Since this is a psychology class how about the cultureal aspects of
breastfeeding and how the media and science have influenced society and
have almost destroyed the breastfeeding initiation rates of newborns?  How
about how formula marketers influence women/families into thinking that
their product is one of necessity?

I think psychology students would be interested in how our minds can be
influenced unknowingly.
Just MHO
lucy

----------
> From: gritter <[log in to unmask]>
> To:
> Subject: Re: teen psychology class - HELP!
> Date: Friday, October 10, 1997 7:17 PM
>
> Dear lactnuts, I need your help!
>
>         My sixteen year old daughter came home from school yesterday all
fired up
> because of an incident that happened in her high school psychology class.
Chana's
> teacher had been talking about infant development, including feeding
practices. As
> the mother of three bottle-fed children, she paid tribute to the
*possible*
> nutritional superiority of human milk while completely dismissing any
psychological
> or intellectual benefits, including bonding. She also gave out a lot of
> misinformation about how bf works, who can or cannot bf, and made a point
of saying
> that bf advocates are, generally speaking, overbearing. The class was
shown a video
> of the Barbara Walters interview where she talked to the mother of a bf
baby who had
> died from a stroke, which was identified (by BW) as the result of
breastfeeding.
>
>         I was so proud when Chana told me that she had spoken up in class
to
> challenge the teacher's views! She pointed out that the video interview
only gave
> somebody's opinion, asked why the mother hadn't seen a lactation
consultant if she
> was concerned about how the breastfeeding was going, or taken her child
to the
> doctor sooner. She also explained how bf was a learned behaviour, and how
her mother
> - me! - taught women what they needed to know. Then, she volunteered me
to come in
> and talk to the class (about 20 girls and 6 boys, 15-18yrs old)! WOW!
>
>         To my surprise, the teacher agreed to let me talk to the class.
In fact, I
> got a call this morning from the mother of another student in the class,
also a
> lactation consultant, who is interested in joining me. Apparently, the
teacher wants
> us to talk to all her psychology classes!
>
>         Kathy and I are so excited about this opportunity, and we want to
make sure
> that every moment counts. So... wise ones... what do you suggest we
include in out
> presentation? We are not sure yet how much time we will have to speak.
The class is
> 70 mins long, but I doubt we will be allowed that much time. Please
e-mail your
> suggestions to me privately. as well as responding to the list, as I am
waaaay
> behind in my reading right now because of the Jewish holy days.
>
> Many thanks!
>
>
> Norma Ritter IBCLC, APL LLL NY-W
> <[log in to unmask]>
> "If not now, when? If not us, who?" R. Hillel
>