In a message dated 2/15/2006 8:06:29 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
In a message dated 2/15/2006 5:05:04 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
how do you respond to the argument that the increased
interventions are a result of our lawsuit-happy society? Some of the
doctors might argue that this drives the increasing cesarean section rate,
at least. I
agree with your point of view of course, but this might be one roadblock to
change.
Dear Friends:
I don't know how we can get rid of pervasive fear in institutions and
people. A certain amount of fear is natural and healthy and motivating. It
makes people quit smoking and wear seat belts and see their midwife
regularly
during pregnancy.
Too much fear makes people either fight ("rigid" birth plans could be a
manifestation of fear) or paralyzed (as in the induced lady with epidural)
or
feel helpless ( as in some hospital staff, who have to do what "policy"
says, despite
knowing better).
How many practitioners know what is going on from their years of clinical
experience, but
still order tests/do procedures? I remember talking with a pediatrician
about his practice when babies became jaundiced. This man knew, and told me, that
breastfeeding was good for jaundiced babies. He also told me that "everyone
else" was interrupting breastfeeding, and "what if" a breastfeed baby didn't
recover from jaundice, etc. etc. to justify his practice. He didn't want to
go against the fashion. "We know giving formula works to get bilirubin levels
down" is what I still hear; yet after 4+ million years of humans/hominoids
on the planet, being a successful species because breastfeeding works is
totally discounted.
How often are jaundiced babies taken off the breast and given milk
substitutes, because of fears of insufficient or killer milk? I am working
this
very day with a mother whose pediatrician has told her to pump, and to give
bottles of formula, but NOT her own milk to this yellow and healthy baby. I
suggested she call and ask if she can give bottles of her own milk (she's
pumping
4 oz every few hours), being careful how I said it, so that her
pediatrician
wouldn't get mad at me, complain to someone, and then I get in trouble.
Damn
it, I am 55 and still tiptoeing around!!
How many of us have felt that jolt go through us when we have a dyad that
isn't quite in the groove yet, and our own confidence is faltering? I feel
fear in myself sometimes, when I go outside what everyone else is doing. I feel
it when I listen to baby's cries and and don't rush to console them, as the
baby is telling a story that must be heard before breastfeeding. The reaction
of other practitioners makes me doubt myself, even though my clinical
experience has shown me many many times that what I am doing works.
For heavens sake, mothers aren't even allowed to carry their own babies
out the door of the hospital, because of some fear that has led to some
policy. We can't expect mothers in hospitals to act better than we do.
We who
work in hospitals generally have little or no power; lactation programs get
axed whenever there are budget crunches. And so do childbirth education
programs.
Fortunately, there are islands of hope in this sea of fear.
Baby-Friendly hospitals, for one, and even they have their challenges. Is
there but one
CIMS-designated MOther-Friendly facility in the whole USA?
But for most people, the atmosphere is one of fear............
warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE
Maternal-Child Adjunct Faculty Union Institute and University
Film Reviews Editor, Journal of Human Lactation
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com
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