May I gently suggest (as part of the current discussion)  that since
breastfeeding is learned behavior, mothers have to learn it from
someone/somewhere.  In a non-bfg culture, this puts a burden on health care
workers, particularly, to be very good, very compassionate teachers.  We
(and I include LCs here because we are workers in the health care vineyard
whether we are health care professionals or not) need to be good observers
as well as good teachers.  We have to be able to distinguish the normal
situation from the not-normal situation.  In the former, we teach a bit and
then stand back and just  offer praise and support.   In the NOT-normal
situation, we have to come up with smart and effective early interventions
that prevent the frightening downward spirals that lead mothers to wean
because they know darn well that their baby really ISN'T eating.  Most
mothers in that situation are doing the best they can amidst a chorus of
critical voices all offering conflicting information.   Our voice is often
just one among many, and why should they automatically trust us, esp. if we
appear judgemental?

How many of us have EVER thanked anyone (even if they were right) who told
us:  I told you so?  Attempts to control people with shame and to blame
victims inevitably leads to resentment.  This kind of communication does not
contribute to learning, but rather to a resistance to both the message and
the messenger.

When I see a mother who has had a failed lactation, I always assume she did
the best she could under the circumstances, and that her need for help was
not fully met.  It is my job to meet her current need for help with all the
skill I possess, and to tell her the truth as best I understand it.  I never
sugar-coat the consequences, but I believe we have to try real hard to not
deliver the information about risks of formula as if it were our role in
life to dole out punishment to people who appear not to be trying hard
enough.

Barbara Wilson-Clay BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
http://www.lactnews.com

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html