As a LLLLeader and medical civilian, I've had years of frustrating exchanges
with HCPs in which I was patronized as nice but not authoritative.  My main
source of frustration was with myself because I knew I was overlooking
something.  About 25 years after I was first accredited as a LLLLeader, I
finally saw it.

I can now saw to HCPs "As we know all good science begins with observation --
lots of it.  It is truly unfortunate that this principle was ignored in the
early part of this century.  No one studied 100 successfully lactating mothers
to learn how the process worked.  Doctors unwittingly made recommendations
that were cultural rather than scientific in origin.  When these resulted in
the failure of lactation, no one seems to have considered that the failure
might be iatrogenic.

"About the first to do good science on lactation were Niles Newton and the
housewives who organized La Leche League.  When you think about it, they
really did good science.  They rapidly amassed a large data base.  They
determined what was idiosyncratic or anecdotal and what was broadly or
universally applicable.  They were heavily peer reviewed though their peers
were 'just' other housewives.  It's not surprising that their conclusions have
been confirmed by formal, professional research now published in medical
journals.  We in LLL really are experts on the normal course of
breastfeeding."

This approach has worked well in the few instances I've been able to use it
and I haven't been patronized in subsequent conversation.

Have a wonderful celebration of whatever you celebrate at this time of year -

Alice Martino, MOM and LLLL
in Central New York State