On Sun, 22 Aug 1999 14:44:16 -0400, Cathy Bargar <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
>Re: the one that "feels that Breastfeeding is good but that many women
>(especially low income/low education women) are too irresponsible to
>Breastfeed! His view is outragous and I have told him so, but how do I go
>about changing his mind?"
>
>It's not HIS mind you have to change; it's that the women you work with
need
>to be supported enough to not let this doc's views interfere with their
>desire to BF. You can do that, by your attitude towards them and your
strong
>support of BFing and their ability to do it, without ever confronting him.
>It's not about him!
>
>Re: the other, "much worse" one. Same recommendation. You won't change
these
>guys, and you don't have much to gain by going head-to-head with them. When
>women tell you that their OB says they "have to" take such-and-such a drug
>and that he's told them it's not compatible with BFing, you can 1)copy the
>appropriate page(s) from your trusty Hale (which you should get your WIC
>director to order, or ask your Public Health nsg. dep't to get for your
>office - it's something both WIC & PHN should have!) and give the mom 2
>copies - one for herself and one for her doctor and/or 2)gently remind the
>mom that an OB may not be the best person to be prescribing "psych meds"
for
>her. Make other suggestions of available options, depending on what's
>available and realistic for these moms. Otherwise, all you can do is
>continue to support the mother in her wish to BF, help her problem-solve,
>and remind her that the ultimate choice is *hers* to make, not the doc's.
>(Or yours, for that matter!)
>
>It really comes down to helping your women take the power that they already
>actually have into their own hands, when it comes to decision-making for
>themselves & their babies. Doctors can make recommendations, but ultimately
>it rests with the woman to decide. Your role is to provide correct
>information (to counteract dumb stuff she's hearing elsewhere) and support
>for her, not just as a potential breastfeeder but as a competent, capable
>woman who is able to weigh advice and make decisions on the basis of the
>information she gets. When you do that, you don't have to worry about the
>background noise of these doctors - you're not arguing with *them*, you are
>providing information and support to the women in whose hands the choices
>actually rest.
>
>Pretty radical concept, huh? Goes right to the roots - no wonder they're
>scared of the power we women have to give and sustain life! (What - you
mean
>the "doctor" isn't in charge of the process??)
>
>Don't let them sucker you into any spitting contests - you know the facts,
>and you're there for mothers & babies, and that's about it.
>
>And, as a very old retired doctor once told me, when he came across me in
>the back stairwell of the hospital where I worked, crying over some
>*stupid*, ignorant thing another doc had said, "Don't let the bastards
grind
>you down"! (He said it in Latin, and it was very elegant, but I can never
>remember it right that way.)
>
>Cathy Bargar, RN, IBCLC Ithaca NY
>
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Thank you Cathy,
I needed that! I know what you say is true. As part of one of my
*manditory* classes I go over how much many OB's and Ped's don't know. I
guess I also know that I'm getting through because all of the women who
have come to me about these Ob's have said they remebered what I taught
them. It is just so frustrating sometimes when a Dr's ego becomes more
important than the patient's well being!
Anyway, thanks again. I feel better and am ready to fight another day!
Jessica Wheelock
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