I liked Kathy Eng's post a lot.

Lately when I teach about breastfeeding prenatally, I address decision
making.  Most of the moms WANT to breastfeed. Most of them are very well
education and know the issues.  If they don't, they do when I've
finished the class <G>.  What happens later on may be a different issue.
I get them when they've come home.

It is important to acknowledge that if a woman has had a difficult
tiring delivery, with no sleep after for a few days, is in pain, has a
breastfeeding challenge, is having a problem in the middle of the night,
doesn't know where to turn, got little or no advice, or bad advice in
hospital, etc, may make a decision that we don't like about her feeding.

The point is that she will make the decision that is works for her, her
baby, and her family, at that specific moment in time, based on the
information, confidence, support and judgement she can bring to the
problem.  If that decision includes the use of formula, then we talk
about where to go next.  The next day is a different day.  Her baby has
already changed, her breast have changed.  It's the opportunity to
re-think what she wants then work on how to make it happen.

Yes, all babies want to be breastfed.  Yes, that is their choice.  We
just don't live in a society that is there yet.  And not all women are
willing to go to the wall in the face of problems to make breastfeeding
work for them.  No, I don't pretend to understand it, but I see it
daily.  Perhaps, I can convince them for the next baby if I don't
alienate them with the current one.  Or perhaps I can convince them to
keep going just a bit longer (to work out the problems) if I understand
that they did the best they could at a particular moment.  

Judith


Judith Hayman, BSc, BScN, RN, IBCLC
Public Health Nurse, Lactation Consultant
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit

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