Norma:  I've been preaching for years that all a young baby's needs are met
by the breast (I didn't realize I was paraphrasing Dick Grantley-Read!)
except one.  The one need not met is a diaper change, and I figure that's
what Dad is for.
This need to HAVE things by mothers has been escalating at an alarming rate
over just the last few years.  Women come to the prenatal breastfeeding
class either with a pump in tow or a list of questions about which pump to
buy.  They spend all their time and energy looking for breastfeeding things
to buy that they have no concept of how breastfeeding works - breast and
baby.  Period.  I think the lactation community in many respects is as
guilty as the formula salesmen in leading women to believe they cannot
nurse unless they have a pump to "protect their milk supply", lanolin
to "cure" sore nipples, a nipple shield because their nipples might not be
perfect enough, breast shells just in case...and so on.  When did we lose
sight of mothers and babies nursing?  It is heartwrenching to hear a mother
state that she has absolutely no desire to actually nurse her baby, but she
wants her baby to get her milk so that he can get the "best nutrition".
This scenario has become all too common in recent years also.  How do we
address this issue?  I find it very difficult.
Nursing one's baby is the most empowering awesome experience a woman can
have.  It's too bad more and more women will never know.

Pam Hirsch, RN,BSN,CLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL  USA

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