I would agree with Karleen about the vital importance of information,
encouragement and support.  In what situations do we warn patients of the
possibility/probability of failure, or lecture them about how hard their
choices will be, how virtuous their character should be? I can't think of
any; maybe it might be when we're afraid they might sue if they were not
warned; when a procedure that is being considered is of doubtful success;
when we want to protect ourselves from disappointment after investing too
much.

What do we have to lose with positive support? After reading Diane
Wiesinger's "Watch Your Language"  surely not guilt, for inducing guilt in
the mother?   Mothers are entitled to aim high, and if they only reach part
of the way, to regret and feel sad at their loos, but proud of what they did
achieve, and glad they tried.

This is very unscientific, but you can blame that on a third world
perspective, where mothers know that all mothers are able to breastfeed....
Rather than self discipline being what is needed, I think what has made
mothers succeed in the course of both normal breastfeeding, and
breastfeeding in unusual circumstances, has been sheer pigheaded
determination to the point that it doesn't occur to them that they are not
going to breastfeed, whatever it takes.  I think that babies often somehow
"know" what their mothers expect, and they cooperate.

Having said that, I know it's an oversimplification.  I also know that
mothers in a first world culture, and in transition, quickly and easily lose
confidence, and without confidence, breastfeeding is next to impossible.
They also need unstinting information, encouragement and support.

Nan Jolly M.B. B.Ch. LLLL
Port Elizabeth, South Africa

>  I can't imagine telling a newly post-partum mum
> "you will need discipline to breastfeed this baby, before you decide
whether
> you want to breastfeed think about whether you have what it takes"
>
> > and how long the
> > whole process will take. Nobody tells them they will need self
discipline.
>
>
> IMO what mothers need from lactation professionals is support and
> information. Relactation is difficult in some instances but it can also be
> very easy.
>We should not prejudge
> who will and will not be able to successfully relactate.
> Mums do not need to be told that
> relactation will be easy but they also do not need to be told that it will
> be difficult, they do need to be given good information and encouragement
> and support.
> Karleen Gribble
> Australia

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