In a message dated 9/19/2005 8:37:26 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: Educational needs of mothers with low SES I just wanted to say that I grew up as a teenager in Appalachia in the 1960s. At that time, many mothers could be described as being low socioeconomic status. I guess I was even included in that classification, but didn't know it until Dan Rather and CBS news lined all the students up in front of the school to announce the President's Appalachia program on the evening news and told the world to " look into the eyes of poverty". At that time, probably 95% of babies were breastfeeding throughout Appalachia, at least until they were put on other food of some type-cow's or goat milk, cereal, etc. If you look at breastfeeding rates in North Carolina, they are still consistently higher in Appalachia then other parts of the state. Why is this when the mothers of Appalachia still struggle with education, and economic challenges? I think that WIC contributed to a decline in the breastfeeding rates in their target populations in the 1970-1980s by offering formula and forgetting to mention breastfeeding. Those of us who are older, remember this time in WIC. The women of Appalachia are proud and very reluctant to accept welfare or charity and so WIC was not as accepted at those times so babies were breastfed, and those women are now the aunts and grandmothers who women of childbearing age turn to for support and information. The population there gets much of their education from their same sex family members--grandmothers, aunts,etc who probably breastfed their own children. The women also relied on 'Granny midwives" a great deal until the state decided that medicalized childbirth is safer. I remember Granny midwives who were trained by the Kentucky Nursing Frontier were still delivering babies in the 1970-80s. My background, observations made from my childhood experiences ( including a community member who delivered over 3000 babies safely at home in the hills of Appalachia), and the education I received in public health education, all have formed my style of teaching. This includes not judging a women by her socioeconomic levels, education levels, cultural beliefs, or country of birth. I have found in my 23 years of helping mothers breastfeed their babies, in my community which is predominately African American, and low income, that it is most helpful to listen, find out what they know, why they know this, where their education, and support comes from, who are their helpers, their role models, and their value system, and then provide an combination of support, along with some education, with some common sense and an understanding of their community and family life and values. Just because a women doesn't have a degree, diploma or classwork, doesn't mean that she doesn't want to learn, or doesn't already have the information she needs. Sometimes they just don't let you know what they know because they don't trust you or the system. You have to go slow, be understanding and patient, and wait to be accepted before you are able to see any changes. Barbara Whitehead, BS, IBCLC, RLC Eastern NC *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html