Great story Vicki. Once again demonstrates the power of the words we use.
Regards, Tracy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vicki Chan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'ozmidwifery'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2002 2:53 AM Subject: RE: Melbourne's Child article > > Recently I was sitting at the desk at the private maternity unit where I > am working a little (my shift was over and I was catching up with the > dreaded paperwork...I cant keep up! 12 years since I worked in a > hospital..."'waddayamean I have to think about more than one woman at a > time???") when along comes one of the fathers... A midwife asks him > 'how's things?' They had been experiencing very challenging > breastfeeding problems... "Oh, great!" says the Dad..."No worries" > Surprised, the midwife questioned further and the father replied they'd > been fine since "She!" pointing at me had looked after them. "something > she said changed everything!' > > Everyone looked up, eager to know what this gem of wisdom I had shared > was. Uh Oh thinks me. I had relayed a story of a woman I had spoked to a > week or so before hand... > > I was about to go home when a bell rang from one of the rooms... I did > not know the woman but noone else was available so I went in. The woman > was in tears...'Can you help me? I cant get him on the breast > properly..Is that where his top lip should be? I cant see his tongue. I > don't know if his mouth is wide enough..should I sit up or lie > down...??" I said to her gently "Where are you from" and she answered > 'PNG'...I asked her is she remembered seeing the women in PNG feed their > babies and she said 'Yes' I asked her if she could visualize and she > said Yes...With her eyes closed she saw a large group of women sitting > around all with babes at the breast. I asked her 'Are they looking at > the babies?' "No" 'Are they concerned where the lip ofr the tongue or > anything else for that matter is?' "No...they're just talking and > laughing" I said...'Listen..just forget all that white man shit and let > the baby do its thing' She replyed with 'Ooooh...the baby's on! He's > feeding' mmmm > > I tell you things at the desk stopped still for a moment as this father > tells all... "Oh, she told us just to forget all that white man shit and > get on and do what we please...we've been fine ever since' > > Vicki > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Macha > McDonald > Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 6:28 AM > To: ozmidwifery > Subject: RE: Melbourne's Child article > > > 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. > > -- > 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.
