Diane asked "What are some of your tenets?"

What a fabulous question!  I hope to hear many responses, because I think 
this could be very educational.

Other than Diane's own tenets which I also follow, I would add that I 
endeavor to TEACH a mother the skills she needs so that she can breastfeed 
her baby successfully once she goes home, or once I leave her home.

For me, that means "hands off!"  I rarely touch a mother's breasts in my 
consultations with her.  If I feel I must touch her (I will help to get baby's 
hands out of the way and will teach her how to ask for help from a third party 
for just such a thing), I ask permission first, and then I explain exactly what I 
am doing and why.

Though this may be unconventional, and to some even questionable, I prefer 
to touch my own breasts (clothed) when demonstrating common techniques 
such as breast compression, hand expression, latch and positioning.  I find, 
hands down (pun intended!!), demonstrating on my body so that the mother 
can SEE what I do and then mimick it, is the best tool and the most helpful.

I have used knitted breasts, balloons, dolls, etc.  I find NOTHING more 
effective than simply *modelling* the behaviour or technique.

This tenet was borne out the countless times I have heard "But, the nurse got 
her latched on!", or "it worked at the clinic!"

And, I will be honest.  Sometimes, it's HARD to avoid "rushing" in and "helping" 
the mom get the baby on.  Sometimes I have to sit on my hands and talk her 
through the process two, three, four times.  But in the end, it works, and I 
know that she has *learned*.

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