Unfortunately I think this reflects the belief of many in our culture that breastfeeding should only be done for a short period of time.  The comment that she should come back six weeks after weaning shows that the optomotrist believed that the mother would not be breastfeeding very long.  My daughter's opthomologist recommends being re-evaluated for prescriptions every two years.  Why did this optomotrist not consider that some mothers may breastfeeding for 2 years or longer?  Hopefully this kind of bias towards long term breastfeeding will disappear as the population becomes more accustomed to breastfeeding as the norm.  If this mother is inclined to be an educator in this situation, she could introduce the concept of long term breastfeeding to her optomotrist in a phone conversation and ask if he/she would reconsider the eye exam/ prescription.  (Obviously, if this mother was not interested in breastfeeding for more than a few weeks, she wouldn't have contacted her lactation consultant for help.)  If the optomotrist still refuses, finding another provider that will accomodate her, along with a factual, well-worded letter explaining why to both the 1st optomotrist and her insurance company (if there is one involved) would perhaps help to chip away at the boulder that breastfeeding women face everyday.
Keep us posted on what happens!
Glenda Dickerson
B'ham, Alabama USA
----- Original Message ----- 
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  Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 2:34 PM
  Subject: LACTNET Digest - 20 Feb 2004 - Special issue (#2004-293)



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