Carol's response about GFI's philosophy (Babywise) is outstanding. Having
encountered this philosophy in personal and theological circles for over
four years, I concur wholeheartedly with her assessments concerning the
double-speak, mixed messages, and true meanings behind GFI's teachings. Here
's just one example:
-------------------
INSUFFICIENT MILK PRODUCTION--page 90-91 from Prep for Parenting: A Biblical
Perspective, Third Edition, Copyright 1990 by Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo

Regardless of which feeding philosophy you follow, you cannot add in what
nature has left out. In theological terms, you cannot regain what Adam's sin
took away. Because so much guilt is place [sic] on a mother who is not
successful at breastfeeding, many young mothers go to extremes to become
milk sufficient. It is not worth it, especially since nursing does not
automatically make you a good mother.

In most cultures, 5 % of nursing mothers during peace time and upwards to
10 percent during war time will not produce enough milk to satisfy their
infant's needs, or they may initially be milk sufficient but reach a low
ceiling by the third month. That could happen to a mother even though her
baby is cooperative and is sucking frequently, nursing techniques are right,
and she herself has sufficient food, rest, and sympathy.

That is not a flaw in God's original design of motherhood, but the result
of mankind's fallen condition. Depravity is not limited to just the
spiritual realm of reality but extends into all creation, including the
mothering process.

It's an unfortunate thing that in our society's rush to get back to nature,
we have created a perfect-mother stereotype--the high-tech, high-heeled,
American bushwoman. Included inthat fantasy is the image of a young mother
whose milk supply is endless and who gives assurance that every new mom can
measure up to the standard. That is simply not true and only creates for
some a stigma of failure. A woman's ability to lactate and the length of her
lactation is not a valid measurement of good mothering.

What a cruel thing to put before the 10 percent of mothers who do their
best, but for reasons out-of-their [sic] control, are not milk sufficient.
Do not be coerced into extremism. Nursing every hour or wearing lac aids
will not make you milk sufficient. Mothers who try usually end up in a worse
state afterward than before because they have done nothing except heighten
their anxiety.

Any mother who needs to breast-feed that badly should examine the why
behind the desire. It's not worth the emotional misery placed on Mom, Dad,
or the baby.
--------------------
The thought occurred to me that with new folks joining Lactnet every day, it
might be helpful to list the resources available to professionals in the
breastfeeding community in order to familiarize themselves and their clients
with GFI's programs.Helpful sites are:
http://www.mailing-list.net/redrhino/Ezzo/Files.html and
http://www.fix.net/~rprewett/ There is a bibliography listing most known
articles, critiques and statements of concern at
http://www.mailing-list.net/redrhino/Ezzo/Bibliography.pdf
An information packet containing key articles and the AAP Media Alert
release is now available via pdf from [log in to unmask]

The convenience sample cited in the 1998 edition of BW is analyzed by Steve
Rein, PhD in Statistics, at
http://www.mailing-list.net/redrhino/AAP/MyComments.html

Just as no competent HCP can be neutral about the negative effects of
tobacco use, regardless of whether he/she smokes, neither can any
knowledgeable or ethical HCP imho be neutral about Babywise/Preparation for
Parenting. Every HCP I've encountered supporting the use of these teachings
does so because of their personal use of the materials/style on their own
children; NEVER because of their medical training. "Terri Burks, ( a RN, and
her husband, an anesthesiologist) knows the materials, particularly that on
breastfeeding, are not what she learned in nursing school, but doesn't mind.
'I think it's pretty unfair to start a baby out and make them think they
rule the family,' she said. 'There is a natural order and God-given
authority.'" Bradenton-Herald, April 26, 1997. Or as one LPN told me, "I
knew their medical information was wrong, but I did it anyway. They had me
convinced if I didn't schedule feed, my children were going to hell." And of
course, Robert Bucknam talks about his conversion to the materials in the
foreword to Babywise, before co-authoring' this book with Ezzo.

It is a hallmark of cults that bright, highly educated people are the ones
at risk of attraction. People will set aside years of professional cognitive
training because of the emotional hooks cults offer, and the perceived needs
that are met by the cultic teachings.

Anna Swisher
Austin, TX

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