Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Thursday, May 6, 2010

My Interview with Jeanni Orazine


To learn more about the benefits and tips on breast feeding, I interviewed Jeanni Orazine, the Lactation Consultant at St. Vincent’s East. Her job is to teach breastfeeding classes to women while they are pregnant (I took one of these classes) and visit them in their hospital room right after they give birth so she can help the new mother start feeding right from the start. Since I had Connor on a Friday and went home Sunday, I was not able to get this help because she doesn’t work on the weekends. However, I ran into some problems that Monday and scheduled an appointment with her the following day. During the appointment, she explained to me and my support persons, my mom and Matthew, the importance of continuing breastfeeding for as long as possible no matter how frustrating it is at the moment. She told me that “breastfeeding is the hardest and most time consuming thing you will ever do in your life” (Orazine). She showed me how to properly position my baby to minimize the pain and also showed me how to use a pump, which I rented from her.
I think that Jeanni is an angel sent from God and I don’t know how I would have survived my breastfeeding experience without her. I probably would have stopped after four days had it not been for her help and encouragement. She was such a sweet lady and was very comfortable to talk to and be around. She answered my questions when I called back and she sent a few different products home with Lydia Clements’s mom (who also works at the hospital) to give to me for help. She gave me more than enough information and Lanolin cream to help make my life easier.

Orazine, Jeanni. Personal interview. 26 January 2010.

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