Heather writes:
It does not have the same meaning as 'efficiently' - it has none of the
mechinistic overtones!
~~~
This is an interesting discussion thread, as usual, on LN. I marvel at the
human body, and its, yes efficiency, its way of prioritizing what's
important, the way it gets things done. When it works well, it's simply, and
complicatedly, amazing. When I use the word "efficiency" in the context of
helping moms and babies, I set the standard with us. I say that the body is
amazing, and has as one of its core wisdoms, to be efficient. The body learns,
by making milk and experiencing milk being nursed by the baby, to make a
good amount of milk, over time, not too much, not too little and it has a
certain stability to it. This is efficient. It is also efficient to build in
flexibility of response, and our supply goes up and down as our little one,
(or a pump if the baby can't) gives us the information we need to adjust.
Our ability to provide our babies with homeostatic assistance, and the depth
of multisensory interaction as they feed and/or are close to us, is an
efficient way of helping them grow and develop to their own highest standard.
No pump, no AIM, no assistive feeding device,can do that. I love this
efficiency, this stability and this flexibility. I tell them our bodies set
the standard for what a machine like a pump, might be able to do.
Breastfeeding is the standard, and formula feeding the attempt at making the standard,
and it falls short in many ways. A baby breastfeeding is the standard, and
the pump an attempt ( and yes I am very grateful there are comfortable,
efficient pumps for those moms and babies whose situations require them) to
make the standard. Neither formula nor bottlefeeding nor pumping is the
human physiologic norm or standard. I trust that this doesn't sound too
mechanistic to moms, but I could be wrong. My goal is to raise awareness of the
wonder of our life at work, supporting the mom's and baby's efforts to get to
the standard, and use these assistive items as tools, rather than gadgets.
I think our language and emphasis shifts with each mom and baby we see,
as they need to hear certain concepts presented in ways that help them
understand their own situation and work within it and forward to their future
relationship and situation. I would guess that we all bring something unique
to the families we work with and this may also explain why one IBCLC might
be a better "fit" than another for one mother.
Peace,
Judy
Judy LeVan Fram, PT, IBCLC, LLLL
Brooklyn, NY, USA
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