Macha What about contacting [EMAIL PROTECTED] about a hospital that's supposed to be Baby Friendly accredited. Louise
--- Macha McDonald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > As a recent consumer, I can say that the (over) > emphasis on technique and > latch, although it is important, is very confusing. > When I had my daughter, > in a baby friendly hospital, every midwife had a > different idea about what I > was meant to be doing. Confusion is not the word. > My mind was in chaos!!! > This baby friendly hospital recommended formula to > me. So much for the 10 > steps!!! Also, their LCs were very limited in their > advice. For low > supply, I was told on more than 10 different > occasions over 3 months to just > keep expressing. I agree with the baby friendly > initiative, but seeing it > 1st hand, I dont think its working. Some staff are > just not committed > enough. Friends and family who are also recent > consumers have sited that > the MCHN and midwifes in hospital (rural VIC) told > them their milk did not > have enough nutrients in it, and that it wasnt > strong enough. I think the > whole situation is worse than we think, and I am > surprised that anyone is > breastfeeding at all, considering the current > climate....in my humble > opinion!!! > Regards, Macha. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On > Behalf Of Johnston > Sent: Sunday, 2 June 2002 8:04 PM > To: ozmidwifery > Subject: RE: Melbourne's Child article > > > Dear Liz > While I agree wholeheartedly with most of the > discussion on this, and I > have seen the article in question, I feel I need to > make a comment about > your statement : > < > The 'baby friendly initiative' I believe, was aimed > at developing countries > whose children were dying of diarrhoeal disease > through contaminated water, > incorrect formula and lack of hygiene. > > This is a not uncommon response, and it worries me > greatly - I believe it's > wrong. I was involved in both the Victorian and the > national BFHI set-up. > I am not actively involved in it now, but I support > the underlying > principles wholeheartedly. > > I know of no reason why every maternity service in > Australia should not > implement the '10 steps to successful > breastfeeding', and seek external > assessment through the Baby Friendly Hospital > accreditation process. This > has very little to do with dirty water - babies die > unnecessarily in > Australia too because they are not breastfed. The > reasons for failure of > breastfeeding (most are willing to initiate > breastfeeding, but the drop-off > rates are alarming) are many. There is reliable > evidence that practices > which have for many years been common in maternity > services across the > developed world, such as separation of mother and > baby, timing of feeds, > use of artificial supplements, use of dummies and > teats, advertising of > alternatives to breastfeeding ... all contribute to > early weaning. These > are the issues that are dealt with in the global > Baby Friendly Hospital > Initiative. Sally's comments about babies who are > brought into this world > doped up to their eyeballs in narcotics are also > relevant here. These > babies and their mothers require special skilled > support, and it can all be > done within the baby friendly process. There's > nothing daunting, or > excessively focused on technique in the baby > friendly initiative that I > know about. (I'm a realist - not everyone gets it > right all the time, but > that's life!) > > Finally, we all agree that most mothers, most of the > time, want what's best > for their babies. Midwives who seek to provide > woman centred care will do > all that they can to support the mother-baby bond, > working with the natural > process, and only interfering when we have a good > reason. That's being > mother-friendly too. > > Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding > doesn't come easily. > There are many deterrents in our society. Our work > should be underpinned > by reliable evidence, and I would ask anyone who > knows of evidence contrary > to the BFHI '10 steps' to speak up now. > > With my best wishes > Joy Johnston > > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe > or unsubscribe. > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe > or unsubscribe. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
