I applaud Nikki for bringing up this subject, that we are all wrestling with - not only with our patients, but also with staff education.
 
In order for us to teach staff how to address these issues, we need to develop our own effective way of dealing with these issues.
 
Only by looking at them in the light of day as Nikki has done, can we develop an appropriate response - not in the heat of the moment, but while thinking about it, discussing it, then rehearsing how/what to say in an appropriate and effective manner.
 
We all "know" what NOT to say:  
 
"You realize you're condemning your child to a lifetime of obesity, ear infections, cancer and death!"
"Well, you did the best you could, you should be feeling good that at least there's formula!"
 
both extremes are bad - the question is, what WILL work - what WILL be effective? 
 
There is no one answer for each of us - as our personalities as well as the personality and situation we face are all different.  However, just as we have found that "risks of breastfeeding" is more effective than the "benefits" we need to develop a way of communicating to mothers that their decision not to breastfeed or to stop breastfeeding is not without consequences.
 
I hope this will initiate a discussion on how others handle this - and we can all learn..and rehearse (as I do at 3:00 am) how to speak to this issue in an educational, supportive and clear way.
 
Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
California
 

 

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