Dear Friends:
    Pam Hirsch brings up some good points.
    I recall at least one study, about smoking, where  the MD saying "Stop 
smoking" was sufficient for most people to change their  habits.
    If healthcare professionals are strong about "Must  use carseat" and 
"Must put baby on back for safe sleeping", and are unequivocal  in their message, 
folks listen. They may or may not choose to do what is said;  however, the 
major reduction in Crib-Deaths in the US (maybe even the world???)  has come from 
the change in infant sleep position. So there is positive impact  on the 
public from a strong message. 
 
    We NEVER say, "Well, put your baby on its back  to sleep if you have the 
resources to do that, and it is convenient to do so.  And if you put your baby 
on its tummy to sleep sometimes, that's alright. Any  back sleeping position 
is better than none." (concept courtesy of James Akre in  his lovely book, 
'The Problem with Breastfeeding'.)
 
    When healthcare professionals are strong about  "Must breastfeed" then 
more of the public will get the message that it is  important. Not 
everyone.......just more.
    This is the ultimate kindness, to give people the  messages that will 
make the most difference in their lives, for the best  outcomes.
    
    At the same time, I've finally learned (after years  of struggle) that it 
is not my personal responbility to increase the bf  statistics in the US with 
every single postpartum woman that I see. I have to  help that mother at that 
time see the importance of breastfeeding, or  at least human milk, in her 
life and that of her baby. I need to listen to her  story, and do my best to see 
the world from her eyes, while keeping my intention  for the dyad to do the 
best thing for their health. If she doesn't want to  breastfeed, then pump and 
bottle-feed, which is way better than any  alternative. 
 
    That doesn't change the facts that babies are  handicapped from the start 
of life if they are fed artificially, even as this  mother does what works 
best in her life.
 
    Working with healthcare professionals is another  story. There is no 
excuse for healthcare professionals to waffle on the  importance of breastfeeding. 
How to make that message palatable, and sustain my  own credibility is a 
challenge of my new job.
 
    What do you all think?
    warmly,
    
 
Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE
Lactation Consultant,  Philadephia Department of Public Health
Maternal-Child Adjunct Faculty, Union  Institute and University
Film Reviews Editor, Journal of Human  Lactation
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com

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

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET email list is powered by LISTSERV (R).
There is only one LISTSERV. To learn more, visit:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html