>
>So I don't think the war is lost yet.


Teresa, you are right to be concerned that midwifery birth may not be
the sole answer. We have midwives in the UK, and they are the lead
health professional in most births. Biut the caearean section rate is
shooting skywards, midwives are demoralised and many of them are not
cut out to be social rebels and don't challenge enough.

>
>And neither is the breastfeeding battle. They thought they had us beaten
>forty years ago, when breastfeeding rates were incredibly low. Most women
>didn't even consider breastfeeding. You weren't allowed to nurse in public
>places.  It's better today than it was then.

yes, but not better than it was 20 years ago, at least according to
UK stats which are fairly simiular to US ones. We have plateued WRT
initiation, and there has been no improvement since 1975-1980, and
maintenance is about the same too.  There is more mixed breast and
formula feeding than there was even 5 years ago.

Sorry to sound so depressing!

It may be that we have yet to see the improvements in education of
healthcare professionals work through....though I doubt it. I think
the social and economic pressures count for a lot.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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