Last week I attended an AWHONN sponsored "communication forum on behalf of
women and newborns", reception and review of pending legislation concerning
womens health care, held in the First Amendment room of the National Press
Club in downtown Washington DC. I have not had time to get into the
legislative processes of health care so I was surprised and curious about
getting this invitation. The legislation focused on insurance, genetic
nondiscrimination, breast cancer research, equity, crime, teen pregnancy,
reproductive healthcare, medicaid/medicare, and nursing education. As far as
we lacnetters are concerned, *all* of these areas have a relation to
breastfeeding. Do you agree? The special guest speaker was a congresswoman
from NY. She highlighted the initiatives and how she and others are working
to promote wellness for women and newborns. During her speech she related a
story told to her by a mother who got off to a great start breastfeeding her
first baby due to the prenatal education, support in the hospital, and
postpartum care she received. For this mother's second pregnancy and birth
she did not receive the same support and she expressed much regret about this
and how this negatively affected her and her baby. It was just terrific that
the congresswomen brought up the area of lactation education and support,
even for experienced moms. An enlightened women she. At the end of her speech
she was about to leave because no one in this room full of high-falut'n
(that's southern) women's advocates, (except for I, the lone low-falut'n
women's advocate) spoke up when she offered to take questions, so I threw my
hand up as I decided that if I put my foot in my mouth well, I'd eventually
get over it just like always. <<" I was so glad to hear you speak of the
importance of research and prevention of breast cancer. Research indicates a
significant reduction in the incidence of breast cancer for women with a
lifetime total of breastfeeding for at least 2 years. National health goals
call for an improvement of initial breastfeeding rates to increase to 75%,
 and to 50% at six months for mothers and babies. Which of these legislative
actions would facilitate meeting this goal?">> The congresswoman's
by-the-seat-of-her-pants response included the assertion that women's health
care education in the area of breastfeeding was key. Yea, way cool.

Deb