Liz,
I agree that LLL is doing a great job helping moms. And, I really
appreciate your further explanation of how you have seen "advocacy" hurt
individual women while attempting to resolve their personal issue. What you
have described is exactly what happened to the woman I am working with who
was fired. She attempted to assert her rights in a way that alienated her
immediate supervisor. Had I been given the opportunity to speak to her
before she approached her employer, I would have helped her to advocate for
her needs in a way more likely to result in a positive resolution. I know
you would have done the same.
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Alexis
Alexis Martin Neely, Esq.
Mama to Kaia Ray Neely (11/2/99)
"Breastfeeding support is an integral part of the family/friendly workplace
environment." -Work & Family Coalition of San Diego
How have you supported breastfeeding today?
>From: "Elizabeth N. Baldwin" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: How does advocacy differ from help?
>
>happily, the way she defines advocacy, LLL is doing a great
>job with mothers!!!!
>
>I think that most of you, including Alexis knows what I am REALLY talking
>about. Alexis knows full well that I help mothers to 'advocate' for
>themselves, in the best way possible, but NOT as a mechanism for furthering
>a cause. In a manner that helps the individual mother to resolve her
>situation to her satisfaction. In a manner that educates, and wins people
>over, and does not come across as 'demanding her rights'.
>
>Let me tell you why this is a sore spot for me. Several organizations out
>there (and I am not even talking right now about breastfeeding ones) tell
>their members that they have to advocate for the cause over the individual
>mother's rights. That if they are going to be making a legal argument that
>'hurts the cause' that they cannot do so, and will be shunned from the
>organization.
>
>I have also seen mothers make total messes out of their legal causes by
>'advocating for the cause' rather than focusing on their case. A good
>example is in a divorce situation where a mother asserts her 'right' to
>engage in extended breastfeeding or the family bed, making the 'cause' the
>issue, rather than addressing and dealing with the concerns that are
>raised. There may be a fine line between 'advocating for a cause' and
>dealing with an issue in an appropriate way, and it may not involve the
>mother doing anything different other than looking at how she expresses
>things.
>
>The reason why I try to tone all of you down over the advocacy idea is that
>I do NOT want to encourage mothers to go charging into the workplace
>demanding their rights - or they will have plenty of rights to assert in
>court. Instead I want mothers to go into the workplace with a calm, NICE,
>informative approach, that 'we can work this out', with the mother focusing
>more on what will work and how she is going to get them to go along with
>it, rather than going in and burning bridges.
>
>
> >For those of you looking for an outlet for your advocacy skills, look to
> >your local Breastfeeding Coalition or Task Force and if you don't have
>one,
> >start one. Let me know if you need assistance in starting one. I can
>help.
> > The Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles is doing
>incredible
> >work here in Los Angeles.
>
>Yea, Alexis! Now we are on the same page!!! THIS is advocacy!
>
>Liz
>
>
>
>Elizabeth N. Baldwin Baldwin & Friedman, P.A.
>Phone: 954-966-7110 Office: 305-944-9100 x233
>Fax: 954-966-9796 Office fax: 305-940-8544
>
>Breastfeeding and the Law: http://www.lalecheleague.org/LawMain.html
>Website: http://www.compromisesolutions.com
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 09:21:32 -0800
>From: Chris Hafner-Eaton <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: update (not directly Lactation related)
>
>On this day of THANKSGIVING, I thought I would take the opportunity to say
>"thanks" to the MANY of those of you who have asked over the past months
>(and I haven't kept record and always answered so I'm doing this
>publicly)...I have been lurking as opposed to no mail over the past few
>months since ILCA. I've had a series of unfortunate circumstances (most,
>but not all, out of my control). Most recently the plane that crashed in
>NY
>actually crashed on one of my family member's house (my great aunt--who is
>still alive at 92, although her house is not in existance any more),
>devastating the neighborhood that my family grew up in (I grew up in the
>one
>next to this and visited that very block throughout my childhood); a good,
>long time friend from the 3rd grade was one of the firefighters killed in
>the terrorist act at the WTC (leaving his four very young children--one
>still nursing--and wife alone); my very stressed out husband had to lay off
>1/3 of his workforce; my 6 year old son having been hospitalized for
>several
>days for serious uncontrolled asthmatic episodes; I had another nasty
>surgery to try and repair a surgical situation that almost killed me two
>and
>half years ago; this last surgery resulted in multiple medication switches
>and some awful medication interactions and unfortunately I made some rather
>poor decisions as a result). I could go on and on, but you probably have
>hear more than enough.
>
>If during this time I've offended any one of you, please forgive me. The
>past 7-8 months or so beginning in April with the death of a VERY close
>family member have been very hard. In the past couple of months I've
>learned through spiritual counselling that I must do something to address
>all of this proactively, yet also to let somethings go. I've pared down
>my
>patient load and cut back my college teaching to one internet nutrition
>class and one in-class "Lifetime Wellness" course (this means only 3 hours
>in the classroom), but I still have my 3 boys to care for and long standing
>patients that I am following. I've let several research projects just
>"take
>care of themselves" for the time being and have not submitted several
>papers
>that are virtually ready for publication (which is hard for me, but I have
>to).
