Hi Lisa,
I don't doubt that mums who have had a hard time might like to have known
beforehand. That's only human nature isn't it. Wouldn't most of us like some
forwarning of difficulty or stress in any situation?? However, my concern is
that we cannot predict just who is going to have the problems. My concern is
for the mums for whom risk does not have to translate into reality but for
whom undermining confidence results in a struggle and the reality appears.
I've heard from too many mothers who have just struggled to "let go of the
last bottle" because they have been told (however nicely) that they will not
or probably not be able to do it. You've just got to read the sections on
adoptive breastfeeding in most lactation tests to see why it is such a
problem in this area.

As I said in earlier posts, 1 in 3 Australian mothers in the general
population are at risk of perceived insufficient milk supply (would it be
higher in the US? maybe). Why don't we tell all women that breastfeeding
might not work well for them if warning mothers

Karleen Gribble
Australia


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lisa Marasco IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2007 2:19 PM
Subject: Re: Risk factors-to inform or not to inform


> I decided to ask some women in the trenches how they felt about this- moms
> on the MOBI list. There was an avalanche of posts today!  The overwhelming
> response was that, for the most part, they wanted to know. Many felt
haunted
> by what they did or did not do in the early days when they were clueless,
> wondering if their outcome might have changed if they were prepared for
the
> possibility of problems from day one. They also raised the issue of the
> emotional devastation of finding out in the midst, and leaned towards the
> idea that they would not have felt as devastated if they had been
forewarned
> of a possibility. One mother pointed out that support systems are
> everything, and while it would be nice not to be told too much too soon,
> that assumes that the woman can and will be followed closely and
> intervention *will* occur at the first sign of trouble. But we all know
> better. Several women reiterated the statement, "Knowledge is power."
>
> They also wrote articulately about how information can and should be
> delivered. They wanted to hear it with positive note-- "some women with
your
> breast shape have trouble, but others don't.  If you have any trouble, let
> us know right away and we'll work together on it...."
>
> And they were also grateful to hear that we as professionals were
discussing
> this, taking time to consider what they need from us.
>
> I have to tell you that I am learning so much listening to them.
>
> ~Lisa Marasco
>
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