>Taught a breastfeeding class the other night.  I recently changed some of my
>slides to reflect the newer language of breastfeeding promotion...  For the
>first time in 6 years of teaching this class I got back several not so
>wonderful evaluations and negative comments such as "too much time spent
>bashing formula" and " a little too strong in her opinions" (actually I've
>gotten that second one a lot, just never on a Breastfeeding class evaluation).

I'll be away for a week, but have been mulling this over, and keep circling
around two thoughts.  First, we need to work together to find ways that work
that plant the seed that the issue isn't breastfeeding, it's doing something
else.  I really, really liked what you did, and am kind of surprised it
wasn't that well received.

I seem to use these three a lot:

*Making the journey with the mother.  That's what Nancy Mohrbacher did in
the text she shared with us earlier.  Provide background, share your own
shock when you realized we've been doing it backwards, talk about knowing
only what we know - basically, just bring the listener along on your own
personal journey.

*Mixing the messages.  Use breastfeeding as the norm in some comments, use
formula-feeding as the norm in others.

*Wimping out.  Depending on the background of the mother/audience, sometimes
I don't even try.

But I also thought, in reading your post, that maybe we just have to accept
that there's no simple way to make the change.  Maybe people are just going
to hate the information until they've heard it too many times to object.
But if we keep doing it the same old way, the formula industry is going to
be very, very pleased with us.  We know that much for sure.  They've
recently told us so themselves.

This stuff isn't easy.  Maybe there *is* no way to do it that won't offend
some people.  But one way or another, eventually it has to be done.  Good
for you for doing, bravely and with **wonderful** creativity, one of the
hardest things we do!

--
Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC  Ithaca, NY
www.wiessinger.baka.com

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