susan writes,

<< Although I like the idea of all feeding at the breast...I am skeptical of
 LCs who want to push this agenda on every mom. Some moms will give up if
 they think it is all or nothing.

 This post doesn't even address the clinical implications for early
 pumping...which you so nicely highlight in your post. >>

there is a critical difference here that you are perhaps overlooking, which
is that judith is describing a situation in which there was a clear
breastfeeding problem, which, if it had been correctly diagnosed, and pumping
had been advised early on, it would have prevented her supply problems later.
this is not that same as mothers who do not have difficulties, are
successfully breastfeeding, but might be told they "need" to pump milk.

as for "the idea of feeding at the breast" - gee, i am glad you like the
idea. as for "pushing this agenda on mothers" i have noticed something quite
interesting. you cannot force someone to breastfeed. as for endorsing
"feeding at the breast"
 (i like to call it breastfeeding or nursing myself), and encouraging and
supporting complete breastfeeding, and giving parents full and complete
information about using a substitute for breastfeeding, i am quite guilty as
charged.

guess i will continue, i still sort of like the idea of "feeding at the
breast."

might one construe it to be an ethics problem if a lactation professional
were to not fully endorse breastfeeding? like the LC who told my client at
the hospital today "i can't help you." i'll say!

carol brussel IBCLC
laura nevada lactation
www.breastfeedinghelp.com

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