In a message dated 10/8/00 3:06:56 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<
 I think what has happened in this profession is that somehow our job
 description has become putting babies to the breast. Mothers and
 administrators of programs seem to think that's what we do.  But how enabling
 to mothers is having someone else put the baby to the breast.  How often I
 have heard from mothers that someone in the hospital put the baby to the
 breast but she can't do it.   Just like mothers who can't deliver babies,
 their doctors do it for them.  (And yes sometimes assistance is necessary).
 But overall, who breastfeeds?  Who must do the work?
 Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC >>
Valerie,
You've made some exellent points.  Sometimes we find ourselves in a position
to have to "put the baby on the breast" and we wind up doing this for the
mother.  If we stop there it's like old saying "Give me a fish and I eat for
a day; Teach me to fish and I eat for a lifetime."  Certainly our goal is to
empower the mother and baby to be able to do this on their own.  Sometimes we
have to help more than we'd like to just so they know it's possible.  After
that, we are not serving our mothers and babies to our fullest if we don't
teach them to breastfeed on their own - at that point we become their
advocates, cheerleaders what ever support system we need to be for them to
learn.  have had more than a few moms say," well, you're coming home with me
aren't you?"  We laugh and then try to be sure she and her support system
feel confident that they have a variety if skills and options to help at 2am
at home when it's just them  in the foxhole with the baby!
It is always easier to do something for another - teaching a child to tie
their shoes is a good illustration - It is very frustrating to watch someone
struggle with a task so simple for us to perform, but the confidence we can
give with our encouragement has to be there as the learner struggles on their
own to do the task in the way they find works best for them.

Gretchen Andrews, BA, IBCLC
The Lactation Connection
private practice, So. Calif, USA

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