I love how Dawn handled the mom with "red flag breasts": she found something positive to wrap the red flags in.  

Even if the baby weren't swallowing *at all*, we could talk about how the baby clearly enjoyed being at breast, or about how well the mother handled the baby, or about how much more peaceful the baby was on mom than off her... something to remind her that she has successfully bridged the chasm from pregnant woman to mom and that her baby is lucky to have her as his mother.

Oliver Sachs, the neurologist, wrote once about seeing a young woman in his office who was nothing but a bundle of neurological and physical problems - retarded, clumsy, illiterate, with halting speech and lumpy body.  He saw her later in the hospital garden and was struck by how poetic and put-together her comments and movements were.  In his office, he took people apart, looking for problems.  But when people are seen as a whole, they're usually much more success than problem.  (I believe that particular young woman ultimately enjoyed performing in a local amateur acting company!)

"Freedom of choice based on knowledge of alternatives."  And maybe also knowledge not only of their weaknesses but also of their strengths.   

Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC, LLL Leader  Ithaca, NY  USA
www.normalfed.com

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