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Subject:
From:
Liz Cammin <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 4 Oct 2007 14:14:07 -0400
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I'm just sending this again, because I didn't see it come through for
some reason!

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Just a rant, vent...
Date: 	Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:24:41 -0400
From: 	Liz Cammin <[log in to unmask]>
To: 	Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>



I've been pretty irritated by this particular problem lately, and I know
it gets revisited here from time to time.  Before I start, I understand
that there are a lot of really great doctors out there, who have taken
the time to educate themselves about breastfeeding, and I am thankful
for all of them.  However, there are a few issues that are coming in my
helping phone calls lately that are bothering me.  (I'd like to add that
I am chronically sleep deprived with two small children, so crabbiness
has been a significant part of my personality these days.)

1.  Don't tell moms that comfort nursing is wrong, then get upset about
"low" weight gain a month later.
2.  Don't then proceed to tell moms that they need to give formula AND
cereal to a 3 month old.
3.  It is normal for tall, thin parents to make tall, thin babies.
4.  Average weekly weight gain for a breastfed baby is 4-6 oz, NOT 8 oz
(unless baby is genetically big anyway).
5.  A mom shouldn't need to wean for 2 weeks to take antibiotics after
surgery.
6.  Please try to do all you can to preserve breastfeeding relationships.
7.  Please listen to what is important to a mom.
8.  Get yourself a copy of Hale's.
9.  Be open to learning new information.
10.  Come to accept breastfeeding as the biological norm and anything
that's not breastfeeding is not normal and should not be
pushed/encouraged without a darn good reason and only after using a few
simple tools to make sure mom's milk supply really IS low or there are
other extenuating circumstances.

How is it that any old mom with experience (who doesn't even need to be
college educated??  *shock*) can become a La Leche League Leader and go
on to even become an IBCLC, but someone with 8+ years of college and 3+
years of residency does not know these simple facts?  How?  (I know they
don't get the education in school... I didn't either when I was in
nursing school.)  So many times doctors are left to rely on their own
nursing experience, or that of their wives, and that's what gets passed
on to patients.  I am sure that most of these doctors are skilled
practitioners, skilled surgeons, great at many other things... but just
have a lousy education when it comes to NORMAL BIOLOGICAL INFANT
BEHAVIOR AND FEEDING. 

Ok rant over.  Thanks for listening.

I should add, that I'm always happy to direct moms to LLL's articles
online to print for their doctors, in hopes that they can learn more
little by little. 

I know that there are MANY other reasons why moms can't get
breastfeeding to "work" for them, but this particular issue sure does
not help any!

Liz Cammin, RN, LLLL

-- 
I didn't give you the gift of life.  Life gave me the gift of you.


-- 
I didn't give you the gift of life.  Life gave me the gift of you.

             ***********************************************

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