----- Original Message -----
From: "Rachel Myr" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 8:47 PM
Subject: Re: [LACTNET] an australian media article.. fyi
**Hi Rachel,
**I also read most of the article and noticed the sentence you mention:
"The reasons mothers gave for abandoning breastfeeding suggest that
relatively few mothers truly chose not to breastfeed ... Most women ... stop
because they encounter problems and find that skilled support is not readily
available."
**What often surprises me, is that parents sometimes really *do* know where
to get help, but don't!
I rent pumps and never simply hand them out. I always sit down with
(usually) the father and ask him how things are going and whether any
management has been planned for the period ahead.
I explain about the process of breastfeeding, about the importance of
closeness between mom and babe, about supply and demand and about the
necessity of frequent feeding, also discussing what 'frequent' means in my
book (regarding human mammals). We talk a bit, the father leaves and I say
goodbye with: "If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know.
Good luck with everything" or something alike. Fact is... they hardly ever
do, but they *do* often bring back the pump, saying breastfeeding
unfortunately didn't work. "Did you have any help from a lactation
consultant to get you going?", I often ask. Often the childbed nurse has had
contact over the phone with an lc (which, in my opinion, is NOT lc help...)
or they have not been in touch with one at all.
I don't understand this... They 'simply' get the process lost and say they
are very sorry about it. "What am I doing wrong?", I often ask myself, that
they don't give me a ring? What is it, that holds parents back from asking
for help, even if they know where to get it? How can we change this? Do
others experience this as well...? I find it saddening and at times very
frustrating as well. The problems they relate about to me, are often pretty
simple, if only they would have asked an EXPERT about it... Poor babies...
poor moms... poor next generation, that will not be raised with a mom fondly
looking back...
Warmly,
Marianne Vanderveen IBCLC, Netherlands
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