Terriann,
RE: Your July 16 message. "This leads me to think of all the problems
inductions lead to for =
breastfeeding.  Think of the IV's influence, the additional intervention
=
(c-sections, vacuum extraction, etc), the drugs for pain relief, etc =
....   No wonder mothers are not getting off to a good start =
breastfeeding!
      Isn't it something.  I also wonder why there are so many
inducements at or before 40 weeks.   I had thought it took about 280 days
+ or - 2 wks. to grow a human baby in utero.  My daughter came exactly
284 days.
      Not a lot is shared with the mom about the negative aspects of
intervening in the natural birthing  process.   I like to remind
'to-be-moms' that "the rate of brain growth is greatest in 3rd trimester
and 1st year of birth.  The baby  receives DHA (the fatty acid for the
natural growth of  brain and myelin sheath cells and formation of the
visual system) for natural growth while in the womb.  If they don't BF
the baby doesn't  get any more than what s/he is born with."  Now I guess
I'll have to add: "If  induced early  their baby will have less DHA then
those allowed to go full term, just like a preemie."
     Today I had a young mom come in for new baby apt. who wanted to BF
but whose baby 'wouldn't take her breast'   Through questions I
discovered a LC said she was latched on okay, just didn't want the
breast.  Took bottle after 1/2 hour of trying.  The mom had 24 hours of
labor with epidural.   Was monitored throughout with IV's in bed.
      Intervention has become the norm.  The natural birthing is the
exception.   What are they teaching in med. schools?
      Some moms are told their baby may be too big to fit through the
birthing canal & C-sectioned.   If  a mother were allowed to birth her
baby  optimally (as Dr. Lennart Righard from Sweden suggests) in the
squatting position, the pelvic bones would be opened 20 -30 %  more, and
make a natural birthing possible for most babies (less need for
C-section).   Unfortunately the woman is positioned for the comfort of
the delivering HCP (on her back.)   If the mother is allowed to let her
body deliver the baby naturally in the upright position and helped to
relax by her Doula (as Marshall Klaus & Penny Simpkin suggest) there will
be less intervention & problems and the natural endorphines released will
decrease the need for pain medication & an episiotomy and the stimulation
of oxytocin by early  BF (within 45 min - 1 hr.) helps deliver placenta
and stop excessive bleeding (prevent anemia) and decrease pp blues.
        I'd like to know what has been the gestational time for other
lactnetters when allowed to go your full term on, before or after 40
weeks.
Regards,
P.Harris-Swenson, MA, IBCLC, Doula in training
WIC Nutritionist & BF Coordinator
Still behind '69 spring cleaning AND Lactnet mail!
Lowell, MA  USA

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html