The Overview

Hello, and welcome to my blog.  Let me give you some background information so you understand where I am coming from.  (I know that the proper grammar is "from where I am coming", but I am choosing to write in a more conversational style -- at least part of the time.) 

First, the name of this blog.  "Pure Milk" comes from the verse "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby" (I Peter 2:2, NKJV).  The original King James Version, as well some other versions, say "sincere milk".

The word of God is very specific.  I once did a study on this verse as compared to the characteristics of human milk and breastfeeding. At some point, I will post that study on this blog. (Note:  this has now been completed.  See the "I Peter 2:2-3" page).  Until then, I plan to follow a certain course -- but be prepared for some deviation at times.  But first, let me give you some background which will help explain why I am even attempting this project.

In addition to being married to a pastor, I am a BSN prepared RN and certified lactation consultant.   My work with expectant and new mothers began in the mid 1980s when I joined a Le Leche League group when my husband was involved in bi-vocational pastoring in middle Georgia.  I learned so many things about childbirth by reading books in the local library while pregnant with our "surprise" baby (#3). I wanted to share them with other women.

I had completed almost all of my nursing education, and had taken three hospital based childbirth classes, but I  had not heard of the natural approaches to childbirth I was reading about in that little library.  I learned that what was done during labor directly affected its course.  Some things supported the normal process, some things steered it in a direction which resulted in an operative delivery and other complications.  By applying what I had learned, my third birth experience was very different -- and so much better-- than my first two.  I could cope with labor better, my body suffered less damage and I recovered more quickly. 

With the desire to share what I had learned with other women, God allowed me to become a childbirth educator in a somewhat hostile medical environment.  The local hospital was not friendly to a childbirth educator who was not an RN.  Mostly, it was not friendly to a consumer-oriented childbirth educator.  Like many hospitals of that day (and even some today) they preferred to prepare their patients to accept the technical approach to childbirth they practiced.

Bill Chism, the wonderful OB who had listened to what I wanted with my third delivery and abided by my wishes, was very supportive.  Dr. Chism encouraged and helped me become established as a childbirth educator.  He referred his patients to me and through word of mouth, my class sizes were at least equal to those of the one hospital in the county.  Women wanted to hear objective, research based information so they, too, could be more active in decisions about their own health care and the care of their babies.

After we moved to Lynchburg, VA,  I returned to school to obtain my Bachelor of Science in nursing from Lynchburg College while my husband went to seminary at Liberty University.  I started teaching consumer oriented childbirth classes, this time with with a Christian philosophy.   God blessed and the classes grew.  Many women were able to have safe and fulfilling natural births because they came to understand God's design for childbirth.  Others felt well informed as they decided to take medications for pain, or agree to inductions, etc.  Hopefully, all of them were able to face labor trusting in God's sovereignty and love.  I know I enjoyed teaching those classes more than any others I have taught over the years.

Some time later, I went to work as a lactation educator and childbirth educator at a large medical system in Hampton Roads in Virginia, where I still reside.  After receiving my certification as a lactation consultant, I worked in that field exclusively for a number of years.

After taking a few years away to become a real estate agent (l love houses, too), I began teaching childbirth, breastfeeding and related classes at another local health care system.  Happily, they support providing expectant couples with research based information.  This includes options which promote natural birth outcomes and which decrease the chance of an operative delivery like forceps, vacuum extraction, and Cesarean section.  I have been blessed to be able to provide educational opportunities for staff nurses in some of the hospitals owned by the system. It has been a joy to see some of the nurses "get it" when it comes to the design for successful breastfeeding.

Technological advances are providing new information on the intricate and amazing components of human milk. We are continuing to how breastfeeding positively affects the physical and emotional health of the baby and mother.  I am not surprised at what we are learning.   I know an infinitely wise and all knowing God designed the process. But, I still am awed by the details of His design.

He made breastfeeding as a way to nourish and protect the newborn.  Hormones related to breastfeeding help the mother actually mother her child. It provides protection against a variety of diseases.  The God of the Bible is a loving God as well as an all wise, infinitely intelligent God.  Breastfeeding is but one way He demonstrates this.

My plan for this blog is to cover the wonders of human milk, how breastfeeding protects baby and mama, some principles of beginning the process of breastfeeding based on God's design, how to deal with some problems which can arise.

I don't know how long this project will take.  I don't have a deadline like Julie Powell did when she committed to cook every recipe on Julia Child's book in one year (Julie and Julia).   At least my language will be cleaner, unless you consider writing about parts of the female anatomy to be inappropriate in every context.  There just is no way to discuss breastfeeding without saying the word "breast".  Once or twice I will need to throw in the "V" word, too, but the information will be amazing and worth the read.

If you read this blog, I would appreciate your prayers that God will work through me so that this project is totally in line with His will, His Word, and His wisdom.

My desire is that women who read this blog will find encouragement to plan to breastfeed, the resolve to work through the sometimes challenging first few days and weeks, and the ability to support other women who are planning to breastfeed or who are breastfeeding.  I also pray that it can encourage women who, in God's sovereignty, had to deal with  problems which led to lactation failure.  Finally, I hope that anyone, male or female, will appreciate the specificity of the Word of God in Scripture when we examine the beautiful connection between the importance of breast milk/breastfeeding to the newborn and God's word to the Christian.

Our babies have been given a precious gift by their Creator -- mother's milk.  It nourishes and protects. It is species specific.  It is delivered in loving arms.  It pictures great truths found in God's word.  We will begin this journey of discovery soon, with God's help.

October 2, 2013 note:  As of today, the planned content of the blog has been completed within the first 13 posts.  I expect to write more posts as I come across information or experiences which interest me enough to write about them.