Annie VerSteeg wrote, in part:

> I doubt many new parents would have the time or inclination to pick the
book
> apart so thoroughly.

The point isn't whether they would have the time or inclination to critique
it. (I did so because I was assigned to review the book. :-) The point is
whether they might *follow* the breastfeeding advice, which could lead to
problems for mothers who wish to exclusively breastfeed.

The video is 38 minutes and the content could really
> help calm a fussy baby.  I felt the overall message was attachment
parenting
> until you couldn't do it or needed a break.  In the days of the extended
> family, new moms would have help in the post partum period.  Often times
now,
> moms are very much alone and need to figure out how best to take care of
> themselves and their babies, without harm to anyone.  I love that Dr, Karp
> does not want babies to be left alone to cry, that he wants them to
> breastfeed on demand, that he wants them held and loved AND he understands
> not every woman can do that 24/7.

I think there's a difference between acknowledging, as Dr. Karp did in other
places, that mothers do need breaks, and recommending up to eight hours a
day in the swing or recommending against holding baby or nursing a lot.

> In my practice, if a mom wants to introduce a bottle, I try to have her
hold
> off for as long as possible, but if it means loosing them as a
> client/breastfeeder, you can bet I will be right there to help them learn
a
> bottle.  I try to tailor my practice to the parents needs and wishes and
not
> so much to *only one way*.  I really respect Linda Smith's comment, "The
mom
> is always right."  And, I try to work it from that angle, with lots of my
> knowledge thrown in at the same time.  Sometimes, the results are really
> great with 100% breastmilk at the breast, sometimes they insist on doing
part
> pumping/bottlefeeding, sometimes it's part breast, part formula, sometimes
> they CHOOSE to quit.  I will always prefer the first 3 options over
quitting.
> Believe me, I inform parents of the consequences of their decisions.  Then
> they can make an informed consent and I can know all the way to my toes
that
> I have done my best and that is good enough.

It sounds like you are providing informed consent and honoring what the
parents think is best. The Happiest Baby book recommended that bottles be
introduced to all babies at two weeks if nursing is going well. I did not
see informed consent about possible problems with babies who cannot switch
back and forth so easily (surely I'm not the only one who encounters
these)or acknowledgement of mothers who have neither the need nor the desire
to introduce bottles. Only one way was advocated here, as with the
swing-versus-holding issue. Other areas of the book were more even-handed.

Annie, are you saying that some of the breastfeeding advice in the book is
not repeated in the video/DVD? If this is true, I would like to see it. As I
mentioned, I thought some of the non-feeding-related advice in the book was
great.
Janice Berry
Westerville, OH

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

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