MaryAnn O'Hara wrote, in part:
-
>I'm a family physician and medical anthropology student starting a
>research project to gain insight on why, despite evidence about the
>health importance of BF and strong professional guidelines urging
>physicians to support BF, physician involvement with BF is not
>infrequently ambivalent and poorly informed.  We know it is in part due to
>lack of education on the subject.  I want to explore what else are
>factors, so they can be redressed.

I would love to see this discussion remain on-list, so perhaps people could
copy the list when responding privately to MaryAnn?

IMO and IME, this is the area that lactivists need to address most. As a
rule, women do **have no idea** that their healthcare providers are not well
(and sometimes at all) educated about breastfeeding. Everywhere I look I
find breastfeeding relationships sacrificed on the infamous altar of
ignorance by their OBs, by their children's doctors, and by hospitals. What
would be an effective strategy to address this?

I've thought many times about writing a book or article to inform women
about the altar of ignorance so they can brace themselves for the sabotage
to their breastfeeding relationships that they will undoubtedly experience.
Heck, I'd do it without financial reward and stand on corners giving it out
if I thought it would make a difference. Perhaps an equally important
message is that we as mothers should not be handing over parenting decisions
to anyone else, regardless of the initials after their name. I only take
MEDICAL advice from my children's doctor. Their opinions on sleep,
breastfeeding, crying, and a myriad of other issues are simply one data
point.

Obviously, of course, the other side is important too: changing things so
that HCPs are better educated and more committed  to BF (thus passing on
less misinformation, imposing fewer mindless "rules," etc.)

Janice Berry
Mother, editorial consultant, and lay BF counselor
Westerville, OH

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