Heather:

The list of why mothers don't get BF help and end up d'cing it altogether saddens me...not only does it sadden me because the mothers d'cd BF, but the reasons:

"Here are some of the reasons I have discovered:

* I was very tearful and I worried about bursting into tears on the phone
* I was scared you would tell me there was no hope left and I would 
have to bottle feed
* I had already used formula and was scared you'd make me feel bad about it
* I didn't think you could help
* I hated the idea I couldn't breastfeed and did not want to go into details
* I believed my midwife/HV  when she said breastfeeding wasn't working for us"

Notice how most of the reasons the mother didn't get help have to do with guilt. I have discussed guilt and breastfeeding many times on this forum and I think we really need to focus on it. A mother who exclusively breastfeeds for 6 months and countinues to breastfeed past 2 years is NO BETTER than the mother who supplements with ABM from day one. It is a matter of education and circumstance. 

Why are these reasons so evident? Because a lot of LCs use guilt as a weapon which is not okay. One of the biggest parts of our jobs is hand holding; we are there to support and encourage and we need to work on this. On many occasions I have heard well meaning LCs use sarcasm, fear, and even laugh at mothers who were using ABM...talk about setting a mother up for failure. She is already having troubles and we laugh at her?

I believe that it is time for a new breed of lacatation where we are no longer referred to as, "Breastfeeding Nazis" but instead thought of as true support.

Warmly and Sincerely;

Julia Augur IBCLC, RLC

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