Dear Friends:
    Pamela's understanding post from England  articulates the two main 
concerns I had about this situation. For one  thing, both healthcare professionals ( 
a physician and a nurse/lactation  consultant)  dismissed the overwhelming 
evidence that breastfeeding is  an essential part of a baby's health for the 
rest of its life. (Just think of  the impact of artificial feeding on the 
epidemics of obesity and diabetes.) We  claim to be advocates for the baby, and we 
have surrendered that to support some  notion of choice.
    For another, I missed an opportunity to give the  mother all the 
responsibility for her decision, instead of colluding with her to  make it alright to 
wean after 2 days. Now she can believe, and perhaps even  tell her friends, 
that two healthcare professionals said it was alright for her  to wean.
    Why is it that we would be so strong about  carseats, and so cavalier 
about breastfeeding? How much cultural undermining do  we ourselves continue in 
our work? Where did my fortitude go when this mother  told me she would have 
kept breastfeeding if her physician had told her to? Why  did I surrender my 
power to speak truth, even when the mother gave me an  opportunity?
    I pledge to act differently henceforth.
    Wondering, and looking for the learning in this  lesson.
    warmly,
 
Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE
Maternal-Child Adjunct  Faculty Union Institute and University
Film Reviews Editor, Journal of Human  Lactation
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com

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