Ruth asked how it is that breastfeeding practices can lag so far behind
best practice. I totally agree with Sally and Kathleen .. quote:  The
resistance has something > to do, I believe, with caregivers' own
breastfeeding beliefs and > experiences.
Ha! That is so right. Silly me for thinking that
Manager's/Administrator's/Dr's would leave personal preferences out of
their decision-making.

But I think it goes further than that.  You also find great resistance in
those who have no children.  I feel it has to do with the medical model so
many of us were/are educated under .. the need to "do" something.  Allowing
nature to take its course ... ie putting mothers and babies skin-to-skin,
keeping them together, etc is anathema to this imperative.  That's why
evidence-based practice in other fields is implemented quickly - because it
usually involves an intervention befitting of our training and
status.  Consider the rapid uptake of CTG monitoring, sectioning breeches,
etc ... old customs didn't die hard when they were introduced.  It's the
power shift that many find so hard to let go.  Where's my value and
importance if I support a mother to have a natural childbirth and the
mother then keeps her baby with her and doesn't experience all those
potential problems I am so well trained to recognise and rescue her
from?  Do I get as much recognition and thanks from colleagues and parents
in my role as a facilitator as I would in my role as an interventionist?

There's a saying which I guess many of you would know:  A good midwife is
someone who has a good pair of hands and knows when to sit on them.

Denise Fisher
mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://www.health-e-learning.com

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