Ooops, sent this from my personal email account...

On 8/6/07, Gina Gerboth <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I absolutely think it's important. Of course I'm coming from the LLLL
> perspective, which not only requires breastfeeding your own child, but
> doing so for a year so that you have *experienced the normal course of
> breastfeeding.* One thing that I think sets LLLLs and IBCLCs (at least
> those who practice in hospitals) apart (and not in a bad way--don't
> get me wrong--I plan to become an IBCLC next year) is that most IBCLCs
> are working with the neonate, whereas even women who had great
> breastfeeding support in the hospital find themselves with questions
> later on down the road: when to introduce solids, what to introduce,
> what about biting, co-sleeping, nursing a toddler, weaning, nursing
> while pregnant, etc., etc., etc.
>
> I'm also an apprentice midwife and was mystified at the number of
> young women apprenticing at a recent conference who have never been
> pregnant. Even with my hospital-born first child, I knew that for me
> to choose an OB she must have had her own children. It seems even more
> important that someone who is supporting homebirthing mothers have
> experienced birth herself (certainly natural and preferably her own
> home birth), probably because my vision of midwifery is very
> supportive and intuitive. That said, both midwives I am apprenticing
> with have *not* had homebirths, so I don't think should be a
> requirement per se, but I do think that there is something gained by
> having a shared experience. Personally, I would *never* choose a
> midwife who hasn't had children.
>
> I realize that it is impossible for us as caregivers to have
> experienced every potential happening personally. I have never had
> mastitis or breastfed twins or birthed a posterior baby or had a girl
> for that matter. But I do think that there is a certain level of
> empathy and compassion that comes when one has walked down that road
> before.
>
> Gina
>
> --
> Gina Gerboth
> www.lllcoloradowyoming.org
>
>
> > LLL is right requiring that leaders be mother that breastfed. it makes ALL the
> > difference.
> > i know, some women may be good counselors although they never breastfed.
> > but one must admit that if you never latched a baby to your breast, it may be
> > difficult to help somebody doing it. and they may have a sense of
> > (unconscious) envy of mother that could (without their interference)
> > breastfeed.
> >
> > don't you think this is important?
> \
>

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