Jan writes: "I wonder what the  uterine rupture rate for VBACs would be if
there was no induction or  augmentation with Pitocin?"

Exactly, we see an increase in uterine rupture in the past 10 years and we
think VBAC is unsafe, rather than asking ourselves what other factors (such
as the increase in induction rates) can be the cause. I don't see how we
can possibly compartmentalize birth and breastfeeding. A culture that is
willing to choose technology is willing to choose technology in most,
perhaps all things. The choice to artificially-feed is a choice of
technology. A choice to have a cesarean birth is the same thing--a belief
that technology is either equal to or superiorior to the norm. Yes, some
women have every technological intervention and still breastfeed. But, if
we believe that all that matters is a "healthy" mother and baby by--defined
by medical standards, then we never even have to ask ourselves what truly
defines a "healthy" mother and baby and whether this state is one to be
honored and supported and nurtured or whether it can be safely pushed
aside. IMO, we have accepted a false premise and we continue to hold
ourselves up to this model. I do not believe we will ever be a
breastfeeding culture so long as we accept this premise. I would rather
understand what is at risk when we trash nature's plan and work to
eliminate that risk. Finally, it occured to me that we are growing many
more LC's than we seem to be growing LLLL's. Wouldn't it make sense that we
should have many more LLLL's--stewards of normal breastfeeding, than
LC's--trained to repair the damage of medicalization? I think we can see
this happen when we rely on midwives--stewards of normal birth and mimimize
the practice of obstetrics--trained to rescue the mother and baby when the
situation truly warrants. Yes, the more I think about it, the more I know
that how we birth as a culture defines us and determines whether or not we
breastfeed (especially exclusively and in a physiologiclaly normal way).
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, US

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

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html