Having heard from many of you off the list (some upset with me and some
agreeing) I think I ought to back up just a little.  Actually, I agree with
some of the positive things said regarding home birth.   For example,  I
thought Rachel, Lynn, and Jan B did a great job (better than I did) of
objectively offering their thoughts.  In our area, however,  we do not have
well-trained midwives doing home births.  What we have are self-trained lay
midwives, and it is obvious this is not the case everywhere.

I think the discussion at hand (which has gotten off the subject of
breastfeeding) is a good case for pointing out that even though we would all
like our opinions to be objective and evidence-based, our personal
experiences do influence us and sway us one way or another.  The trick is to
avoid using our personal experiences when we are counseling others.

I didn't do a great job of this in my post yesterday, and offended some of
you as much as I have been offended by the chronic undertone of criticism
directed at  the medical establishment.  That was not my intent, and the
only excuse I can offer is found in the last line of my post-------I really
did have a terrible day.  The final straw was a grandfather threatening to
sue the NICU because we would not use his drug-addicted daughter's breast
milk for her premature baby.

So, I apologize for my approach to the subject, but not for my opinion.
Now. back to the appropriate subject for this list:  Breastfeeding.

I just wanted to give a little update on the baby who was born with the
gastroschisis, ended up with short gut syndrom,   three episodes of sepsis,
cholestatic jaundice from months on TPN, and a total intolerance to
artificial baby milk.    His pediatrician took on the insurance company at
my suggestion and got them to pay for banked human milk.

The letter that came today from the gastroenterologist made my day until I
read the last line.  In short, it said that she was amazed that this baby
had done so well, that his weight is up, his general health is excellent,
his development is normal, he has no infection of any kind anywhere, his
liver and spleen are both back to normal size, his jaundice is gone and he
is gaining weight.

Then, the final line:  "I've recommended that B's Actigall be discontinued
and that he be switched over to regular infant formula."   AAAAAAGHHGH!

Well!  It seems,  like me, this doctor has a lot to learn.  I never said
doctors are perfect.  We are all just people in progress.
Deanne

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