Henya wondered: << Why are the mothers get Depo if they do not know
what it is ? Is this doctor
practising his own brand of social engineering - poor people should not
have
to many kids  thing ? >>

And then Phyllis pointed out that often this is happening in order to
reduce the number of women having babies every year and wondered:  <<why
can't they discuss that with the mothers and their partners / husbands?
Why do they assume the mothers will not wait the recommended 6 weeks
before resuming marital relations?
What about Informed Choice as opposed to Informed Consent?>>

========================

To which I reply: YES.  Yes this is social engineering, but not on the
doctor's part solely, and yes they assume that women will not wait,
cannot wait, won't wait. More to the point, they (doctors, public
health, etc) don't want to take the chance.  These women are treated as
objects, not as people. And sadly, this is systemic.  The attitude you
have both described is what we see: poor people should not have "too
many" kids, "too many" being defined by someone other than the mother in
question.  And "informed consent/choice" is only paid lip service.  You
only have "choice" if you meet two preconditions: a) you have money, and
(b) if your choices are the ones those in power want you to make.
Otherwise, forget choice; it's an illusion, for you.

Add to that the fear of making waves when one is here illegally and what
you have is a prescription for women who do not understand much less
consent to being given Depo shots before they're let out of the local
public hospital.  

Cynicism is a hazard of working in public health :::sigh:::

Sometimes I think the best thing we could do for breastfeeding in this
country, in the public health arena, is quite simply to empower women to
assert themselves.  To empower them to QUESTION, yes even - dare I say
it - to INSIST that they are people with free will, not objects to be
manipulated.  Personally I like reminding them that doctors are their
EMPLOYEES, who owe them thorough, easy-to-understand explanations and
whom they are perfectly free to fire if they want....
 

Regina M. Roig-Romero, BS IBCLC 
Senior Lactation Consultant 
Miami-Dade County Health Dept WIC/Nutrition 
Breastfeeding Program 
7785 NW 48 ST, Suite 300 
Miami FL 33166 

(786) 336-1333 x162 
(786) 336-1345 fax 
(786) 336-1336 Breastfeeding Helpline 

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