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Lactation Information and Discussion

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Subject:
From:
CBrussel <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 16 Dec 1997 00:07:51 EST
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firstly, please all accept my apology for the cryptic non-message in an
earlier digest. i can only plead in my own defense a new mouse and a computer
charitably described by my friend as a "rock," (or boat anchor if you are a
car guy), which did not like multitasking. i still don't know where that stuff
came from, i was trying to tell dr. jack after his vigorous defense of alcohol
use that the ontario wine growers association will probably send a free case
and a "new user's kit."

i heard the short ugly message on npr this morning and it was engraved upon my
uncaffeinated brain: "we have received many letters about our article about
the new aap guidelines on breastfeeding and wish to clarify them. the new
guidelines state that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six
months of life and then be breastfed until twelve months with the addition of
formula and solid foods." this is actually a paraphrase, but they clearly said
breastfeed with supplemental formula and infant foods. they still don't get
it! they said they receive mail at [log in to unmask] i am going to get on my
high horse and ride over there . . . despite being my main news source, npr
seems blatantly anti-breastfeeding.

i have used my own breasts as a teaching tool in recent memory only when the
new mother and i did not happen to share any known languages. worked great.
but i am thinking of the LLL advice to leaders to not share personal
experiences and practices, etc., because of the impact that might have (i.e.,
LLLL had home birth, family bed, etc., then i must too, in order to fit into
LLL). of course, i also think it might help for women to see other breasts and
to get a better idea of the immense variety available. (it might NOT be good
for teens or women with what we might kindly describe as different body image
expectations to see my lengthy-lactation national geographic-style breasts,
however!)

i do perceive ferber as a lactation subject, because the guidelines seem to be
thinly veiled attempts to reduce the continuous-contact touchy-feely aspects
of lactation. i am glad that i work for an organization that has an official
policy on child-rearing in conjunction with breastfeeding, known as attachment
parenting. thus i am free to discuss this and i am always careful to use the
phrase "breaking your child's will" and "emotional abandonment." there are
plenty of variations on the subject of nighttime parenting in between family
bed and ferber, and in advocating breastfeeding, i usually assume that we are
advocating for a certain style of parenting (with great leeway).  it is
difficult to advise someone to be so sensitive to their baby's cues that they
can view crying as a "late" feeding signal, and then tell them to dump that
same baby in a dark room alone and crying.

now off to find the official guidelines and try to reach planet npr.

carol b.

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