Good morning all. I see that we have an interesting discussion of LLL
occurring at this time, though I am not sure it is heading down a productive
road.  I think that we can all safely assume that in every organization,
there are occasionally people who are less skilled than others. Our own
personal experiences often  color our perceptions of LLLeaders, Doctors,
nurses, chemo doctors, nurse practitioners, etc, whomever we are working
with.  We all can tell stories of times when we were angry or upset at not
getting our needs met from a MD/Nurse/LC/Nutritionist/LLLeader/insert your
favorite category.

 However, these personal perceptions usually do not reflect the true nature
of an organization, and are our own perceptions that are colored when our
needs are not met in the way that we expected them to be. This is not to say
that sometimes we do not have significant and intense difficulties with
occasional representatives of professions or groups. These concerns are
valid.  Problems sometimes come when we generalize, or when the incident
somehow  becomes larger than life.

La Leche League is an organization that has helped mothers and babies more
than any other organization n the world, and their good work continues.
They are responsible for much of the return to breastfeed in the mid to late
20th century, by providing volunteers who support breastfeeding and
mothering through breastfeeding. They have their challenges like any
organization, like the AAP, like the nursing organizations, dental
organizations, AMA, etc, and LLL cannot meet the needs of  every mother.
However, their strengths far outweigh their weaknesses.  I am sorry when
situations arise where I cannot meet the needs of a mother I am working
with, and I gladly refer her on to someone who can develop a useful
interaction, or rapport.  I can't be everything to everyone, doctors cannot
be everything to every patient, etc.   However, I would like to try to avoid
generalizations that can be damaging rather than constructive.

Kathleen B. Bruce BSN IBCLC


Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC co-owner Lactnet, Indep. Consultant
Williston, Vermont
mailto:[log in to unmask]
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