Interestingly, I think it depends on where you live, what your community is
like and who is doing the delivering.

 

I have seen the midwives who clearly made a bad choice by trying to deliver
a (true) high risk twin pregnancy at home and ended up transporting to the
hosp with one baby born at home and the other still in utero but in distress
who ended up in the NICU for several days.  (yes, they were disciplined by
their council)

 

I have seen hospital births result in traumatic birth and injury to baby and
mother.  

 

I have seen both hospital and home births that had no issues.  I talked to a
mom in a neighboring county recently who desperately wanted to do a VBAC
birth but the hosp she HAD to deliver at did NOT ALLOW them under ANY
circumstances and there were no midwives in her area.

 

I have seen (and dealt with) Dr.'s who didn't care about their patients at
all, and others who fought for them valiantly.  I have seen every range in
between - and beaten my head against that brick wall MANY times.  I see the
hosp LC's who shouldn't be and the nurses who should be LC's and vice versa.
I know a CLE who is one of the best 'LC's' I have ever seen and am praying
she takes her exam soon (Hi Emily!).  I know there are LC's who need to not
re-sit the exam because they are so clueless about what they are doing it
isn't even funny and they are hurting moms and babies in the process.  I
know there are LC's who I pray stay in the field forever because they are so
damn good and they help so many moms and babies.and communities.

 

I guess my statement here is that in every field you have the great, the
good, the bad and the scary.  In every community you have the hospitals that
will have good days and bad days.  It just depends.  For those of us out in
the field we get frustrated because we see the fallout - the moms and babies
damaged, hurt, abused.the breastfeeding that isn't going the way it should
because of the medical practices and interventions that were put in place
for the HCP's convenience.not the moms.  We see the situations where there
was no choice but to do an emergency c-section and baby is having long term
issues and it was NO-ONE'S fault - it just happened.  

 

When we start lumping everyone into a general stereotype that isn't good -
but we also must take a look at the prevalence of what we are seeing out
there - especially in the US where things are clearly a mess.  Only if we
acknowledge what is really happening can we make a change.  But while we are
acknowledging, honestly and with as little emotional
anger/resentment/judgment, that which needs change (the reality of the
situation) we MUST remember to talk about and acknowledge that which is
succeeding - those Dr.'s who are doing the best for their patients - those
who are doing things in a manner to protect and promote breastfeeding.  We
MUST talk about the good going on so that the rest of the world can see that
there is something positive happening and - if at all possible - COPY it!
We need to hear some good news too and then spread that like wildfire!

 

Just my thoughts this morning.

 

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM

Breastfeeding Network

Sacramento, CA

www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

 


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