Gail wrote:

> the reason they seem
>too relaxed is that they DON'T recognize what they are seeing - either
>because they haven't been taught about BF or just haven't had enough
>exposure to it.


True. But I think some of the reason is they have been half-taught about
bf...it's an example of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing.

Here, the less helpful  midwives and HVs know that timing feeds and
scheduling them to four-hourly or whatever is  no good, and they also know
why (sort of).

But from that, they extrapolate that feeding endlessly round the clock with
a baby who is never satisfied is okay and normal - because you should 'feed
on demand' and if that demand is never met, then, well, tough
luck.....that's what bf is like.

Then the mother gets upset because she thinks her milk can't be good enough
- 'because I do nothing but try to feed him all day and night and he's
still unhappy most of the time.'

Unhappy, unsatisfying bf is *not normal* ( as we all know here)...but
because, as Gail says, HPs have not had enough exposure to what is normal,
mothers are expected to put up with it.


Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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