On 11/12/2006, at 7:17, Judy Ritchie wrote:

> Bad advice from Dear Abby today:
> Scrolling down to the second submission to today's Dear Abby, a new
> unmarried breastfeeding mom is told to find day care for her 2  
> month old and
> get herself a job.  Abby's advice sounds like our local Welfare to  
> Work
> office.  The pediatrician probably will not be able to convince the
> boyfriend that this is how tiring being a new mother can be. Probably
> another young father who helps out would have more influence.   
> Attending a
> LLL meeting together would probably be the most help.

I would also be deeply concerned about the potential for escalation  
of the abuse (or even current under-reporting). Family violence is  
particularly common when the woman is pregnant or caring for a young  
child; a risk assessment for the child may be in order also. This  
woman may well have much bigger problems than the fatigue of being a  
new mum, and may need more formal support than she can get from new  
friends and a LLL meeting (though they are also very useful!)  What  
is the protocol when LLL leaders encounter reports of a possibly  
abusive family situation?

Lara Hopkins

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