I think when we are discussing the negative impacts that birth practices can have on breastfeeding, we also have to consider the fact that there are often many things (outside of our control) that can impact this time as well. A baby's position in utero can often negatively impact the baby's first attempts at breastfeeding (or bottle feeding for that matter). If the baby has had his hand pushed up against his jaw(for instance) for weeks (and maybe months) he is certainly going to have a difficult time manipulating his jaw in a productive way. A baby delivered after being completely posterior is going to possibly have a heck of a headache. I have been learning a lot about the possibilities of using cranioscaral therapy to treat breastfeeding problems. I have been a labor and delivery nurse for a long time. I work in a facility that encourages unmedicated labors (as the patient wishes), keeps interventions to a minimum as much as possible, keeps patients out of bed and moving and keeps the baby with the mother after birth (no transition nursery where I am)and I have seen completely unmedicated babies refuse to nurse for days as well as having seen completely medicated babies go to breast successfully from the get-go. I certainly agree that medical interventions can lead to difficulties, but at the same time, I think it is only fair to add that sometimes nature just takes its course and we, as lactation consultants, doulas, childbirth educators, nurses, doctors,and the like have to understand that. It's not always someone's fault that something doesn't go as planned. Babies don't always read the "guide books." There will be complications and "bumps in the road" often and all we can do is prepare our familes-to-be for that possibility and help them through it as best we can if the need arises. We come together here to learn from each other. I know we often don't agree or don't like what someone else has to say about whatever the subject matter is. But that's what makes life interesting. Betsy Riedel RNC, IBCLC *********************************************** 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(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html