Where breastfeeding is concerned, evidence-based practice often turns into
experience-based practice....
The reason for this is that people's personal experience colors their
feelings, and then their actions, with regard to this very personal issue
of how to feed our babies.
Unfortunately, this practice slant then affects the many babies that come
under our care. I cannot think of another specialty where personal opinion
and experience is allowed to enter into final practice standards as much as
this one. And, if you don't believe it, check with the many OB, Pediatric,
and NICU professionals who strive to support breastfeeding according to
the AAP statement. You will find that this is almost a ubiquitous
prejudice that affects countless babies who come under the care of the
practitioner who has such a bias. It is an ethics issue...and a serious one.
Many are leery of confronting co workers who practice away from
evidence-based standards where bf is concerned. They understandably fear
the judgement and rage that is often elicited when breastfeeding is made
the standard, and cultural norm. After all, they didn't breastfeed, or
their kid didn't, or their mother didn't breastfeed them, and look how
intelligent *they* are..right? What's good for THEIR family is good enough
for the world, right?
Otherwise, differing opinions (that translate into practice) make them
somehow deficient or wrong.
All the evidence in the world cannot change this for some people, and they
will continue to bring mothers' chances of bf down by their attitudes,
careless language about bf (Do you want to "try" to breastfeed?)...and
actions.
It is an interesting sociological study.
Kathleen
Kathleen
Kathleen
Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC co-owner Lactnet, Indep. Consultant
mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://homepages.together.net/~kbruce/kbblact.html
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