There are some excellent articles in the current issue of Mothering
magazine on both breastfeeding/environmental toxins and attachment
parenting.  I have no financial interest in this magazine (just think it is
one of the best parenting sources out there right now - American Baby sure
could take note!). I'm so glad to see more and more out there on attachment
parenting and the "science of love" in which the physiologic basis of these
vague nebulous concepts such as "mother", "bonding", and the like are
finally being researched.  Fits in nicely with the current buzz concept
of "evidence-based".  I have significantly changed the focus of my practice
within the last couple of years to focus less on the "mechanics" of
breastfeeding and more on skin-to-skin contact, attachment, and hormones.
I've been educating parents and staff alike.  Parents are easier because
these concepts feel so good!  Staff are harder because we tend to narrow
focus on tasks and "mechanics".  And guess what!  It works!  I was
disturbed by the observation in a recent LN post (sorry, forgot who it was)
that mothers know the benefits of breastfeeding but choose not to seems not
to be the issue but rather that breastfeeding is so overwhelming and
difficult.  How true!  Helping the mother focus on allowing the baby to do
what he is programmed to do (which is to learn to nurse) by allowing her to
do what she is programmed to do (which is to be in constant physical
contact with her baby) practically eliminates my job as the lactation
consultant.  During rounds yesterday at the hospital, a mother said to me
that the LC she saw the previous day "confused" her with her explanation of
latch and positioning.  This comment really made me think - are we part of
the problem?  Do we get so hung up on the mechanics of all of this that we
are giving mothers the impression that breastfeeding is so difficult that
they will not succeed unless the lactation consultant is there?  Just
wondering...

Pam Hirsch, RN,BSN,CLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL  USA

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