Amen! Kay -------------- Original message from Kay G <[log in to unmask]>: -------------- > I am a long-term lurker on lactnet, a mother who was both successful and > unsuccessful at breastfeeding, a NICU RN, and a hospital-based IBCLC. > I am immensely grateful to the numerous experts who share their wisdom and > stories on this messageboard, and to people like Morgan who bravely > battle "the system". > BUT....One issue that I see recurring repeatedly on this messageboard, that > does nothing but create a polarizing "us against them" mentality, is the > constant criticism of healthcare personnel. The recent posts about "weekend- > trained" LCs in hospitals is a perfect example. > I understand that there are many changes that could be made in the provision > of care to mothers in the US, and a lot of education to be done for many > HCPs, but when negative stereotyping, generalizations, and broad criticisms > are made, it tars us all with the same brush, and that is a disservice to all > the > nurses, doctors, Lactation Consultants (under whichever credential they were > trained), and other healthcare personnel that go about their days trying to > provide the best care possible to mothers and babies, at the risk of being > blamed, criticized, or sued, if something goes "wrong". > Over my 20 year career, in several settings, I have worked with some amazing > people - > from the L&D nurses who help anxious mothers put the baby to the breast for > the first time, even though they have another mother about to deliver in the > room next door, > to the Nursery Nurses who valiantly attempt to help babies latch to some of > the flattest nipples I've ever seen, > to the Lactation Consultants who skip lunch yet again because a baby decides > he is ready to eat at the same time as the LC's lunch break, > to the NICU nurses who gently co-erce the frightened premie mother into > doing STSC with her baby all attached to tubes and wires, or squeal gleefully > when a new mother brings those precious drops of colostrum for her baby, > to the Neos who hold off on starting feeds until the mother is able to provide > her own milk, and were instrumental in getting our Milk Bank up and running. > We are not all devils worshipping at the altar of medicalized birth. > Many of us work tirelessly, day after day, assessing each situation as it > arises, supporting the breastfeeding dyad, and living in hope that one day the > tide will turn and society, as a whole, will fully understand and support a > birthing and mothering experience that is in the best interests of all parties > involved. > > Please be gentle with your criticisms, resist the generalizations, and remember > that stereotyping benefits no-one. > > Kay > > *********************************************** > > Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html > To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] > Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] > COMMANDS: > 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set > lactnet nomail > 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail > 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet > 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome > *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome