The nipple rape posts are a perfect lead-in to my request for help. I am a LLL Leader, doula and birth assistant as well as an apprentice midwife in the DC metro area. I’ve had the opportunity to be with mamas in hospitals, birth centers and at home. I am present for the first latch and for those in the first few hours /days of life. I am very interested in the dynamics of the first latch and those that occur in the first few hours after birth. I was asked to speak to a doula group about what they can do to promote a “good” first latch experience for both mama and baby. Many of these doulas have had no experience with breastfeeding other than their own. I have heard feedback from many mamas about how they were very surprised at how roughly their breasts were treated by their trusted midwives and other birth workers. I want to educate the doulas on how they can help their clients both before and after birth with latch. I was wondering if there was a teaching module that explains how to promote a positive first latch, while also addressing fairly current topics such as those mentioned in previous posts here: breast aversion due to perceived or genuine assault, by baby, the statistics that say that one in five women have experienced some kind of verbal or physical abuse (Penny Simkin) and phrases mamas can use to prevent injury by birth workers. I can report from personal experience as a birth worker that indeed every fifth or sixth client you see will statistically have had an abusive event in her history. It manifests itself almost always, in many ways subtle and not so, during labor and birth. There is a great book about this subject by Penny Simkin called, “When Survivors Give Birth”. Unfortunately it ends with birth and doesn’t delve into the realm of breastfeeding and the abuse survivor. This is the book, thesis, guidance I’m looking for. I can make it up, but was wondering if there was anything out there to teach birth workers who know very little about lactation how to help. I treat all my various clients as if they have survived some abuse. It seems a bit jaded, but one in five is a high percentage and it’s a reality. Thanks, Kelly Valceanu, MA, AAHCC, CD(DONA), LLL Leader, apprentice midwife, mama to two boys *********************************************** 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