In a message dated 10/20/98 11:08:14 PM Central Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< In _The Five Standards of Safe Childbirth_, Ina May Gaskin of The Farm
 community in Tennessee, USA presents a host of figures from 1200
 midwife-attended births over 10+ years.  She cites a breastfeeding rate
 of 99.1% and notes that the un-breastfed babies were all babies born at
 The Farm and left behind by their mothers to be adopted.  I think this
 figure shows what can happen with education, support, healthy birth, and
 a community in which breastfeeding truly is the norm.
  >>

At the Family Birthing Center in Southfield, MI which I developed with a
physician and was coordinator for three brief and shining years, our bf rate
was 97.8%.  There were a very very few mothers that chose not to breastfeed.
Of that almost 98% that did breastfeed, I honestly do not remember any that
"couldn't" bf because of low/no milk supply.  Granted, we didn't follow up
(back when I was there ['79-'82]) long term as we would now -- we didn't have
LCs -- that concept was just beginning to be born.  However, I don't think we
can underestimate the issue of "normal birth" and the impact on breastfeeding.
When birth is normal, normal breastfeeding almost always follows.  (except for
Timothy, but that's another story).  Of course, the pundits will have their
day and say that those who chose to deliver at the birthing center (or at
home, or at the Farm) are the motivated ones, the one that really WANT to
breastfeed.  They aren't the norm.  Maybe not -- but perhaps they should be.


Jan Barger -- ready to leave for Philadelphia where the temps look almost as
cold as they are here in Wheaton.