>There are so many examples, but the bottom line, in
>almost all other aspects of health care, providers have no problem describing
>risk and benefits of other life decisions.  Why would discussing the risks of
>formula feeding be any different?

<<Ann....it is different for so many reasons.
I have to respectfully disagree.  Breastfeeding is not the only issue that
involves an interplay of many factors that lead to the decisions people
make.  It's not even the only issue where one person's behavior makes such
an impact on another person's behavior.  We tend in medicine to believe that
people make decisions based on some kind of reasonable consideration of the
"facts" but in my experience, in all areas of medicine, the "facts" are not
always, or even usually, the major deciding factor.  Many, many times folks'
decisions are made under other influences, not just with regard to
breastfeeding.
While I would never belittle or ridicule someone for making a decision
different that I wish them too, I have no problem sharing the truth.  I have
found, though, that sometimes people will make decisions that they
themselves feel are wrong, and then will feel guilty later, regardless of
how I present information.  I don't agree that women who have all the data
and support and choose not to breastfeed won't feel guilty if we just speak
to them nicely.  Sometimes there are consequences to our actions, regardless
of our motivation.  I always tell moms "When we know better, we do better.
All we can do now is go on and make the best decisions we can from today."
Jennifer Tieman
Family Physician
Mom to 4, including nursling Caroline Rose born 5/31/03
(10 days until my breastmilk turn to water!)

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