I just read your message and want to agree wholeheartedly.  I am 50 years old
(or will be in September) and have lost more and more of my fears as I get
older.  "What is the worst that can happen?" is often a questions that people
live with every day - but we need to think of "What is the good I am doing?"

If we rant to get it off our chests and we need to do so - then rant away - as
long as we don't say anything that is hurtful or damaging to someone else.  We
need to get it off our chests and who else will not only read it "with love" but
will say - "I felt that way yesterday - so I'm not alone!"    When REALLY
ranting it may be helpful, however, to write it in your personal word processor,
save it a day, read it our loud and then decide if it's "fit to send."

If we inform each other of new thoughts, ideas, procedures, etc.  - we all gain
by having a large group from whom to bounce off these ideas - the results may
be:
        Someone may tell you "it won't work because I tried it and...
Thereby saving you a lot of effort.
        Or someone may say "I tried something like that and this is where I saw
problems..."
        Or we may say "go for it and let us know! "

Any way, we need to feel free to try, experiment, discuss - in fact often
Lactnet is like a continuous "brain-storming" session.  You need to feel free to
say the "ridiculous" -  because that ridiculous thought may generate other ideas
that may be helpful or creative.

Breasmilk feeding Rabbits?  Pumping elephants?  Using syringes for what they
were not intended?  (My husband sold medical equipment and knew that often the
equipment was used - as some drugs are used -  for what they were not intended.
Yes, this removes the manufacturer from liability - but if the solution works
and is not harmful the patient never knew...)

If we fear what will be posted on the NYTimes front page (the measure often
mentioned for e-mail - don't write what you would not want there), we may be
limiting ourselves so much not only in what we write but also in what we think.


I reiterate - as long as what we write is not meant to be hurtful or
destructive.

Jeanette Panchula, BA-SW, RN, IBCLC, LLLL
Puerto Rico
[log in to unmask]

PS - have been unable to go to a store for the green ribbon - can someone bring
some extra and I'll reimburse?  Thanks!