Jen: I would talk to the LC since you know her; she may approach the manager for a meeting between LCs and CBEs so that any breastfeeding info in CB class is consistent and accurate; that way, she is not being singled out. Carolyn Schindewolf, LCCE, IBCLC ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jen Delaney" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 1:45 PM Subject: Question about accurate information in Childbirth Classes > Hi, I have a question about the appropriate response to a childbirth > educator who is giving inaccurate information about baby's feeding > frequencies. I am attending classes with a client as her Doula, as her SO > has exited the picture and she needs additional support. There have been > several issues during the 4 weeks that I have made notes on and plan on > giving a kind but honest critique in the hopes that she may seek out > additional newer, more accurate information for her classes. I will be > training as a CBE myself, so this is near and dear to my heart. She stated > in class "Babies eat about 6-8 times a day". She was referring to newborns > and the neonatal period. I spoke up and asked, "Isn't that number a > little low? I understood breastfed babies eat about 8-12 times a day?" > > Unfortunately, she kind of just shrugged me off, as if to say, no, you're > wrong, it's 6-8 times. This was really odd to me, unless she is a diehard > formula promoter. I have BF 4 children myself, one is 27 months and still > nursing, and I've been a BF peer counselor and a doula for almost 5 years. > I am not an expert, yet, by any means, but I am a serious student of > lactation and it seemed that she was quoting what a FORMULA fed baby would > do. Isn't it the ethical responsibility of a person teaching a childbirth > class to either A. Always define the method of feeding in regards to > frequency or B. Always use the biological norm when referring to newborn > behaviour, and then defining the sub-norm, i.e. ABM feeding? > > My big concern is that the other parents in the class are walking away > from the class thinking nursing will be 6-8 times a day from the start. > This IME, is setting them up for failure, when their precious bundle wants > to eat TWICE as often, they will assume they're "not making enough milk" > "the baby is always hungry" "I'm failing" and they will , once again, turn > to formula. I have seen this already, over and over in my community and > to have a CBE stating without definition, babies eat 6-8 times a day, and > then when questioned, to not grasp the opportunity to define, BF babies > eat 8-12, formula-fed MAY eat as little as 6-8 times a day, is very > frustrating. > > What is the best way to approach this issue? > It may seem like nitpicking, but I see it as the beginning of a long list > of small failures (such as hospital practices just after birth, baby > seperation,etc) that are slowly eroding the mother's foundation of > knowledge and support before the baby is even born! > I don't want to go directly to managerial or administrative staff, > because that won't stop someone from giving out incorrect information if > they believe they're right. The odd thing is, I know the LC on staff at > this hospital, I've collaborated with her for pts. and I've sat in on her > Breasfeeding classes and she's VERY clear about the frequency of feeding > and cluster feeding and sleep patterns, getting enough sleep at night, > etc. The disparity is alarming, as then parents attending BOTH classes > will be getting conflicting information. > Help! > thanks in advance, > Jennifer Delaney > > *********************************************** > > Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html > Mail all commands to [log in to unmask] > To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail > To start it again: set lactnet mail (or > [log in to unmask]) > To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or > ([log in to unmask]) > To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html Mail all commands to [log in to unmask] To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask]) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask]) To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]