I think when we are discussing the negative impacts that birth practices 
can have on breastfeeding, we also have to consider the fact that there 
are often many things (outside of our control) that can impact this time 
as well. 

A baby's position in utero can often negatively impact the baby's first 
attempts at breastfeeding (or bottle feeding for that matter). If the baby 
has had his hand pushed up against his jaw(for instance) for weeks (and 
maybe months) he is certainly going to have a difficult time manipulating 
his jaw in a productive way. A baby delivered after being completely 
posterior is going to possibly have a heck of a headache. I have been 
learning a lot about the possibilities of using cranioscaral therapy to 
treat breastfeeding problems.

I have been a labor and delivery nurse for a long time. I work in a 
facility that encourages unmedicated labors (as the patient wishes), keeps 
interventions to a minimum as much as possible, keeps patients out of bed 
and moving and keeps the baby with the mother after birth (no transition 
nursery where I am)and I have seen completely unmedicated babies refuse to 
nurse for days as well as having seen completely medicated babies go to 
breast successfully from the get-go.

I certainly agree that medical interventions can lead to difficulties, but 
at the same time, I think it is only fair to add that sometimes nature 
just takes its course and we, as lactation consultants, doulas, childbirth 
educators, nurses, doctors,and the like have to understand that. It's not 
always someone's fault that something doesn't go as planned. Babies don't 
always read the "guide books." There will be complications and "bumps in 
the road" often and all we can do is prepare our familes-to-be for that 
possibility and help them through it as best we can if the need arises.

We come together here to learn from each other. I know we often don't 
agree or don't like what someone else has to say about whatever the 
subject matter is. But that's what makes life interesting.

Betsy Riedel RNC, IBCLC

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

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