"Now the dilemma.....I haven't been asked by any mother for breastfeeding
help. They all know that I am a LC,but they are in my class for the infant
massage training. Do I stick myself out and make suggestions?"

YES! I say this because, although I've never met you, Nikki Lee, I can tell
from your lactnet postings that you have what it takes to do this graciously
and gently. I wouldn't recommend sticking your neck out this way to just
anyone, but I'm pretty confident that you could offer them help in such a
way that you're not yammering at them or preaching to them about what they
"should" do, or disrespecting any of the others in the group.

I guess the trick is the light touch - initially, while you're exploring
where these women really are about breastfeeding, you can make teaching
statements in general terms: "Sometimes women will find that they've gotten
some advice that really isn't serving them or their babies very well - they
may have been told that they are nursing too often, or that BFing is hard on
their baby, or that the baby is allergic to its mother's milk. People say
things like this mainly because they aren't very well-informed about how
important BFing really is, or how to help someone continue nursing so that
baby & mom are both getting what they need. But almost always these BFing
glitches can be "fixed" so that mothers & babies can continue to enjoy
nursing."

Or, as you & these moms get to know each other, you might find it's
perfectly appropriate to just *ask* them if they'd like you to help them
with this, or if they've made a decision they are comfortable with. And, of
course if they say that no, they think what the doctor said makes sense for
them and they just want to move on from full BFing, you empathize
appropriately and let it go.

It can NEVER be wrong to speak about why BFing is so important, or to let
women know there are options for them beyond what some idiot may have told
them. It's all in your manner, and if you are gentle and respectful and
supportive of *them* as people (not just as a milk-machine, or even just in
their mother-role), you will not be offending. Esp. if you give it over to
them, with the idea that you're there to help them achieve what they want.
Obviously they want good things for their little babies, or they wouldn't be
in an infant massage class - and continuing to BF (IF that's what they
want!) is another good thing that you may also be able to help them with.

This kind of situation is among my favorite things about being an LC. It's
part of what I think of as the "art" of BF counseling - the ability to get
to the core of things, while making the mother know that she is valued and
respected by you even if she chooses to do things differently than you would
recommend. It's not necessarily everybody's greatest strength, but Nikki, I
think you've "got it". Go for it!

Cathy Bargar RN IBCLC Ithaca NY

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html