>Dear all:
>
>I can understand why the dessert model might operate for some 
>mothers, but the more I think about it, the dessert model sends the 
>wrong message.


Yay! I so agree, Susan. For all the excellent reasons you cite - this 
is just not a helpful analogy in our society, and actually, it's a 
risky one because of the messed-up relationship our society (and 
especially women) has with food.

>  It doesn't help the mother understand that by interacting with her 
>baby, trying different things and observing how her baby responds, 
>that she will LEARN what works for HER baby.

This is such a difficult thing for mothers to believe - but that 
should be a spur to us spelling it out. I have used the term 
'breastfeeding is a relationship' many times, but I now think I will 
swap this for the more accurate 'breastfeeding is an interaction' 
when I am dealing with the question, 'yes, but how do I know when 
he's had enough/when he needs feeding/when to swap sides?' often said 
with some anxiety. I also let them know that 'sometimes you'll get it 
a bit wrong' because we all get things wrong, but as long as things 
are usually put right again fairly soon, it will be ok.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK
-- 
http://www.heatherwelford.co.uk

http://heatherwelford.posterous.com

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