A woman's cervix can be incompetent and her breasts may be uncooperative --
what will be next??

Since we're discussing names we've been called, I have to admit that I've
never been a fan of the term "lactation consultant" -- and I absolutely
DETEST the use of "lactation" as per "Lactation Department," "Lactation
Conference," answering work phone "Hi, this is Lactation." (It is? I picture
LCs in an assembly-line room, plugged to breast pumps, putting out the good
milk.)

Where's the baby? Sure, lactation works best when an effectively
breastfeeding baby drives the process, but it isn't a requirement in
industrial countries with access to effective breast pumps. Can't have
"breastfeeding" without a baby, but the same doesn't hold true for
"lactation" these days.

Henya's wonderful story about her colleague is what breastfeeding -- not
lactation (which, I'll admit, helps) -- is all about. Relationship. Like
many moms, I thought that by breastfeeding I was giving my baby a gift, but
I was the one for whom breastfeeding was really the gift.  (When we help
other mothers through something we say or do, are we
"re-gifting"?? I'd like to think so!) Sure, it's about making milk and
babies receiving momma's milk, but those concepts are too limited. The
breastfeeding relationship so transcends such descriptors.

Therefore, I vote that we all adopt "ammedame." I really love this "title"
-- literally trips off the tongue. Personally, I refer to LCs, midwives,
doulas, etc. as "the wise women" of one's village.

Hope this makes some kind of sense. It's late where I live and I'm watching
Paul McCartney on Letterman, so a wee bit distracted! (Has me trying to
decide which Beatles or P McC t-shirt to wear when I go to and sit in the
5th row center front section of his Washington, DC concert Aug 1.)


Karen Gromada
www.karengromada.com/




> A male nurse in the medical clinic up the hill from the WIC office where I
> work calls me the "breast coordinator". I have heard of "uncooperative"
> breasts, but not "uncoordinated" breasts! What a hoot! (near-pun intended)
> Rowena
> Rowena Tucker IBCLC
> BVCAA WIC#32
> Breastfeeding Coordinator since 2000
> Bryan, Texas, USA
>
>
>
>

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