----- Original Message -----
From: "Michele Call" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2007 10:15 PM
Subject: [LACTNET] Polical statements on LactNet
> I am just asking that we keep our political views a little quieter on the
> forum--except when it is directly related to breastfeeding--so the forum
> can
> be welcoming to breastfeeding supporters from all political persuasions.
**Hello Michele,
Interesting issue, you brought up with this mail. I, too, joined Lactnet
only recently and I am surprised by the tone in which some of the messages
are shared.
On the one hand, this is a forum at which it should be possible to take a
firm standpoint and to initiate discussions about different subjects, that
may seem only slightly relevant, but in fact immensely affect bf
relationships and habits. On the other, we all come from very different
backgrounds, very different countries with very different traditions. In the
US, for example, it seems to be a great thing to advocate unmedicated,
natural births. I agree that that is important. In the Netherlands, however,
it was, until a few decades ago, absolutely normal to have a delivery like
that (I had all my four girls in the matrimonial bed) and because of
developments in esp. the US, those good habits are changing! Not that anyone
here is personally to blame for that, not that everyone here would ask for
analgesia during delivery (would you...?!); it is just an example to show
how different our cultures are. It sounds nice to say we are a global
village, but to a certain extent that is simply a lie. We are not; there are
many, many differences and we have to respect those and see what we, as
individuals, maybe with help from collegues all over the world, can try and
do in our own country, our own region/province/city (as small as the
Netherlands are, even we have big regional differences) to protect, promote
and support breastfeeding. Another example: we had a big discussion about
bottles last week. First we talked about the Code-aspect, then we talked
about not condemning mothers who feed their children with bottles! I feel
some friction there! I would never have entered this profession, would it
not be my deep conviction that babies belong at breast. On the other hand
(again... life's choices always have two sides...), I probably won't be able
to stay in this profession, when being too extreme in my professional
attitude. Coming from decades with saddening bf rates, I would already be
glad if there were breastmilk in all those bottles, even if that is far from
where would like babies to end up.
Lactation consultancy is still a young profession. If we want to make
ourselves loved and appreciated (not because we are women, but because
people still have to get to know us and everything we have to offer their
offspring), it is good to sharpen our views in internal discussions and to
polish our competencies by open talks, and at the same time be as wise as
Clarissa Pinkola Estes would like us to be, when she writes about Women Who
Run With the Wolves: strong and friendly, wise and naively trustful,
strongly grounded in ourselves and open to others. We shouldn't be against
things/policies/people, but in favour of their opposites. That still is a
long way and hard enough in itself. But this is also what our (own) children
need: us being in favour of the positive things, not more acid, but sweeter
over the years. That is liberating to yourself, and therewith liberating to
others.
Warmly,
Marianne Vanderveen,
certified VBN-volunteer and hoping to pass the IBCLC-exam in 2008
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