Heather writes:

It  does  not have the same meaning as 'efficiently' - it has none of the
mechinistic overtones!


~~~
This is an interesting discussion thread, as usual, on LN. I marvel at the
human body, and its, yes efficiency, its way of prioritizing what's
important,  the way it gets things done. When it works well, it's simply, and
complicatedly,  amazing. When I use the word "efficiency" in the context of
helping moms  and babies, I set the standard with us. I say that the body is
amazing, and has  as one of its core wisdoms, to be efficient. The body learns,
by making milk and  experiencing milk being nursed by the baby, to make a
good amount of milk, over  time, not too much, not too little and it has a
certain stability to it. This is  efficient. It is also efficient to build in
flexibility of response, and our  supply goes up and down as our little one,
(or a pump if the baby can't) gives  us the information we need to adjust.
Our ability to provide our babies with  homeostatic assistance, and the depth
of multisensory interaction as they  feed and/or are close to us, is an
efficient way of helping them grow and  develop to their own highest standard.
No pump, no AIM,  no assistive feeding device,can do that.  I love this
efficiency, this  stability and this flexibility.  I tell them our bodies set
the  standard for what a machine like a pump, might be able to do.
Breastfeeding is  the standard, and formula feeding the attempt at making the standard,
and it  falls short in many ways. A baby breastfeeding is the standard, and
the pump an  attempt ( and yes I am very grateful there are comfortable,
efficient pumps for  those moms and babies whose situations require them) to
make the standard.  Neither formula nor bottlefeeding nor pumping is the
human physiologic norm or  standard. I trust that this doesn't sound too
mechanistic to moms, but I could  be wrong. My goal is to raise awareness of the
wonder of our life at work,  supporting the mom's and baby's efforts to get to
the standard, and use these  assistive items as tools, rather than gadgets.
 I think our language  and emphasis shifts with each mom and baby we see,
as they need to hear  certain concepts presented in ways that help them
understand their own situation  and work within it and forward to their future
relationship and situation.  I would guess that we all bring something unique
to the families we work with  and this may also explain why one IBCLC might
be a better "fit" than another for  one mother.

Peace,
Judy

Judy LeVan  Fram, PT, IBCLC, LLLL
Brooklyn, NY,  USA
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