There has been criticism of aspects of it in here, certainly.  The point 
about the mother being handed the washed wrapped baby, and the whisper 
in the ear thing.  And  some discussion of flat on back, versus 
semi-reclined.  We actually had the URL before it was posted, so we did 
discuss it when it 'finally' went live.

However, I think that's to somewhat miss the point.  In terms of a 
'perfect' mother led labour, there are problems, certainly.  But they 
are clearly cultural issues on show here, concerning both those being 
filmed, and the hoped for audience.  Within its situation, it is a huge 
improvement on showing how the baby is competent.  That's such a new and 
startling fact to most people, that it's the ground breaking heralding 
of that moment - not interfering with the baby on its way to the nipple, 
even if you have washed it first - is the point of the video.  And the 
voice over is very clear on the WHO/Unicef intent of empowering mothers 
to allow breastfeeding to establish.  This is how it happens there - 
complete with mothers, cousins and sisters watching and cheering.  
Again, cultural concepts that may not appeal to us, but that's not the 
point.  The point is getting the message across in a culturally 
appropriate way. 

In short, I prefer to look at the good bits.  And the good bits for me, 
is seeing that baby crawl across the breast and latch on.  And that's a 
wonder to many, who have never known, or even heard, of such a thing 
being possible.  It doesn't make my skin crawl, it makes me tear up.  :-)

And, actually, there are not any better videos in the public domain, as 
this one is.  I only have 3 baby led latching resources in my online 
tool box.  This one, the Ameda site, 
http://www.ameda.com/breastfeeding/started/latch_on.aspx   which is 
excellent but an older baby, and the biological nurturing one of still 
photographs, and, again, an older baby.  
http://www.biologicalnurturing.com/pdf/Poster%20for%20web%20site-locked.pdf   


Oh, 4, actually, as there is the Australian Breastfeeding Association 
one, again, still pictures, older baby.  
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/bla.html

This is the only one out there (that I've found, and am very happy to be 
given URLs for others) on a newborn on it's first ever latch, and that's 
what I see when I look at it - a newborn self-latching, and a community 
taking part in order to allow the message to be spread.

It may not be perfect, but compared to the experience of many Western 
woman, with high intervention births and baby whisked off to the 
Nursery, it's a huge improvement.  It shows clearly what can happen, 
and, again, if there are any 'better' ones showing new born latch, I'd 
certainly like the URL.

Morgan Gallagher


Diane Wiessinger wrote:
> The WHO/UNICEF "breast crawl" video was mentioned recently, and since I've been off lactnet for a good while I checked the archives to see what had been said about it.  I don't think I'm being redundant:
>
> Breast crawl?  Frankly, it made my *skin* crawl!  Was anyone else as put off by it as I was?  The official position has gone from being all about the mother making the baby breastfeed to taking the mother out of it altogether.  We have much, much better videos now.  Let's make sure those to whom the baby-led concept is new see *good* videos about the mother-baby dance, not something as bleak and ignorant of the humanity of breastfeeding as this one.
>   

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