He bumps his head, and he doesn't go back to mom
>for a quick nurse, he just sits and sucks harder on his pacifier for a
>while. I do think all those quick moments at the breast contribute to
>keeping up mom's milk supply and to making the breastfeeding relationship
>what it is.

...and sets a life-long pattern of coming to a *Person* for comfort when he
"bumps his head" or breaks his heart or feels too dis-connected.

This long-term benefit is what I share about finger comforting with mothers
who feel that their babies need further suckling.  It seems to stike a cord
in their Mother Hearts.

I think that Teresa made some very good observations about the hazards of
routine pacifier use.

If an infant is in respiratory distress and needs this suckling to maintain
breathing, we would all agree that, like any other medical device, a
pacifier is in order.  Barbara W-C's experiences remind us that in LC work
we "never say never." But Conventional Medicine has a history of applying
crisis protocol to "the whole everybody." I strongly believe that a
wholesale recommendation of pacifiers will result in long-range harm to the
health of our children.

"Pacifiers for Everyone" joins "Cribs for Everyone" in the on-going attempt
to isolate our children from their mothers, and it comes right after the
chapter, "Artificial Baby Milk for Everyone." We didn't learn much, did we?

And the refrain of "isolation, dis-connection, loneliness, and longing"
keeps invading our Song.

Pat Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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