Thanks Barbara Wilson-Clay for a sensible post, and thanks for mentioning my
mediawatch efforts. You are so humble, what about all the work you and
others there in Austin have done w/ the new milk bank? I agree bashing is
not productive. I would hope every one of us agrees that there is room for
growth both personally and professionally every single day.

Re home births: just want to say that nicu nurses often think this is crazy
and exceptionally risky - they see all the horrific things that can happen
to babies. I thank lactnet for educating me to all birth choices. I would
have been scared to death to birth anywhere w/o a level 3 nsy and a NNP at
my side - precisely becoz I was a nicu veteran nurse and of course I just
knew my baby was gonna have all kinds of problems.

Family bed - I try to understand all sides of this issue. Some parents feel
that the parental bed is a sanctuary for husband and wife only. Others state
they cannot sleep well w/ children in bed. I love the kids w/ me but admit
that I have a pretty old one still w/ me who doesn't want to sleep
independently yet. So I agree that when you do it, it can be a long term
committment. For some this is months, others a couple years, or much longer.
If someone personally thinks 5 yrs is too old for family bed, or 10, then
that someone should understand when someone else feels 10 mos is too old.
Same w/ weaning. Even some bf advocates or LCs have an upper limit of bf
they consider "normal." (notwithstanding the anthropology research). I can
say I am bf 5+ yrs and family bedding much longer still. I TRY to be
openminded with other viewpoints, practices, parenting etc. This is
imperative in a peer or professional role.

As an avid mediawatcher, and very proud of my letters, which take lots of
time to research and write and revise, I want to say I agree it is not
productive to nitpik every magazine article or other media item. We do have
to choose carefully the ones we decide to respond to. I invite constructive
criticism on any of my letters. And I recognize and appreciate the value of
lactnet when a media item is cited and we often discuss whether it needs a
response or not; many don't.

Lactnet is a great forum and it has been an important part of my personal
and professional growth these last 4+ yrs. Keep it coming!

Laurie Wheeler, RN, MN, IBCLC
Violet Louisiana, s.e. USA

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