Gotta disagree in part.
I agree with you that breastfeeding in normal situations should be a woman's
prerogative and issue, and in most cases doesn't need to be 'medicalized.'
However, I am so delighted to see good lactation information and
breastfeeding practice introduced into the hospital (even NICU) after 30+
years in the dark ages, you can call it "medicalized" or anything else you
want. Just leave it there. We are making progress. We are finally seeing
the pediatricians, ob/s and fp's actually REFERRING mothers to the L.C's
rather than solving all their problems with a bottle of formula.
Since I don't see normal breastfeeding dyads (if they see me, they've got a
problem), I like feeling like I have the support of a whole team of
'experts' working with me. (RD's, peds, neonatologists, RN's, OT's, other
LC's and pharmacologists.) Call it medicalization if you like. I call it
'networking.'
When I had my first baby in 1961, I was the only breastfeeding mother in the
whole hospital, and I won't bore you with what happened and what I was told.
By the time I had # 6, I was a lot smarter, and at the time didn't want the
"medical" personnel interfering with what was a normal process. However, I
was mighty happy to have lots of professional help with #5 who had a cleft
palate along with velo-cardio-facial syndrome. In some cases, successful
breastfeeding must fit with the medical situation, and is therefore
"medicalized."
Come on, let's remember the scientific process that finally made clinical
managegment of lacation 'evidence-based' and therefore acceptable to the
medical community. I, for one, would not like to go back to the maternal
and infant mortality rates of the 1800's just to keep birth and
breastfeeding from being 'medicalized.'
I think I am gonna get bombarded!
Deanne, BSN, IBCLC
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