Hi all

Anna wrote: >
>I strongly believe in giving women "permission" to give up breastfeeding
>if they cannot cope with it. Paradoxically, I think it can often
>encourage women to continue.

I agree wholeheartedly. Part of what we're about is empowering women, and
one of the most empowering things we can do for a mom is to present her with
ALL the options for her to decide what is best. If we give the impression
that she HAS to continue bf, then we are setting her up for a major guilt
trip if she fails (regardless of why) and setting ourselves up as being
unapproachable fanatics.

Allowing a mom to see that she can handle even the "worst case scenario"--as
in quitting bf completely--then that often makes her relax enough to where
she can sort through what she really needs to do to make it work. The more
control she has, the better--and far too many women quit bf because control
is taken away from them by rigid rules, uninformed medical personnel, and
inadequate support from family and friends.

Of course, giving a mom permission to quit also means we have to be willing
to accept her decision and help her live with that decision. That ain't easy
either! But just maybe, by helping her with the decision she's made--even if
is NOT what we hoped for--then maybe she'll spread the word to others.

Melissa Vickers, IBCLC
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