In a message dated 9/13/01 11:39:39 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:
<< With the information that I found, I believe that LAM can be
effective if the “rules” are followed properly. My question, is this
taught frequently to mothers? If so, who is teaching it to mothers?
If not, why? >>
LAM is primarily taught in the US in "fringe circles", such as among
homebirthers or those who bf long-term or use primarily holistic medicine.
This is often all the same group of people, so it is very small. I think
there are many factors, such as money, control, lack of respect for women and
our bodies' normal cycles, assumptions about lifestyle choices women are
willing to make and fear that it really is this easy. If word gets out that
there are huge benefits to a lifestyle of keeping babies close, nursing on
demand w/o artificial nipples, etc then what does that say about the
liefstyle choices valued in our culture? What do we lose by engaging in them?
Connection with our own bodies as well as our babies? And isn't connection
the most primary human need? This is a can of worms the medical establishment
doesn't dare have opened, b/c there is so much in that can that makes their
drugs and methods unecessary, invalid or even dangerous. After all, if a
woman can space out 3 babies in 13 years, while gaining the protection to her
own body of LA and breastfeeding, w/o ever using a drug, are the risks of
those drugs acceptable? I witnessed first-hand in a clinic the heavy-handed
control wielded over women in all aspects of their fertility and the very
palpable fear of women learning about LAM.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA
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