>
>I'm taking the cases that really need and can benefit from my expertise
>(like the case of the triplets born to the two moms, both wanting to
>breastfeed all three and have successfully done so now for 4.5 months and
>the more recent case of the mom adopting a baby from a raped 14 year old).
>I hope you can all understand. If you need my help (and I am the type of
>person who needs to be needed), I am able to continue answering email
>questions when I'm not swamped or in the hospital with my own child or my
>own health problems. If you don't receive an answer, please don't be
>offended (try again or assume I'm unable to access a computer).
>
>Thank you for all you warm thoughts and prayers over the years (and it has
>been many years now!),
>Chris-- mom, wife, active UU church member, educator, lactation consultant,
>homeschool mom, researcher, scientist, author, organic
>gardener/herbalist/homeopath/healer, photographer, wilderness adventurer,
>lapidary & bead creator, knitter, wildly creative cook, and VERY lousy
>cleaner;)
>--
>--Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC [log in to unmask]
>INFANT CUISINE AND MOTHER CARE: Lactation Consulting, Perinatal Health
>Education and Attachment Parenting Classes for parents and practitioners
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 11:24:23 -0600
>From: Jim & Winnie Mading <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: "in-between" latch
>
>Gail describes the "in between latch" which I understand her to mean the
>one that looks good on the surface, but isn't quite "working right". I
>describe latching as having a different "window of effectiveness" for
>each mom/baby pair. I see some latches that look so off that it almost
>makes me cringe, yet baby is thriving and mom is totally comfortable.
>The only problem is my perception that it isn't "right". On the other
>hand, there are those that look exquisite-textbook perfect latches, but
>mom is sore and baby isn't gaining. By moving the lower jaw a couple
>millimeters further on or shifting baby just a smidge to the right or
>left (or some other seemingly minor change) baby thrives and mom is
>pain-free. Therefore, the "circumstancial evidence" Gail speaks of is
>critical in determining how nursing is working for that mom/baby pair.
>My first questions is assessing a feed are "Are there deep jaw
>excursions (DJEs)?" and "How does it feel?" Then we look at audible
>swallowing (not always obvious in the first day or so), output, baby
>satisfaction, weight gain, etc. etc..
>When I see a mom with a "terrible" latch that seems to be working, I
>will tell her the way she's doing it seems to be working well for her.
>Some moms may experience such and such problems with that hold, latch or
>whatever. As long as it's working for her, great, but if she should
>develop any problems, she might want to try ............change, or if
>she's not ready to take in much info, just that she should call us and
>we can help her change it if any problems do develop.
>This certainly isn't an exact science is it?
>Winnie
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 13:46:51 -0500
>From: Jeanette Panchula <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Advocacy/mixing causes
>
>Pat said:
>It takes a villiage and we have different areas in which we promote and
>support
>breastfeeding best. The important thing is we continue to promote, suppo=
>rt
>and protect in whatever way we do it best. Most of us would not be
>involved
>in this cause and breastfeeding would not be where it is today in the US
>without the work of LLL.
>
>This is so true in my case - this week my firstborn turned 30 - that's 30=
>+
>years of exposure to La Leche League for me...
>
>...I was a mom that needed to learn baby's needs, cues, etc. - LLLLeaders=
>
>taught me
>...I became a Leader applicant and needed to learn mom's needs, cues, etc=
>.
>- LLLLeaders taught me
>...I got involved in Spanish translations and the needs of other
>countries/cultures - LLLLeaders taught me
>...I became an IBCLC - I learned other ways of working with moms whose
>priorities were different from mine...but what I learned from LLL always =
>is
>with me
>...I became an RN - I learned how to deal with other professionals, how t=
>o
>work with them and how to deal with THEIR priorities, even though they ar=
>e
>not mine - again, LLL helped, offering professionals opportunities I coul=
>d
>point to and encourage their reading the material they have.
>...Now I am in Public Health - and YES I advocate - long and hard - in
>many small ways - whether trying to get bottles and formula ads out of
>handouts or repeatedly mentioning the importance of breastfeeding in any
>committee meeting I go to - whether one of the insurance company's, a
>school, a prenatal program, an anti drug program. But this does not mean=
>
>LLL is not "with" me - I just adjust the message to the person/group
>receiving it just as I do when working with moms. In this way, they are
>more willing to listen - and accept the positions I advocate for (allowin=
>g
>moms rooming in, getting pumps to low-income moms whose babies are
>hospitalized, etc.).
>
>I am also a LLL Leader - and when I am in the group meeting I am still
>"just" a Leader. It's my "fill-up" because it is there that my soul and
>spirit is renewed to continue my advocacy.
>
>
>Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
>Vacaville, CA
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 07:13:35 -0700
>From: Andrea <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: happy turke day
>
>HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!!!!
>DON'T EAT TOO MUCH:)
>
>Have you heard?? Breast is Best!
>Andrea Bass, RN, IBCLC
>
>------------------------------
>
>End of LACTNET Digest - 22 Nov 2001 - Special issue (#2001-995)
>***************************************************************
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