At my son's 9 month checkup (I took him to a university hospital clinic
setting I used to work in so I could see this wonderful nurse
practitioner but she wasn't there for this particular checkup)..we were
seen first by a female pediatric resident.  I will never forget her tone
of voice when she asked, "Why are you STILL breastfeeding?!"
disgustedly.  I was SHOCKED..he was still an infant, not even a
toddler.  What an eye-opener for me.  I am lucky enough to have the
ooprtunity where I work to give breastfeeding classes to pediatric med
students and residents.  I tell them that story and ask them NOT to do
that to mothers they see.  Here I was, a newly certified IBCLC, made to
feel like a lowlife (for about 2 seconds after which I got very, very
angry)!  One can only imagine how a mother with none of my knowledge
would feel or what she might do in the face of such a negative reaction
from a health care professional...wean perhaps?
Edie Armstrong BSN, IBCLC, FAirfax, Va.