In a message dated 96-04-25 07:39:01 EDT, you write: > >Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 00:17:23 -0400 >From: Margery Wilson <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: bf materials for the blind > >Ellen, contact LLLI. My husband is blind and, in 1987 when we were expecting >Susan, he obtained tapes through them. They have The Womanly Art of >Breastfeeding on tape. My husband used to get tapes of New Beginnings (the >LLLI magazine for bf parents). We met an interesting blind couple (from >Idaho, I believe) who were (at that time) responsible for getting the >materials into audio form. They shared their enthusiasm for bf and LLLI with >us. > >They told us a wonderful story of having two guide dogs present at the >hospital when their children were born -- talk about a family centered >birth! > >Your client might also try the Library of Congress lending library in her >area (National Library Service for the Blind and Handicapped) -- likely she >already gets books on tape from them. > >There are organizations for blind parents. Contact your state agency for the >blind, National Organization of the Blind, or American Federation of the >Blind. They can provide resources. We used to belong to an organization of >parents of blind children, but they also had materials for blind parents. > >Nothing will take the place of kinesthetic learning for this lady. She would >benefit from practice with dolls, and one-on-one explanation of positioning, >latch-on. She will need to feel the latch, so observation and helpful >support in the first couple of days will be very important. > >BTW: One of our friends, who is blind, had her baby at a local hospital >where baby-friendly has been a goal. Her highest compliment of the nursing >staff: "They never once assumed I needed more help than sighted moms. They >asked me to tell them if I needed anything -- then they left me to it." This >is often a deep concern for blind or deaf parents. My husband says when he >was young it was common for blind or deaf parents to have their children >removed to foster care, regardless of their parenting abilities. > >I hope the materials are still "out there." If not, perhaps the local LLLI >group would read the materials onto a tape for her. Having information from >New Beginnings -- incuding the advertisements -- is a real help. There are >also places that will set printed material into jiffy Braille for a fee. > >If you hit dead ends email me and I will put my husband on the trail. He >works for the National Braille Press and, even though he is past needing >bf info (he knows it all :-D ) I'll bet he could track down something. I'll >give a plug for the National Braille Press: they have a Children's book >club. Publishers donate children's books and the press inserts clear >brailled pages. This way the child can look at the book while the parent >reads. > >Good luck. >Sorry this was so long. > >Margery Wilson, IBCLC >[log in to unmask] > >------------------------------ > >