Dear Lactnetters,

For the last month I have been privileged to read the dialogue and sharing
of information between you all.  (YAWL)

The information was invaluable as I prepared a 40 hour intensive module  of
on campus lectures on Lactation for students taking part in a 3 module
Course.  The first module was a distance education package with 30 hours of
theory and the third module concludes the course with a 20 hour practicum
spent with individual IBCLC's.

I like short sweet letters but mine is going to  be the opposite because I
would like to share some of the jewels the guest speakers produced. I
invited 7 guest speakers to be part of the week two of whom you may know
(Maureen Minchin and Heather Harris).

Others included the Director of Neonatology (Neil Campbell) of the
prestigious Royal Childrens Hospital [RCH] Melbourne Victoria Australia.
He gave us a wonderful slide show demonstrating with statistics that
breastfeeding was possible in 57% of babies operated on for gastroschisis
(babies born with no abdominal wall).  This data has been published in a
medical journal.  (sorry folks cant cite it).

A wonderful NICU nurse from RCH  persuaded the surgeons that even babies
with heart transplant and bypass surgery could be breastfed. The most
touching experience was when he showed a slide of a severely malformed baby
(incompatible with life) whose mother insisted on breastfeeding.  He said
there was a lot of psychoanalysing by staff as to her denial etc. but she
simply stated that she wanted to give this baby love.  Neil gave the
students another side to MD's and I suggest we look further than knocking
those who have mistaken beliefs and get on with educating them.

One of the other speakers was a Media expert John Schwartz from Swinburne
University who gave us an inspiring talk and how to use the media to fight
the enemy (his words).  He says we have a battle on our hands and we should
know our enemy and use tactics.  The following example demonstrates tactics
and how the media use our ideology and gullibility.  There was an ad for a
well known chicken firm. A huge bucket of chicken on a billboard with the
words "Womens Liberation"  utilised the feminist ideology of the day.

John also suggests that we should create a story with a negative (better)
or, call a press conference, video students (read  people) protesting in
large crowds with placards and release it as a documentary to community
media.  Most of our slogans should be controversial/provocative.
Persistence in sending press releases every week to fill in a dry spot.
Producers are often lost for padding.

I would like to share with you his twelve steps for promoting our cause.
Australia has the highest per capita ownership of TV and Pay TV in the
world
Our kids spend 15,000 hours at school and l7,000 hours using one form of
listening or viewing media.

1.  The news
2   Current Affairs
3   Talk Back Radio
4.  Letters
5.  Soap Operas
     Give them a story line on breast versus formula  the good guys versus
bad        guys
6   Advertisement
7.  Radio cheaper than TV
8   High Schools and Primary Schools
9.  Workplace
10  Handouts printouts
11  Internet/WWW
12  Big name star or celebrity

Recognise that women in advertising are used as sexpots or dishpots??!!

Change the agenda.  Voice overs should be women

John also thinks (as I do) that these shawls  are a sneaky way of
undermining breastfeeding as are finding private places to feed, being
modest etc.

This is my first letter to "yawl" although I have replied to a few
privately.

Hope it goes.

Thank you again for your stories and helpful hints.

Beverley Walker, Melbourne Australia

[log in to unmask] au
http://www/rie.net.au/~bevw/