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Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 4 May 1999 13:02:35 EDT
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sandy's post provokes some strong feelings on my part. if we are not supposed
to have some knowledge of child development, then why is it so extensively
covered in our literature (and, like, why were there so many questions about
it on the IBCLE)? i have to say i disagree that there is insufficient
literature to substantiate the superiority of attachment parenting. why does
co-sleeping reduce the rate of SIDS?

i find that i do often need to discuss parenting styles with a client. i see
mother/baby dyads because they are having a problem. if their parenting style
contributes to their problem, i advise them on what steps i think would
improve their problem. i present attachment parenting as a choice that they
should investigate, so that even if they decide to use another style, they
are making an informed choice.

i have a current client who has been following the parenting plan we love to
hate, and it has had some terrible effects on her health and her baby's. how
could i not explain to her that some of the choices she has been making have
caused her problems? she did not make an informed choice when she took the
class and began to follow its rules, because she didn't investigate any other
options. i consider that to not suggest changes would be inappropriate for me
ethically as her lactation consultant.

i am not sure that "each to his own" is a sufficient guideline for practice
as an lc. does that mean that, as well as suggesting that parents read books
on attachment parenting, they read babywise as well? does that mean that you
tell them "some evidence supports reducing the incidence of SIDS by
co-sleeping with your baby but some evidence disputes that, and some people
recommend putting your baby to sleep on her back but plenty of people put
their babies to sleep on their stomachs and it hasn't killed them yet'? do
you suggest to parents that even though most evidence supports breastmilk as
the best food for babies, many people use formula and there is some
"scientific evidence" supporting formula being as good as mother's milk, so
maybe they want to consider using it when it isn't convenient to breastfeed?
there is "scientific evidence" out there to support every position under the
sun, so some subjective judgements must be made as to which have more
credibility. the lc must do this too.

i know that many who do this lactation work have not had personal experience
with attachment parenting, or even breastfeeding. it's not required to have
personal experience, but i do think it is necessary to understand all the
ranges of normal breastfeeding you can get experience with. those who work
only in hospitals (how pleased i was to see that sandy recognizes that there
is nothing normal in the nicu in relation to breastfeeding) MUST get other
experience. your closest wic office and LLL group is a good place to start.

if a mother whose baby is perfectly normal and healthy and who is totally
satisfied with her relationship with her child asks me a question, i usually
try to answer. no, i wouldn't bring parenting style into my answer unless
that was the question asked of me. but when i am seeing a client, they have a
problem. parenting style is just one of the many factors that might be an
influence. and when someone with a very young baby asks me for advice
concerning parenting styles, i explain to them that i favor attachment
parenting, for "medical" and "scientific" reasons as well as emotional.

 someone i know calls it "the lazy way to parent." as long as those who are
not personally familiar with attachment parenting view it as an intrusive,
demanding way of living, it is not surprising to see that there is a
persistent belief that "only poor women would do it because they have no
other choice" and that it is too time consuming or too demanding.

there is a dangerous tendency to view lactation work as either medical or
non-medical. i am perfectly well aware that the nurse lactation consultants
in my area view me with mixed emotions (that's the nicest way to put it)
because i am NOT a nurse. there aren't two different levels. being a nurse is
separate. people who view lc work as being something wherein we cannot
"prescribe" but only recommend "unless you are a nurse" are confusing the
essential nature of our work. it has to include both areas, and if that means
making recommendations on parenting practices as they relate to
breastfeeding, then it is a necessary part of what we do.

carol brussel IBCLC
laura nevada lactation
denver co

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