In a message dated 2/1/1 3:40:39 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:

<< They give bad advice and never know it  because moms don't admit that they

didn't follow it.  They see the breastfeeding problems but not the

successes - those babies only come for well checks unlike the formula fed

babies who come for so many sick visits.

Docs think a year is a long time because the moms that wean early are the

ones that they hear about. The moms who are nursing toddlers don't mention

it, for fear of being told to stop, etc.

 >>

Gail,
This is a big frustration for me. Any suggestions? There is a local practice
where I have made enormous efforts to educate the peds about difficult bf
problems such as clamp-down bite, breast refusal, etc. They are the biggest
game in town and almost everyone goes to them. I refer moms with some of
these birth trauma situations for chiropractic or CST. I do tell the parents
that their peds are skeptical, but give them case examples of successes. The
babies who get this care breastfeed. Those who don't rarely do. A confounding
part of the problem is that the parents who go to the CST don't get a
referral and when bf works out never tell the ped they went. I encourage them
to both be honest and to educate the ped all at once. They don't. The parents
who ask the ped's advice usually don't get CST *and* get an earful about me,
so often do not follow my other advice either. Instead, they follow the ped,
who usually is "ordering" AIM supplements while telling the mother to "keep
trying to bf first".
    I just had a huge success w/ a mom of twins. One baby couldn't bf. At 3
weeks, with excellent attention to latch, w/drawal of finger and cup feeds
and replacement w/ supplementer, opportunistic atttention to cues, *and*
Network Chiropractic this baby is bf'ing beautifully. Now, this mom is an
experienced bf'er and a Nurse-Practitioner. She is certain the chiro was a
huge advantage for him, but will not tell the ped.
    This scenario has replayed many times over. If I did not warn the parents
of the ped's reservations, I believe none of the mothers would go and far
fewer babies would be bf'ing. So many of these moms are at the end of their
proverbial ropes when they call me. I am, BTW, very careful about not
painting the peds in a bad light, even though I think they are consciously
choosing to be ignorant, as I have presented info and anecdotal data
supporting this care.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

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