Hi Barbara,

I appreciated your post.  I think, I really felt more anger than guilt, after
I found out I could have breastfed Jonathan.  I was angry at myself for not
being more assertive to find out more information and ask the HCP to find a
drug that would be compatible with breastfeeding.  At the time, I was just as
ignorant about breastfeeding as  the HCP and therefore,  I accepted the
decision without question.  And I was angry at the HCP, too, for not knowing
the correct information to give me.
Because this ignorance continues even today,  our role in the community with
consumers and HCP is *so* important. They *both* need to be educated about
the consequences of abm, and recognize breastfeeding as the norm. When you
look at the education HCP have received on breastfeeding in medical school,
nursing school, or dietitic school, no wonder women are not given
breastfeeding information and support. It's because the HCP has not received
the information themselves in school, and if they did receive any
information, it was incomplete and in some cases incorrect.  Until this can
be changed, we are not going to see much of a change in how breastfeeding
moms receive support, encouragement, and breastfeeding help from HCP.

I have got to go to bed now, I can't keep my eyes open any longer.  Have a
great weekend everybody.

Pam
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