Just a few thoughts on the doc who tells non-bfg moms they are bad mothers,
but doesn't offer support.  This is probably (as Kathy Auerbach is always
reminding us) one of those  "opportunities..."  I'd probably make an appt. to
go in and talk with him.  I'd praise him for believing so strongly in the
benefits of bfg.  Then I'd try to talk about ways to communicate this more
positively.  Doctors are so pressed for time, and breastfeeding support is
dreadfully time consuming and requires a lot of (literal) hand-holding.
 That's why there are LCs.  You may be just the person to help this man
translate his belief in bfg into practice by offering some suggestions about
practical support for these moms.  Rather than accusing him of making people
uncomfortable, you could phrase it this way:  "You know, sometimes people
feel inadequate when they are advised to do something but they don't really
know how.  Perhaps you and I can work together."  Then offer some concrete
suggestions:  Automatic referrals to people having trouble.  Classes.  Phone
follow-ups after discharge. Etc.

I'm lucky because in Austin I have peer LCs who I can talk to.  And Texas has
a very friendly extended net-work of groups and activities which connect us
and prevent lonliness and isolation.  I bet there are lots of LCs for whom
this is not the case. Lactnet serves many purposes.  One clearly is to give
lone-LCs a place to vent, cry, brag or laugh.  As much as I value the info
posts, I have really enjoyed it when someone's personality shines through a
bit.  When I first came on line, for instance, Roberta (the Friendly Mexican
Milk Maid :) ) e-mailed me a welcome. I smile when I read her posts because
now I feel I have a friend there.  That is what is so cool about the net.
 I've got acquaintances in places I've never visited who share a passion for
breastfeeding.  I think its ok to be a bit informal on our own list-serv.  If
something bores me, I just skip on to the next post.

One last comment: I've often had older women come up to me after lectures in
tears because they just figured out what went wrong and caused a lactation
failure 20-30 years ago.  We remember our birth and breastfeeding experiences
in our souls, and we remember them forever -- good or bad.  The names my
children had for nursing are precious and represent why breastfeeding must be
protected.  It is so special to women and children.  If we aren't allowed to
talk fondly of the experiential aspects we truly "medicalize" it.  I'm big on
science, but I'm equally big on art.  (Welcome all you new IBCLC's.  Good for
you!!)

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSE, IBCLC  priv. pract. Austin, Tx