This sounds eerily like how babies got away from their normal food.  Infant
feeding became the province of a profession not otherwise known for its
expertise on practical aspects of nutrition.  Mothers went each week for a
new prescription for a recipe for baby milk provided by the doctor after
examining the baby.  Then docs started having enough to do without writing
serial cookbooks for infants and turned the whole job over to the industry
gladly waiting to fill this 'void'.

When we 'diagnose' problems or label normal variations in feeding patterns
in technical terms, we are in a way buying into this way of viewing infant
feeding at the breast.  And when we create a profession which is so closely
based on the medical model, to be the self-declared specialists and experts
on breastfeeding, we endorse this view, in a way we may not really intend to
do.

It is worth pondering that in some of the areas in the world with the lowest
densities of IBCLC's, breastfeeding is thriving and doing better than it is
in other areas where you trip over us all the time.

Please note that I myself hold the IBCLC credential.  I am merely pointing
out that we don't have to look very far to find reasons for mothers to view
BF as something other than a part of the mother-child relationship.  Mother
to mother groups are IMO invaluable, to support the normalcy of everyday BF.
IBCLC's should be available to deal with the complicated cases.  We
shouldn't use more of our technical know-how than any situation calls for
either.

I am no mail, but I was behind on digests and just came across this thread.
Respond to me next week!
;-)
Rachel Myr
also procrastinating instead of packing

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