Perhaps I'm being cynical today also, or just reflective.But I truly believe that many parents take these precious bundles home from the hospital as just one more responsibility. One more duty. They don't seem to feel the "pull of flesh to flesh". Why else do I see these same parents carrying their babies from here to there without ever touching them? They carry them in carriers, feed them with bottles in their carriers, put them in the back seat of their SUVs and stick a pacifier in their mouth. I saw a couple, just last Sunday, bring their baby into church, feed him and carry him out at the end of the service without ever having a "skin to skin" moment. This , to me, is frightening. Remind me , Lactnetters, what happens to babies who are never touched? Signed, too critical and frightened, Cheryl Muller, RNC IBCLC _____ Another factor is the adaptability of women, who often line up like sheep, accepting all the risks of induction/epidurals/artificial feeding as part of having babies. Other animals don't recognize their babies if they are given epidural anesthesia in labor; humans not only get epidurals routinely, but are separated from their babies at critical times. Women become disconnected from labor and from their babies. Yet they survive, and the babies go home breathing and with a heartbeat. The medical system views this as success, even though many of those babies can't suck or eat easily. Feeling very cyncial today, Warmly, Nikki Lee -- __________________________________________________________ *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html