Susan wrote:
<Dear K. and all,
I would be happy to meet anybody whose pediatrician spent TEN
minutes expounding on health benefits of breastfeeding!!>
This was at least 30 years ago, when it was rare for anyone to
"interview" their pediatrician prenatally. I think he was referring to
anticipatory guidance from the family practice docs and OB's giving
prenatal care. That made the question all the more ludicrous! Time is
money. Even moreso nowadays. Delegate it to the nurse or CB educator!
(Although I have a relative-in-law, who got her OB care from an OB, and
her kids' care from a Ped., who, when pregnant, went to see her GP for
sinus congestion and allergies. She still, to this day, if reminded, can
rant about his time spent trying to point out the hereditary tendency for
allergy, and that if she had allergies, her baby's risk was higher, and
she could reduce the risk by breastfeeding. She insists she went to him
because of her nose, and she didn't think her breasts were any of his
business!)
Many of the physicians in our town in the 70's tried, for a while, to
encourage BrF. But when "pie-in-the-sky" before delivery met reality with
little skilled help or follow-up, most of them seemed to back off on the
gut feeling they were dealing a potential guilt card if they came on too
strong and it didn't work out.
I suspect I know that "gut feeling". It takes finesse to know how to
phrase it to some moms who are culturally already "locked in" to FF. I
still sometimes feel I'm walking on eggshells when I try "pushing the
envelope". I have to tell myself I can't be everybody's "savior", and
feeding, after all, is just one part of mothering. I consider it her
loss, find SOMETHING genuine to compliment her on, and move on to the
next mom who might appreciate my time and information more.
Jean
***********************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA
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