Cindy wants me to repeat what I said to my client when she asked me if human
milk is really that important.  I said that yes, it is.  I told her that
there was essentially no official disagreement on this issue from any of the
major health promoting bodies.  I mentioned that it reduces illness in both
developed and developing nations, and that studies indicate the children
would be healthier and have increased IQ.  Then I praised all the work she's
done with pumping, and pointed out how much benefit these pre-term twins had
already had from her efforts.  (While they are partially formula fed, they
are getting perhaps half from her.)  I told her that if this was all she
could do, it was very worthy.  Then I reminded her how much easier her life
would be if she could d/c all the pumping and get the milk into the babies
directly, esp. while holding them. I had been pointing out how sweetly they
were gazing at her while trying at breast, and this had been the high point
of the experience.  I also reminded her that this would get easier with
practice, assured her that the babies would help her as they grew, and that
she was a wonderful mother for this gift of milk.  Then I told her that
these are her babies, and she gets to chose.

 I have learned to detach from feeling that I have failed if she doesn't
pick the choice I think is right.   And I think I was able to tell her the
truth without using shame to manipulate her. (Which I still think causes
resentment and backlash against bfg.)

Barbara



Barbara Wilson-Clay BSEd., IBCLC
Private Practice, Austin Texas
Visit the "LactNews-On-Line" Web Page
http://www.jump.net/~bwc/lactnews.html