Hi Joy, I share your sentiments on breastfeeding entirely.
Regards, Tracy Starling ----- Original Message ----- From: "Johnston" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "ozmidwifery" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 6:03 PM 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.
