Teresa writes: >I agree that there are people who do not have personal
experience with
>breastfeeding who probably do well on the exam and do a great job of helping
>others.
>
>But I tend to think it does make a difference. I see lots of nurses, for
>example, who bottle fed their own children, and while they have the
>knowledge and information to help mothers, they simply don't see it as being
>all that important.

Well, yes, that's why people have training, so personal experience gets
placed where it belongs - not interfering with stuff it has no business
interfering with!

Personal experience can enhance understanding and empathy,  and we can
learn from it - but it's essential to know what we can't learn from it.

Using personal experience of breastfeeding or not breastfeeding as the
basis for attitudes and information is just plain crummy  *bad practice*.

NCT training focuses a lot on de-briefing, so all our personal stuff is
dealt with, learnt from, so it doesn't get in the way.  I think the lay
groups excel at this, in fact, and I wish midwives and health visitors had
the same chance to do it.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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