Karleen mentioned the "cross fertilization of ideas" and I had to pipe up
with the invaluable "cross fertilization" that I have been exposed to in my
many jobs throughout my lifetime - and now in California it has become an
empowering and fantastic experience for me!

 * My co-Leaders in La Leche League have been dietitians, psychologists,
instructors for the deaf, marketing experts, as well as nurses and
physicians.  I've learned so much from each and every one - in fact, I am
very frustrated that in our current breastfeeding coalition we have no
marketing expert - I MISS that viewpoint...that skill which I do not have.

* I've attended conferences mostly in my field - but now will be speaking at
a Children's Obesity conference!  I'll be adding information about "cue
feeding" (both hunger and satiation) to encourage those attending to teach
parents those important messages from babies (and of course demonstrate them
with breastfeeding babies).

* In the MCAH office in Sacramento, California I've been in contact with
dental hygienists, SIDS specialists, physicians working in the Office of
Family Planning as well as dietitians and others who have their own
specialty to promote - we often find ways of stressing each others' message
thereby strengthening our own.

* Our website (www.mch.dhs.ca.gov/programs/bfp) now carries information on
Infant Feeding in Emergencies, Breastfeeding and Contraception, Medications
and Breastfeeding, and the Employed mother and breastfeeding - thanks to the
tenacity of a DIETITIAN in the office who continues to promote breastfeeding
as well as Folic Acid supplementation to women of childbearing age and
preconception education/support.  

In other words - just as I tell the student nurses - there are very few
specialties that do NOT have interaction with mothers or babies who are
breastfeeding.  We need to be POSITIVE and PERSISTENT at the same time.  

Criticizing a group - be it by color, ethnicity (yes, I get the "but not
you, Jeanette - because I'm Hispanic), or specialty is unacceptable.  We
need to become more attuned to what/how we say things that could in effect
reduce the message we are trying to convey...and possibly place a barrier
where a bridge could be built!

Jeanette Panchula
California, USA

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