"...in this give-away scenario, pumps are framed as a needed accessory for
use in the normal course of breastfeeding and this, *in itself* distances
women from breastfeeding."

Yes, I think that this pump-as-necessary-to-BF message, which of course all
the folks making and marketing the things are happy to promote, is a big
part of the problem. Especially when pumps are distributed at the hospital,
routinely, to every BFing mother before discharge; that seems to send a very
clear message that you *need* one of these. It comes from the "medical
experts" at the hospital, after all, and it says right here on my discharge
sheet that I've been instructed in its use (bogus - most of the time they're
just handed out with a bunch of other junk), so it must be important.

Reminds me of baby oil...although I'd cared for a lot of infants before me
son was born, I had absolutely no idea what you were supposed to do with
baby oil (on a baby, anyway - everyone knew back then that baby oil was for
getting a sun tan!). Didn't matter, I bought a huge bottle of the stuff
anyway - that's part of what a "good mom" has on hand for the baby, right?
Got another free sample of it in the hospital. Still no clue what the heck
it was for. Never did find out - just threw away the bottle 4 years ago,
when the "baby" was 18! But I was always nagged by this idea that surely I
was supposed to be using it for *something* with the baby.

But back to the pump: it's a valuable and important tool, WHEN YOU NEED IT,
but until that time comes, and unless you get the assistance you need to use
it effectively for your situation, it's just a bunch of plastic gizmos.
Makes a good sand/bath toy.

We need to differentiate between pump mania, which indeed we suffer from in
the US at least, and its appropriate and effective use as a tool, one among
others, to help women solve a variety of different BFing problems. Of which
engorgement is one, which is where this particular discussion started.

Cathy Bargar, RN, IBCLC Ithaca NY

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