In a message dated 2/18/2006 2:27:25 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
she did turn to me and ask me what I would do it it were me, I had to
honestly answer her at that moment in time: "This is your body and your
baby and you have to make that decision."
Dear Friends:
Jean shares some powerful thoughts about women and their power.
Please, with all respect and honor, tell me why your answer was alright.
She asked you what you would do if you were her. Would not an honest answer
have been, "I would go for the external version" or "External version saves
some women from a cesarean section" or "Evidence says that it is worth a
shot...." ??
This is where I make the most mistakes with mothers. I have been
brainwashed/trained to take the middle course. I have fear in me. I mustn't
get the medical staff upset. I could be subject to harassment from peers
happy with the free samples. (This has happened repeatedly in a number of
different childbirth education programs I have worked with.)
When a mother asks me if a bottle of formula once a day is alright, I still
have an internal debate, and many conflicting thoughts? "Well, if she keeps
breastfeeding, one bottle a day might not be too bad. Better that than
weaning. I don't want her to bail out on breastfeeding altogether if I give her the
'wrong' response. But, isn't the correct answer to say No, it isn't the
best for you or your baby, because formula has so many health risks?"
I can even be fired, or officially suppressed ( as happened to me
from MIDWIVES.............yes, shouting!) when folks in charge don't want
their clients to know exactly what that OB/GYN's primary cesarean section is
currently or that artificial feeding has risks. "Don't want to upset clients"
is another part of this situation. My acts have consequences........and I need
to earn money so I don't want to be fired.
Sure, let clients go on their merry, ill-fated way............to
discover their mistake for themselves. If breastfeeding is truly a matter
of life and death and, health and illness (and it is, according to the WHO and
to Rogan and Chen and many other researchers) why are we still being
nice..............and dishonest.
I heard something about the ill-fated, oopherectized US Ad Campaign to
promote breastfeeding. The folks that designed it said that having
breastfeeding experts design it wouldn't work. We are too nice to make an impact in a
promotion campaign.
Too nice, in today's cutthroat toxic capitalistic world, means we are at
the mercy of those around us. I am ready to start speaking truth more
often, at the very least! I don't want to be part of any cover-up.
very warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE
Maternal-Child Adjunct Faculty Union Institute and University
Film Reviews Editor, Journal of Human Lactation
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com
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