Cathy Fetherston wrote: "There is a history of rape and assault." and "
However, a minute or so after commencing breastfeeding (time correlates
with normal time for initiation of let down) the mother falls into a deep
sleep." and "The psychiatrist doesn?t feel that this is a dissociative
state as there was never any anxiety apparent regarding breastfeeding, only
a genuine desire t o be able to breastfeed this baby."

My questions include: Is this psychiatrist familiar with all the
publications on breastfeeding and sexual abuse that are available today? (I
posted several references a few weeks ago on this topic.) Is she/he willing
to become so? If not, is there another psychiatrist available who is
familiar with this literature or willing to become familiar with it?

I'm not convinced that an apparent absence of anxiety regarding
breastfeeding and the desire to breastfeed in and of themselves
definitively preclude the possibility that this is a dissociative state.
Given the history of rape and assault, the timing of the mother's change of
state, and her desire to breastfeed, I would sincerely hope that she has
the chance to work with someone who is familiar or willing to become
familiar with the literature on sexual abuse and breastfeeding. In my
opinion, clarification of the psychiatrists training and experience in this
specialized area is in order, as well as the consideration of a second
opinion. The mother could also consider pumping to provide her baby her
milk and/or until treatment (psychological, medical) is found that
effectively addresses this situation. Does/did the mother have the same
reaction to let-down while pumping?

Cynthia Good Mojab, MS Clinical Psychology
(Breastfeeding mother, advocate, independent [cross-cultural] researcher
and author; LLL Leader and Research Associate in the LLLI Publications
Department; and former psychotherapist currently busy nurturing her own
little one.)
Ammawell
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web site: http://ammawell.homepage.com

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