Dear Gena and all:
At the risk of clogging the list with this, I want to point out that this is
a lovely and helpful post which no one will be able to find in the archives
since the subject heading was listed as the entire digest, and not the
specific topic. I encourage everyone ( I know I slip up too!) to be careful, those
of us who get digest forms have to remember not just to hit "reply" but to
also change the subject line when we respond. This kind of post is too valuable
to get lost!
Thanks!
Judy
Judy LeVan Fram, PT, IBCLC, LLLL, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 08:39:28 -0500
From: Gena Henderson <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: LACTNET Digest - 19 Jan 2006 (#2006-61)
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Women definitely need support from all areas when it comes to breastfeeding.
(It doesn't help much if I tell them one thing but their husbands/moms tell
them something else...it sends a very mixed message.) It can make all the
difference in the world as to their success. I am a WIC peer counselor and
it has been shown that peer counselors can make a big difference. WIC also
has a program to educate fathers about breastfeeding called " Fathers
Supporting Breastfeeding." I encourage dads to come to prenatal classes and I
encourage them to come in when mom is having a problem too. I'd love to start a
class just for dads, but I'm not sure that's feasible at this time (or how
populated it would be in this area. LOL) I know that part of our training is on
cultural beliefs about breastfeeding and that some cultures tend to rely more
on what dad (or grandma) thinks than what mom wants. I love it when dads
come to the classes though and I especially love it when they are interested
and start asking questions!
I also know that when nurses are not knowledgeable about breastfeeding, it
can sabotage that relationship from the start. Our local hospitals are
terrible in that regard and I wish WIC would let us do some sort of training for
the nurses...just the basics if nothing else. I can't tell you how many times
a mom has told me that a nurse or doctor told her something ignorant that
caused her more harm than good and it just infuriates me sometimes...but I just
try to give mom the right information and hope that she trusts her instincts
(because they're usually right on) over what the doctor or nurse told her.
Our regional breastfeeding coordinator was asked by a nurse at her local
hospital "Why do you keep coming here? Don't nobody want to breastfeed." Wow.
Unfortunately, that attitude is much more common here than it should be.
You'd be amazed at the amount of nurses who believe that breastmilk is dairy and
will tell moms not to give it while the baby has a fever! ( I was actually
told this about my daughter, but I've heard other women say they've been told
the same by other nurses.) At the risk of sounding biased, in my
experience, it is often older nurses and doctors who are not as up-to-date on
breastfeeding information that give this kind of bad advice, though I'm sure it comes
from every age group.
Getting support definitely makes a difference in duration for many moms. I
know that someone much more experienced than I can give you statistics...I
just wanted to put in my two cents.
Gena Henderson
WIC breastfeeding peer counselor
South Carolina DHEC
> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2006 21:11:05 -0600
> From: Megan Ruff <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Initiation and Duration of Breastfeeding with support
>
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