In regard to the following commentary at
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=9B23D319-4702-4062-A4AC95548937863B
I expressed I thought it sounded similar to the argument made by the
President of the AAP against the original  National Breastfeeding Ad
Campaign.  In response Catherine said:

 Ah, but the difference is that Dr. Robert Johnson of the Mayo clinic is
educating his patients parents, advocating for breastfeeding,
recommending societal changes that would support breastfeeding, AND THEN
accepting his patient's mothers decisions about infant feeding.  Dr.
Carden Johnson of the  AAP is arguing that educating mothers provokes
guilt.  Big difference, in my humble opinion.
______________________________________________________

He says he does educate, support and encourage breastfeeding (which any
pediatrician will publically say he does do I'm sure--and some really do!)
but I don't understand why he feels the need to comment on guilt at all in
regard to promotion of breastfeeding.  I am always confused by the simple
commandmant made to health care professionals "don't make mothers feel
guilty".    What really does that mean?

He seems to be implying that guilt is being used by some
"breastfeeding advocates".  His last statement:  "There are many instances
when a physician wants to influence the decision making of patients and
parents, but I think that using guilt is never justified".    I am left
wondering.....
if it is being used,  how?  He says "I don't dictate whether or not a mother
should breast-feed her child".
Are there physicians out there doing that?   I am an RN.  I have asked
nurses who say "don't make mothers
feel guilty"  how exactly is that being done?   I am never able to get an
answer.

I have to admit I'm probably reading between the lines in his commentary
but the conclusion I draw is that the provision
of some information (benefits of breastmilk) is laudable but more than that
could be seen as
an attempt to influence behavior by intentionally inducing guilt   That is
the argument made
by the President of the AAP and  formula companies against the National
Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign ad's that inform us of  "the risks of not
breastfeeding", is it not?

Of course, the only way to know for sure what this particular physician
meant in his commentary is to ask him.

Sally Myer  RN
McCook NE



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