--Snip:--"Why is it so easy for moms to "know" about pumps, and yet not know
where to get breastfeeding information and help?  Why do they come in to the
process expecting difficulty and failure?  Most of the moms I see have only
negative stories from friends, have not attended a bf class, and yet seem to
"know" that pumps are used when there are problems, which apparently are
assumed to be inevitable."

I'll take a stab at an answer. Along with the formula culture, we are a
"toys and gadgets" culture. We like "things". These are all the cute little
devices, usually electronic, that I call "Yuppie Toys": cell phones, pagers
that give you the news & weather, mini-'puters, 2" TVs (especially color
TVs), etc. I'm not slamming these. They're fun. I have one or two myself.
Some are essential to our jobs and businesses. So why not have a pump?

It's hard for new moms to understand that baby doesn't really NEED anything
but mom - or maybe she's not comfortable with BEING needed that much - the
obligation leaves her feeling smothered. (are we back to PPD again?) So she
pumps to give milk to Dad or Gramma or anyone else so she can be out from
under the emotional pressure of RESPONSIBILITY. Maybe those warm & fuzzy
hormones haven't worked one her yet.

It's also hard to learn to trust her body to produce milk when she needed
so much help to gestate & give birth. There's also the expectation that
babies should feed for 15-20 min, then sleep for 2-3 hours. If baby care
doesn't follow that routine, something's wrong.

Another thing: pumps are very effectively marketed. LCs often work out of
their homes & market by word of mouth or by business card. Few can afford
Yellow Pages advertisements. We usually use our residential phone rather
than paying for a business line in our houses, so we don't even have the
advantage of a single line Business listing. Pumps are highly visible. LCs
are almost invisible. We need to think like a new mom. When they need help,
where do they look? Whom do they ask? That's where our marketing should be.
Maybe more of us who are "hiding" in our homes should come on out, form a
loose association or partnership to share costs and clients, set ourselves
up in a visible location, and market ourselves. There's room for everyone -
really, there is.

Just a thought...

--- Phyllis Adamson, IBCLC
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