In a message dated 8/20/1 9:28:45 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:

<< Much as it pains me to say it, discussions of the value of various

components of prenatal care are strictly speaking not on topic for Lactnet.

I acknowledge the relevance of the discussion about the general

disempowerment that often occurs in response to prenatal care.

Disagreements about specific components of such care not directly related to

breastfeeding can take place off the list. >>

Rachel,
I understand what you are saying, and strictly speaking, of course, you are
correct. The thing is that in the US, there is no bigger impediment to bf
than the medicalization of womanhood.  Each of these little pieces (U/S,
"standards of prenatal care", epidurals, whatever) make up a whole which is
bigger than most women can ever hope to overcome. As I see it, the fact that
so many  LC's in this country seem to accept the medical model of care as
both normal and even desirable is of great concern. I think it is of urgent
importance that we ask ourselves where we stand on this issue and that we do
so with integrity. If a practitioner has never witnessed or experienced a
physiologically normal birth, how can she be justified in having a voice in
defining appropriate use of interventions? If she has never seen the way that
babies nurse when birthed normally how can she speak of appropriate
interventions (or not) to protect breastfeeding? And more importantly, how
can anyone who does not trust that women's bodies grow, birth and nourish
babies as a normal course of events, w/o being checked up on or interfered
with, really be an advocate for breastfeeding? Would she then be an advocate
for breastmilk feeding? We ask ourselves often how it is that women have come
to want to give breastmilk, but not breastfeed. Breastfeeding as a hormonal,
psychological, spiritual state of being and as an act of intention on the
part of the infant can only be assured within the context of a biology
defined and perfected throughout the millenia. How can we hold so little re
spect for ourselves as biological beings and yet support breastfeeding, which
is the ultimate experience of our biology?
Jennifer Tow, IBCLc, CT, USA

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