Can you bring the baby with you? If this becomes the only option for you try just doing it, don't ask. When brought up on it say you tried all other options. This was the only one left for you. If they can deal with it you will be alright for the class and so will babes. If they can't have the infant in the classroom they may be inclined to allow you to take the class remotely. I bet you can find a fellow student to cover your notes if you have to take babes to change a diaper and such- better yet, do it right there in the room.
H

 

lol, hadley, that was exactily what I said. If he decides to be an ass about this, the baby is just coming with me to school. He won't like that...he hates it when students bring their kid to school, even if it's just for 5 minutes.

 

I was going to suggest that as well. If the guy is as clueless as he sounds, just put the little one in a sling and he won't even notice that he's there. You got to put your health and your babe's first.

Kathi

 

This is what I was going to say. Chances are he'll either be sleeping or nursing, so he won't disturb anyone...do it....screw them, they can't forbid it..

 

I would explain the situation to the Dean of the department. Most likely the Dean will let you transfer to the web class. Or you could breast feed the baby in class.

 

good news!
I went into the school today and outright told him that this is going to be a problem. I later found out that the chemestry teacher I was supposed to have also talked to him this morning, and he told the head instructor that I am smart enough and have come too far to have him mess me up. I said the same thing to begin with.
He was like, "well, we just need to look at how long you're going to be off school for." I told him that wasn't so much the problem, as much as the fact that I am planning to breastfeed the baby and I'm not letting a chemistry class get in the way of that.
He just sat back and said, "well.....I guess we're going to put you in the webclass then." yey! He was pretty pissy about it, but yey, I got me way! lol

 

yay! congrats! I think it should be illegal for anyone to get in the way of a mama breastfeeding! Way to go!

 

Thanks!!!hehe, sounds dorky, but I'm pretty proud of myself. Normally I'm a pushover...I hate that about myself...but this felt good today!