As lactation consultants we wear so many hats, but perhaps the two most
important are activists trying to bring about social change and advocates
for particular women with very individual needs. How we present
information, is partly determined by which hat we are wearing.
As a change agent, I want to be especially careful that every claim I make
can be backed up by science, because I don't want to leave myself open to
attack. "Breast is best" can clearly be defended, based on mountains of
research. To me that phrase incorporates the assumption that breast is
also best for the mother, we have evidence to defend that position as well.
To claim that breastfeeding creates "better mothers" is very different,
and while it may be true, I would not want to use this to sell
breastfeeding. It's an open invitation for attack.
When I'm working with an individual mother, I feel that it is sometimes
appropriate to include my own hypotheses, as long as I make it very clear
that they are my own. For instance, I will say "I suspect, based on my
understanding of natural selection, that one reason inverted nipples have
survived and not been selected against, is that humans are such social
creatures, that if breastfeeding is impossible, a baby would be handed off
to someone else to feed" This is not science, it's my opinion and I am
careful to state that.
At times, with some women, it might be helpful to point out that we
believe the hormones of breastfeeding are designed to enhance maternal
behaviors, but at other times this could be destructive. This should be
done on a case by case basis. And we still need to be careful not to use
loaded words, like "better".
I don't think we are that far apart, I think it comes down to how what we
know and what we suspect are presented.
Kathy Lilleskov RN IBCLC
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