As others have said, there is no tried and true response that will change
opinion. However, that being said, I believe that the response given here
indicates that this physician has personal issues about extended
breastfeeding (or not doing so) that are impinging on his/her information.
There is no fact to back this up, of course, but the power a statement like
this carries has to do with the credentials he/she holds in the letters "MD."
What psychological benefit would she get from extended breastfeeding?
Closeness to her child? Knowing she did her best for her child? (in this
world, as it is now, who among us wouldn't do what we could to give our
children a happy and healthy and extended childhood????? Gosh knows that at
any moment, catastrophe can and might strike, and everything might go to
hell in a handbasket). Is he saying that she is getting sexual pleasure
from breastfeeding?
If I were you, I would send him a letter calling him on his incorrect
statement that is based on attitude, and that is not backed up by any
research that we have in our cache of research. He has interfered with
this mother in a way that is not warranted. With the evidence in place
regarding the benefits of breastfeeding, and conversely, the damage of not
doing so, he should be ashamed of exerting this type of psychological
pressure on this mother.
Kathleen
At 10:03 PM 1/14/2003 -0600, you wrote:
>I had a mom tell me today that a local Pediatrician (at an acute visit
>for a cough) said to her: "I know that you, and your primary doctor,
>and MilkWorks won't like me saying this, but your baby has received
>99.9% of the benefits breastfeeding has to offer by 10 months of age,
>and if you continue nursing you are doing it for your own psychological
>benefit only."
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