Once again Barbara Wilson Clay is the voice of reason. Where does anyone
get the right to judge? I remember one mother who called me in tears.
She had gone to what she thought was going to be a supportive meeting
and was told that not sleeping with her child was doing him harm and
implied that she was not a good mother. I may have had my children in my
bed but how can I judge that this is right for everyone else. This
particular mother overcame tremendous obstackes to breastfeed her baby,
including a herniated lumbar disc 5 days PP. She had to nurse standing
up and was in tremendous pain. I told this her that she was indeed a
terific mother and had my admiration for all she had gone through. Maybe
it was unknown how much this mother had to overcome. But that is the
point. We do not always know what else there is going on. Shaming NEVER
helps people learn or grow. Ever hear about positive reinforcement? It
works lots better than negative.

I also had a mother who wanted weaning advise after breastfeeding 2
months. I gave her the information. She called back 1 year later and was
still breastfeeding. She said that long term breastfeeding was never her
plan and she was afraid of the committment; but knowing that if she
wanted to wean I would help her enabled her to continue a little
longer.She found that she loved breastfeeding and had no plans to wean
anytime soon.

I am feeling the same about all the dire threats about nipple confusion
and the evils of formula. Neither should be used UNLESS breastfeeding is
not working. While the problem gets fixed, the baby must be fed.I have
seen too many babies with huge weight losses and mothers either scared
to use a bottle instead of being scared of the lack of feeding or who
have fed their babies and ashamedly admit it.

Sharing information and stressing the many, many positives about
breastfeeding does more to get women to breastfeed and keep them
breastfeeding than all the negative threats and shaming. Just my long 2
cents worth. Ann Anderson,BSN,IBCLC

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html