Mary Ellen wrote,
> What really frustrates
>me is the high volume of calls from women who: 1) did not educate
>themselves about breastfeeding BEFORE the baby arrived, 2) allowed the
>baby to be given bottles in the hospital, and 3) and are surrounded by
>people (family, friends, hcp's) who are not supportive/informed about
>breastfeeding.  Sigh, there is a long way to go...

As BF support people, I think it's really important to remember that
these mothers didn't get what they needed any more than their babies
did. I sometimes say at meetings that "when someone tells you she
couldn't breastfeed, you should be hearing that she didn't have the
support she needed to breastfeed." This is always true, whether the
missing resources were creditable information, a trained and supportive
helper, a support system, a good family background, a cooperative
(anatomically correct? well?) baby...

As Jean said so beautifully,
<But it isn't her fault she didn't have these."I'm sorry that experience
happened to you and >your baby. It wasn't your
>fault. (Sounds like words proven helpful for women who have been
>victimized in some way, I know. But in many cases, that isn't too far
>afield.)

>"For you, or your relatives and friends who have babies in the future,
we
>now have better information, and I would be glad to provide it when the

>time comes."

>One small step for womankind.

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