Kathy wrote:
"I thought of LLL as a bunch of fanatics. If I had the term breast feeding
Nazi, I don't think I would have used it, but it certainly speaks to the
fanatacism I mistakenly believed was present. I think that in order to break
through myth and misinformation requires stregnth and determination which can
easily be mistaken for lunacy by the ill-informed."
~~
Well back in the 80s as a LLLLeader, we were all making statements, some of
which we had to revise... remember blow drying for all sore nipples? :) We are
all probably revising our approaches all the time. Still, the whole fanatic
thing can be painful. I remember two instances where people referred to me as
a fanatic or breastfeeding Nazi, not knowing they were standing next to me
in the Park while making these judgments. Sadly, in both instances, they were
upset not because I had talked to them directly, but because of what someone
else told them I said, and their interpretation of my remarks was "fanatic."
In one instance I was helping a mom who had to wean within days due to a
sudden diagnosis of cancer and imminent treatment. We talked a long while about
how sad she was, what breastfeeding had meant to her, and I mentioned that if
she wanted, there was a chance she could keep some milk supply going and go
back after the chemo was over. Her friend took this to mean I was "pushing"
the mother to keep up breastfeeding. Most of us work very hard to speak the
truth in love, and then let the mother make her decision. But anytime we are
in the position of providing information or support she may not get anywhere
else, we are in a vulnerable place.
Thanks for your email, Kathy, reminding us what we are doing and saying may
be taken as being "out there" at this point in history ( like the MD who told
a client today that her baby's tongue-tie, slow weight gain and interminable
nursings have nothing to do with each other and I quote:" the tongue has
nothing to do with breastfeeding", this from a pediatric ENT/oral surgeon... I
will maintain my lunacy in support of mothers and babies...:)
Peace,
Judy, very happy her 19yr old son gave his Effective Speaking talk on
Breastfeeding and was well-received...:)
Judy LeVan Fram, PT, IBCLC, LLLL, Brooklyn, NY, USA
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