Victoria Fisher asks for input before attending a meeting she was invited to
on short notice, of the BF task force.

I would take the invitation as a good sign, a non-hostile gesture, and go
with as open a mind as possible.  Get a sense of what the others feel is the
agenda, and be glad they had the wisdom to invite you, even if it came late
in the game.

Also, it has been identified virtually everywhere the question has been
examined, that conflicting advice on the postpartum ward is distressing and
confusing to mothers, and a bad thing for BF success.  It isn't peculiar to
the institutions in your community, and they don't have to made to feel
substandard if it is a problem there.  Also, divisive attitudes are a
problem everywhere, but if we can just get the advice to be in accordance
with WHO/Unicef's ten steps to successful BF, the attitudes become less
injurious!  It is easier to focus on the objective problem, that advice is
conflicting, as this is much less emotionally threatening than talking about
divisive attitudes.  That, too, has a place, but not at the first meeting of
a new group.  The group will need to get safe within itself first.

(There may be real grounds for calling the local care substandard, but IME
it's a good idea to leave that as well for a follow up meeting!)

Find out, if possible, how they perceive what you can help with, and gently
correct any serious errors in what they think is your role, or your area of
expertise.

Organize some supportive de-briefing for yourself after the fact, but
mainly, be prepared to be pleasantly surprised.  Good luck.
Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

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