I really enjoyed the lung metaphors, but then began to think...I never
doubt my lungs or my stomach will work, but I also didn't doubt that my
uterus would work and help me give birth to a baby in the "usual" way.
However, it didn't, even with all the things folks tried to prod it along,
so I had a cesarean. At the time I remember thinking angrily that my body
had FAILED me. Like I could never trust it again. So, is the lung metaphor
not a good one to use on women who experienced cesarean births? No, I don't
think so, because upon further thought, I said to myself, "Hmm, if my
breathing were put in an unfamiliar place, with people scrutinizing the
efficiency and power of each breath, measuring them to be sure they are
"good enough," giving medications to make the breaths stronger and more
efficient, making me scared and nervous, etc., maybe my breathing WOULD get
confused and erratic. Just like my uterus had been."

Breastfeeding, on the other hand, is a natural thing where YOU are in
control, and even if there are problems, you are in the loving hands of
your LC or lay practitioner. Seeing how well breastfeeding goes can help
mothers who have experienced something other than their ideal version of
childbirth to learn that they DO have powerful, wonderful bodies.

So, you have to stretch the metaphor a bit, but I think it still works.
Personally, I sure am glad that I successfully breastfed--it really did
make up for the birth experiences.

Hey, this is my first contribution to a thread not about web sites in
years. I am getting brave.

Sue Ann Kendall
Austin, Texas USA

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