You're not alone, Sam...
I was at a certification meeting last Thursday.
Everybody happy, receiving a pin and a copy of the certificate.
Then, the female pediatrician, involved in the process, told about what they 
had to do. Showed a picture of bf twins somewhere between 6 and 12 months. 
Says a nurse behind me: "But when they are so big, you wouldn't be bf 
anymore, would you?!?!" I turned around, looked at her grinning and said: 
"But you just got certified?!" "Yes", she answered, "and I am bf my baby, 
but this is my personal opinion and that has nothing to do with my 
professionality." "No, it is not personal and yes, it doen have something to 
do with your profession", I said. She denied and was annoyed and at that 
point, I decided not to put anymore energy into it... :-(
Sad, indeed... we won't be out of jobs for a long, long time... ;o)

Warmly,

Marianne Vanderveen, Netherlands

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sam" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2008 3:19 PM
Subject: [LACTNET] How to not win friends and influence people


> My last post about my OB class.
>
>
>
> The instructor was talking about sexual abuse yesterday, and that abuse 
> can
> carry down through generations. I mentioned that there are occasions that 
> a
> mother is "disgusted by breastfeeding" or thinks it's "gross" and that can
> be a red flag to indicate previous sexual or other abuse in the mother.
>
>
>
> At least half the students reacted vehemently, and told me that *they*
> thought breastfeeding was disgusting, and they had no history of abuse.
>
>
>
> I reiterated that as a Lactation Consultant, I have been trained that if a
> mother reacts strongly about breastfeeding, that can be a red flag, an
> indication that there may have been abuse, sexual or otherwise. That it 
> was
> not a pointing finger, but an opportunity to explore feelings and concerns
> about motherhood.
>
>
>
> How can we be finishing 10 weeks of instruction in how to conceive, have 
> and
> feed a baby, and half the future nurses think that breastfeeding is
> disgusting. What kind of society do we live in?
>
>
>
> Best wishes from a weary student nurse,
>
> Sam
>
>
>
>
>
> We're going to Candy Mountain, Charlie!
>
>
>
>
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