Susan Smallwood wrote:

>As a mother who did stop nursing b/c of no supply this comment of
>ignorance as an excuse hits hard.  So I feel I need to chime in.  My
>body was absolutely physically traumatized by my hospital staff landing
me with a spinal headache which lasted for 3 weeks.

Susan,
Please understand that I am about to generalize your situation and I
hope that you will take no offense, as none is intended.

As a homebirth advocate and natural childbirth educator (as well as a
volunteer for Nursing Mothers' Counsel) I can almost see how this
situation, which is far too common, could be blamed on "ignorance."
However, I personally would never actually blame the mother this way.
It may be a fine line to walk, since I educate parents with the hope
of avoiding just this type of birth outcome (and therefore, working
backward, being UNeducated and UNdedicated to natural birth =
potential bad outcome).

BUT the system is just too huge for one mom to battle!  The lack of
respect for mothers and babies in many hospitals makes birth
difficult to navigate for every family, whether they choose hospital,
home, or birth center.  Preparations must be made based on the policy
of the local hospital, and even the best laid birth plans may in the
end require the help of this hospital.  So the pre-existing system is
always there as the framework within which even the most educated and
dedicated to natural birth (and a good beginning for breastfeeding)
must birth within.

Another big factor is community support.  Let's hypothetically blame
the mother for her "ignorance" again -- after a less-than-optimal
birth outcome, breastfeeding COULD still be established if the mom
had perfect support systems in place, with wonderful LCs, banked milk
or friends with milk to donate, someone to help with the household
chores and older children, perhaps a doctor who would cut the
frenulum if required, a supportive husband/partner who understands
the value of breastmilk, and the list goes on and on!  It's just too
much to expect one person to do, to inform herself and change society
and her community in the nine months leading up to the birth!

Luckily, there are a lot of people out there who do NOT blame mothers
for this situation (such as all of us on this list!) and are out
there working for better hospital policies and more
breastfeeding-hospitable communities as well as trying to educate
individual moms and families on these important issues.  We are all
trying to end this "ignorance" for the good of moms and babies
everywhere.

Katherine
mom etc. in Portland, Oregon, USA

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