Greetings from the Pacific Ocean!

Lisa Boisvert here on the island of Pohnpei in the East Caroline Islands....
I can no longer resist jumping into the dialogue. I've been lurking about
for 6 weeks. I am a North American Registry Board Listed Midwife with a very
small practice. I have been attending birthing women and their families for
the past 5 years. Nearly all of my homebirth clients breastfeed, most with
minimal difficulties.

My energies are currently devoted to the rambunctious energies of my 27
month old son Angus. Two is a terrific year! He is nursing, with great
enthusiasm for the  *nummies*.

Here on the island of Pohnpei, BF is *officially* encouraged. BREAST IS BEST
stickers are seen on bumpers, walls and Senators' office doors. The hospital
where most women birth their babies endorses BF.

The reality is that ABM is considered a status symbol because it costs money
to procure and because it is believed that women of the U.S. breastfeed.
Women of the U.S. are perceived as role models. Images of U.S. women come
mainly through television and videos. Ironically enough, the childbearing
women of the U.S. who live here all breastfeed and do so quite openly.

Older women frequently giggle and tell me "good good" when they see me BF
Angus. Other nursing women will tell me of the virtues of BF, so the belief
exists here. The word for breast is *dihdi* and to BF is to give dihdi.

I am delighted to subscribe to Lactnet and glean the wisdom of you,
O-great-wise-ones. What a powerful resource to have at one's fingertips!
Thank you Kathleen and Kathleen for making this possible!

Sincerely, Lisa Boisvert-Mackenzie, Midwife
           East Caroline Islands, Pacific Ocean

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