In a message dated 10/11/2005 11:18:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
The early "fog" of childbirth is one thing, but I'm also referring to long
before that and long after that- like when one is choosing her health-care
provider or deciding on prenatal testing or *choosing* (and I use this word
with regret) how to feed their newborn baby before the baby arrives or
deciding where to have the baby sleep. Just a few examples that come to
mind for me when I think of moms blindly accepting the recommendations of
some authority.
Dear Friends:
Could it be that folks are vulnerable when they have no fundamental
expertise or knowledge? As an example, I am certain that most people don't know
enough about cars or dentistry to make informed choices. I found my car
mechanic by trial and error. I am sure there are better criteria than that,
however as I am mystified by how cars work, or how plumbing can be fixed, so I "go
with the flow" and pretty much blindly trust my practitioner, once I have
established that the person has been successful before, is reliable, and
convenient in my life. I feel lucky that my car mechanic lives a walk away from my
house.
I am not stupid; I also don't want to take, nor do I have, the the time
to become educated enough about cars or plumbing to make totally informed
choices. I rely on my practitioner to take care of me.
We can't know enough about everything to make the best choices in all
areas of our life. I am sure that this is part of people's healthcare choices,
particularly in a society where I have been raised to "do everything that the
doctor says" and childbirth education videos mostly all begin with a
disclaimer that "this video is not meant to substitute for medical advice".
What do you all think?
warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE
Maternal-Child Adjunct Faculty Union Institute and University
Film Reviews Editor, Journal of Human Lactation
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com
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