I've been using an introduction that has helped set the tone when providing
education about breastfeeding to people who really weren't all that
interested in it.  In our county the different agencies in contact with
mothers - from Child Protective Services to Welfare - are being required to
attend breastfeeding inservices.  Needless to say, I get lots of staff who
want to know why they should be there (we explain it is so "we all sing the
same song" - not because we want them to be LC's) and then the usual
defensiveness intervenes "does this mean I was a bad parent?"

I describe how I used to nurse my first son, born only 6 months after my
niece had died of SIDS.  I would nurse him, then lay him down on his tummy
- which is what I thought would be the best.

NOW I teach moms the "back to sleep" and would not consider saying "well,
my son is just fine, so you can just put the baby on his/her tummy."

However, if at that time doctors had KNOWN that putting my baby on his back
would have reduced his risk of SIDS and not told me - I would not feel
guilty - I would feel MAD.


This seems to reduce the defensiveness considerably - though I must admit
that there are still some who are pretty upset at being required to attend
the training.  But many others go away surprised at the new information. 
In fact one participant came the next day to tell us she'd sat her
daughters down and TOLD them they were going to breastfeed her
grand-babies!!!

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC
Vacaville, CA
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