As lactation consultants we wear so many hats, but perhaps the two most important are activists trying to bring about social change and advocates for particular women with very individual needs. How we present information, is partly determined by which hat we are wearing. As a change agent, I want to be especially careful that every claim I make can be backed up by science, because I don't want to leave myself open to attack. "Breast is best" can clearly be defended, based on mountains of research. To me that phrase incorporates the assumption that breast is also best for the mother, we have evidence to defend that position as well. To claim that breastfeeding creates "better mothers" is very different, and while it may be true, I would not want to use this to sell breastfeeding. It's an open invitation for attack. When I'm working with an individual mother, I feel that it is sometimes appropriate to include my own hypotheses, as long as I make it very clear that they are my own. For instance, I will say "I suspect, based on my understanding of natural selection, that one reason inverted nipples have survived and not been selected against, is that humans are such social creatures, that if breastfeeding is impossible, a baby would be handed off to someone else to feed" This is not science, it's my opinion and I am careful to state that. At times, with some women, it might be helpful to point out that we believe the hormones of breastfeeding are designed to enhance maternal behaviors, but at other times this could be destructive. This should be done on a case by case basis. And we still need to be careful not to use loaded words, like "better". I don't think we are that far apart, I think it comes down to how what we know and what we suspect are presented. Kathy Lilleskov RN 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