Re: [ozmidwifery] ABA endorsing NMAP ?

[Justine Caines]

Title: Re: [ozmidwifery] ABA endorsing NMAP ?

Perhaps you could also try reading ABA's Code of Ethics, which may help you understand the direction they are coming from when deciding to remain apolitical.  I can fully understand the logic behind the concern relating to the breastfeeding knowledge of many midwives.  Although you may not like to admit it, the breastfeeding knowledge of many midwives is woeful.  Many mothers have their breastfeeding relationships with their babies put right behind the eight ball from their earliest days in hospital.  I had a midwife roll her eyes and scoff at me for refusing her offer of a complementary bottle of artificial infant formula for my twins when they were not quite 24 hours old and feeding very frequently.  And this in a so called Baby Friendly Hospital!  I have heard midwives in Special Care Nursery openly endorsing a mother's decision to formula feed her twins because breastfeeding would just take too much out of her.  What utter rubbish!  So, until the WHOLE profession becomes a bit more breastfeeding friendly, I can understand the reluctance behind any decision by ABA to endorse NMAP.  But, remembering also, that this is all just hearsay and nothing has come directly from the horse's mouth so to speak.  Before you condemn ABA, how about waiting to hear some official word?  Surely that would be the fair thing to do?

Brenda Kittelty

Brenda and all

I agree until there is an official response from ABA it is not constructive to condemn them.  God knows they have achieved a lot over the years.  What fractures me is the ‘apolitical’ stance.  This is CRAP.  It is impossible for them as a group advocating the importance of human milk not to be political.  Granted they can be very clear about their stance on particular parties, but they cannot be apolitical!

It is also insane and counterproductive not to recognise one to one midwifery support in pregnancy and birth as an important feature in the success of breastfeeding and bonding.  Yes first and foremost ABA promotes breastfeeding, but without an acknowledgement of what has taken place before and it’s link to breastfeeding success ABA is operating in a vacuum.

To successfully support and empower women and to promote mothering in society we must take a holistic approach.  Not all midwives will promote ABA’s principles in their work and this is most unfortunate.  If, however, the ABA was inclusive of the many wonderful midwives that honour women and promote the beautiful bond of breastfeeding we could only be doing a good thing.

In Solidarity

Justine Caines

----- Original Message -----

From: Sally Westbury <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2002 9:15 PM
Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] ABA endorsing NMAP ?

The ABA response really is in line with all that Kerreen Reiger said in her book   Our Bodies, Our Babies  The Forgotten Women's Movement

I highly recommend this book especially in light of the current political climate. She write about how the ABA made decisions to remain apolitical. So it is disappointing that they remain in the same place and will not support a movement that is obviously pro-breastfeed!! Sheesh!!! She also write about how the homebirth movement deconstructed.



Really worth a read.



Sally Westbury