Nikki Lee wrote,

> In the USA, people don't ask for help. It isn't the cultural norm. We
> are supposed to take care of everything ourselves, especially if we are
> women.
>
Very true! And this has an effect on breastfeeding way beyond not
phoning for help. Not accepting that we all have needs makes it hard to
recognize that a baby needs to be held, cuddled, nursed for comfort and
not accepting that we have needs means that we don't talk about the
discouragement, fear, concern, etc. that we feel as mothers. We *do* say
we need a good night's sleep, but we don't say that we need to rest
because of how overwhelmed we feel, and because of that we don't know
how to deal with all the feelings. I was discussing whether "the
negative comes out" at LLL meetings, that all seem so positive and
warm-and-fuzzy, with a non-member. I said, well, it comes out in tears,
talk, body language, everything, but the point is, once it is out it
really is out, and can be worked through. A mother who doesn't phone
doesn't know that.

             ***********************************************
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