In a message dated 9/19/2005 8:37:26 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Educational needs of mothers with low SES
I just wanted to say that I grew up as a teenager in Appalachia in the
1960s. At that time, many mothers could be described as being low socioeconomic
status. I guess I was even included in that classification, but didn't know it
until Dan Rather and CBS news lined all the students up in front of the school
to announce the President's Appalachia program on the evening news and told
the world to " look into the eyes of poverty". At that time, probably 95%
of babies were breastfeeding throughout Appalachia, at least until they were
put on other food of some type-cow's or goat milk, cereal, etc. If you look
at breastfeeding rates in North Carolina, they are still consistently higher
in Appalachia then other parts of the state. Why is this when the mothers of
Appalachia still struggle with education, and economic challenges? I think
that WIC contributed to a decline in the breastfeeding rates in their target
populations in the 1970-1980s by offering formula and forgetting to mention
breastfeeding. Those of us who are older, remember this time in WIC. The women
of Appalachia are proud and very reluctant to accept welfare or charity and so
WIC was not as accepted at those times so babies were breastfed, and those
women are now the aunts and grandmothers who women of childbearing age turn to
for support and information. The population there gets much of their
education from their same sex family members--grandmothers, aunts,etc who probably
breastfed their own children. The women also relied on 'Granny midwives" a
great deal until the state decided that medicalized childbirth is safer. I
remember Granny midwives who were trained by the Kentucky Nursing Frontier were
still delivering babies in the 1970-80s.
My background, observations made from my childhood experiences ( including a
community member who delivered over 3000 babies safely at home in the hills
of Appalachia), and the education I received in public health education, all
have formed my style of teaching. This includes not judging a women by her
socioeconomic levels, education levels, cultural beliefs, or country of birth. I
have found in my 23 years of helping mothers breastfeed their babies, in my
community which is predominately African American, and low income, that it is
most helpful to listen, find out what they know, why they know this, where
their education, and support comes from, who are their helpers, their role
models, and their value system, and then provide an combination of support,
along with some education, with some common sense and an understanding of their
community and family life and values. Just because a women doesn't have a
degree, diploma or classwork, doesn't mean that she doesn't want to learn, or
doesn't already have the information she needs. Sometimes they just don't let
you know what they know because they don't trust you or the system. You have to
go slow, be understanding and patient, and wait to be accepted before you
are able to see any changes.
Barbara Whitehead, BS, IBCLC, RLC
Eastern NC
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