I think Jack made some interesting points about the class system and
Indians.  I have had a lot of fun in my private practice working with people
from other cultures (Austin is a high tech, university town, so we have an
interesting mix here.)  While many of my Indian clients have been very
motivated, I do often pick up ambivalence about breastfeeding.  These
clients tend to be well educated and monied, so they know about the benefits
of bfg on an intellectual level, but there often seems to be a
disconectedness  -- a sort of discomfort with the physical aspects.

 I worked with a lovely Indian woman with twins just last week.  They were a
month old, and had never really been to breast.  We got them latched-on the
only way they would go at this point:  ie with shields to mimic the same
sensation as the bottle teat.  They nursed a bit, and I thought she would be
thrilled.  Her reaction was quite subdued, and she began asking me if I
thought the human milk was really so important, and how long she would have
to do this.

Seeing her behavior, I  was again struck by the thought that the bottle
allows some women to place an object between themselves and their baby.
It's a way of creating some space -- keeping at bay aspects of the mothering
relationship which threaten to overwhelm the woman on a psychological level.
These concerns may relate to a desire to stay in the head rather than the
body.  After all, the kind of "status" mothers have tends to be more
sentimental than real (unfortunately) and many women have struggled to find
a larger place in the world.   For educated women to surrender to the baby
may feel like turning one's back on that quest.

The ambivalence may reflect cultural issues where class status and
self-image do battle, or they may reflect on old issues related to sexual
exploitation or abuse. Some women may feel a need to chose not to commit
fully to the child on an emotional basis in view of what their own
experiences with being a child have taught them.  It can be very risky to
commit fully.   I certainly have come to believe that bfg is empowering, but
not all women see it that way.  Our role is to do the best we can to allow
women to feel safe to at least explore their generative power.


Barbara Wilson-Clay BSEd., IBCLC
Private Practice, Austin Texas
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