> All of these hazards have been published and have been known for years.
> Parents are rarely told about these side effects because we fear instilling
> guilt and it is bad for business. Guilt is something one chooses to feel. We
> cannot MAKE anyone feel guilty about anything! It's time to blow the whistle
> loud and clear and stop depriving parents of their right to make informed

Marsha, you are so right!
People who make a well informed and consious choice will not feel guilty for
doing so, for they know they have made the right choice for their situation
(thought it might not the right choice for others or in other persons opinions).
I like to remember me as a first time mom to illustrate this (to others or to
myself, just to keep aware!). I've done things with my eldest child (who
nonetheless grew up to be a beautifull, sensitive and independant young woman)
that make me cringe now. But I do not feel guilty for doing so,because it was
the I could do given the circumstances. I may sometimes feel angry, because
nobody told me the things I needed to know to make a better choice.
Just the other day I responded to a new (Dutch) parenting site. The usual list
of advantages and disadvantages of breast and bottle were listed. This time I
did not choose to take the polite,circeling around mode, but the direct one,
stating that I missed some points and felt some others were not correct. Than
added some hazards of not being breastfed. I got a very positive response from
the editor the same evening! and an invitation to add more and they would be
glad to accept my offer to answer expert questions about infant feding! And:
there was no arguing what so ever about guilt! Made me have a very good nights
sleep.

The truth is out there.... and there is still hope that even others than
lactnuts will someday find out :-)

Gonneke van Veldhuizen, IBCLC, living in Maaseik, Belgium
http://www.users.skynet.be/eurolac
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