>What would you talk about & do if you were given half
>an hour to speak to a department of ObGyns?

I answered this blithely, thinking *peds* in a foreign country, not OBs in a
foreign country, then figured I'd post it anyway:

The first thing that springs to mind is to talk to them about the upcoming
Ad Council campaign in the US and what their reasoning was:

After reviewing a lot of information about breastfeeding, they realized:

1) While everyone knows "breast is best," the public seemed totally unaware
of the flip side of the coin that there were risks associated with
formula-feeding.  In trying not to make anyone feel guilty, the US (and that
takes the burden off *your* country, though I'm sure they've done the same)
kept critical information away from families - information that they really
needed in making decisions on infant care.  It would be like saying laying
babies on their backs is healthy, without *ever* saying there were hazards
implicit in putting them to sleep on their stomachs.

2) The guidelines for how long to do this were confusing and daunting.  So
the Ad Council settled on a clear minimum: exclusive breastfeeding for 6
months.  Of course, a lot of mothers who bf exclusively for 6 months will be
"caught" by the pleasure of it and will continue without any supporting
guidelines.  But all mothers have an attainable goal put before them.  And
this lays to rest the "solids at 4-6 months" notion that lingers out there
despite clear WHO (and AAP) recommendations.

Using your half-hour to discuss the campaign packs a whole lot of
information in, I think, in a non-threatening format:  you're discussing a
different country and the problems that country faces, but you can end by
saying your own country "sometimes" faces similar issues and you find it
interesting to look at how one country is addressing them...  and bang,
you've hit the importance of exclusivity, "delayed" solids, and formula
hazards, all without pointing any fingers...
--
Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC  Ithaca, NY
www.wiessinger.baka.com

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