Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | |
Date: | Fri, 8 Aug 2014 10:55:25 +0300 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Susan Burger`s post presents a frustration that I share, not only as far as
lactation is concerned but also choices during labour.
A qualified counsellor needs listening skills and empathy before she even
starts to learn the physiology and problem-solving techniques.
When I used to co-ordinate the training courses for the Israel Childbirth
Education Centre, our academic committee insisted on getting all the
candidates together for a full-day orientation workshop, not only to explain
the programme, conditions, costs etc. but more importantly to see them at
work in a group. We invited an organizational psychologist to set projects
and tasks and then sat with him afterwards to compare our analyses. This
way we screened out those candidates who did not have the potential to
listen to their clients and those we thought would project their personal
bias, prejudice and sometimes anger that they themselves had not had the
perfect birth or breastfeeding experience.
Not all training courses are so careful about screening and on many
occasions when I have been the "second referral", I have heard stories of
women who do not want to consult with their childbirth educator on a
postnatal problem because she will "be angry that I took an epidural", or a
lactation counsellor who is setting unrealistic goals for that mother.
Peer support is very valuable and in every stage of my own life, I have
found that I could solve a lot of problems by sharing them with my peers.
But at the same time mothers should realise that their peers have their own
story to tell, every baby and mother relationship is different.
I am very concerned about the trend to refer to internet forums. In the
same way, if I do not know a client from my prenatal course, I do not like
to counsel over the telephone. It is only when I sit with the mother (and
sometimes the father and the grandmother too) that I can get a clue as to
why a problem has arisen and how I can help her. Not to mention the fact
that I cannot check mother`s position or baby`s latch-on through the
telephone or computer!!
While internet forums and peer groups are invaluable in raising awareness
and increasing knowledge, nothing replaces the experienced qualified
counsellor. It`s rather like the value of internet forums for learning more
about healthy life-styles but nevertheless needing a good reliable medical
practitioner when one has a health problem.
May we all have a quiet peaceful weekend.
Wendy Blumfield
NCT Trained Tutor Childbirth Educator/Breastfeeding Counsellor
***********************************************
Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome
|
|
|