I was much taken with Barbara Wilson Clay's recent post about nipple
sheilds and nipple confusion, etc.  Just as not every baby exposed to
epidurals (about 30%) will show evidence of that medication exposure, not
every baby seems sensitive to prelacteal feeds with non-human nipples, etc.

Her post is an excellent reminder that we must make every effort to
remember that there are no absolutes in nature. (probably the only absolute
we can depend on)  Some babies are more sensitive than others; some mothers
need more assistance than others; not all assistance for one mother will
work with others, and on and on.

Flexibility, willingness to learn as we go, are key elements in continuing
to improve our skills.  (Is that why MDs and lawyers call what they do for
a lifetime "practicing?" Not so much that they never get it right, but that
they are continuing to add to the body of knowledge they accrue as they
attempt to assist people?) Just a thought.




Def. of LC service: "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities
brilliantly disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Homewood, IL)- [log in to unmask]