thanks patricia for your remarks on this subject. i used to think, as a friend
of mine says, that it is "okay" for hcps to not know enough about lactation,
if only they would just know to refer to LLL. she prefers her doctors to be
fully informed on childhood illnesses, etc. but after a while i realized that
this was NOT valid, because lactation is too big a part of the picture.
particularly for any hcp that deals with mothers and children.

i am currently getting ready to enter that no-woman's-zone of changing doctors
and lack of sufficient knowledge about breastfeeding is one of the reasons. i
think there is a new category of "yes we ARE bf friendly" hcps who would like
to think they are, but have insufficient knowledge. they don't want to learn
any more, but think they are doing enough to help their patients.

i also wonder whether the ugly truth about these situations, in which the
doctor recommends weaning in order to pursue a treatment, is that the doctor
AND the mother still don't believe that breastfeeding is important or
something that they have a right to continue. now, if the doctor tells you
that you must never have sex with your spouse again in order to receive
treatment for a medical condition - well! the outrage would be extreme! i fear
that very few people really understand or would agree that breastfeeding is a
part of the mother-child relationship that is just as important as the
physical part of an adult relationship.

and don't people sue for  damages when an accident or injury causes their
spouse to be unable to have a physical relationship? what a day that would be,
when a mother is awarded damages because someone does something to prevent her
from having a complete relationship with her baby.

i think your response for mothers to use - "I don't choose to stop
breastfeeding my baby at this time, etc." is excellent. motherhood sometimes
seems a time for parents to become fully adult, in a sense. perhaps they have
always given in to their parents' pressure on certain things or looked to them
for advice or guidance. perhaps they have not had to make any major decisions
other than to marry. but when they must make decisions for a helpless someone
else, their baby, it is sometimes difficult to step up to the plate and act
courageously. maybe this would be a good proactive thing to teach.

now relinquishing the soapbox for others.

carol b.
another wolf in wolfess clothing! and always howling