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Dear Rosalee and list,
My greatest concern working in the consumer support
arena is the lack of monitoring that professionals have when making public
statements. The criticism that the program will place more women at risk
of PPD is really quite extraordinary. I fail to see how having home help,
even if it is with someone who offers breast feeding advice, could decrease the
likelihood of breast feeding! It was just a weak link that was manipulated
beyond reasonable truth to put down an innovative program. Perhaps it was
a means to retain South Australia's birthing community firmly within the
medicalised doctor knows best (and all) era? It certainly did nothing to
dispel the belief that pregnancy, birth and the post partum period as being
something that is natural, normal and within our capabilities!!!!
Some of the young women involved in this program
are mothers themselves and could perhaps offer advice on breast feeding that is
seen less like militant. (I am pro-breast feeding so please don't send
hate mail saying I not. I am aware of a great deal of women who say that
the varying advice and strong push towards establishing bf on the public post
natal wards can cause more stress and sense of failure than intended. I
too had to go home and relax in order to get breast feeding up and
happening).
For another example: when my son was months
old he stopped feeding and at am I rang the government funded parent help line
and was told to take a Panadol and "bare the pain"! It took a
woman standing in the line at the shops to say, "try cabbage leaves": advice
that worked far better and at less risk to myself.
I am sure that the women used in this service would
be bringing it to the midwives attention if the women was having problems
with feeding. Common sense. Why are people so condescending towards
those who dont hold a uni degree! There are women who are involved with
our volunteer support group who are more woman focused and aware of real issues
than a number of professionals I have encountered.
We are very lucky to have such supportive, woman
focused doctors such as Prof Dekker.
My letter to Dr M is my way of saying "if you are
going to criticise a potentially barrier breaking idea...then use an argument
that is supported and RELEVANT to those involved " I see very little
being offered to women who don't have the luxuries that private insurance boasts
to make the transition period after birth more supported and woman
focused. This project could have the potential to address a number of deep
rooted social problems associated with motherhood.
Off my soap box...and it is not even about vbac
this time guys!!
Jo Bainbridge
founding member CARES SA email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone: 08 8365 7059 birth with trust, faith & love... |
