Good midwifery care doesn't stop with the birth of the baby. We follow on with that great care, ie excellent, supportive, knowledgeable guidance, if needed, to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding and artificially feeding aren't of equal value for either mother or baby. When we first meet a mother antenatally we don't say, 'And will you be having a caesar, a vacuum or a natural birth?'. We start by assuming that she'll be having a natural birth. Likewise we shouldn't be saying 'And how do you plan to feed your baby?'. We should assume that she will breastfeed. Is that what you call being "pressured"? - if so then does that mean we are also 'pressuring' women to have normal births?
If we all assume normal right from the beginning (doctors too!), educate about normal, praise women for their strength and ability to have a child then more normal would happen. And breastfeeding is only normal - it isn't special!
You say we all have different views and interests ... the philosophy of midwifery doesn't and neither do its best practitioners.
Women get pregnant so they will have a child, not to experience childbirth. Safe, optimum, empowering, normal birth is a great way to begin their life with their child... but it's only the beginning. We're doing our best to try to get that experience for as many women as we can - but let us not have fragmentation of care after birthing because it's the 'afterwards' that is most important to most women.
But, this conversation started by suggesting great places to go to get brilliant life-changing experiences in midwifery ... I think you would be disappointed about the birthing situation these days in the Netherlands - it may be happening at home, but it isn't ideal birthing and that is borne out by the terrible breastfeeding rates which follow.
Warmly
Denise
At 06:29 PM 18/03/2005 +1100, you wrote:
I'm totally for breastfeeding and have breastfed all 3 of my kids. What I am seeing at the moment (can only speak for this area) is so much emphasis on breastfeeding and so little on anything else. Sure - breastfeeding is great and is the 'best' but I believe when a woman feels safe and supported, she will most likely choose the best things for herself and her baby anyway. I know a lot of these mums who are pressured to breastfeed in hospital are giving up as soon as they leave the ward and the hospital are only interested in the fact that they are BF at discharge!!! Hello...... isn't the long term important too. It's time to get back to the basics - women need antenatal education, optimial health, healthy lifestyles etc. They need to be told that pregnancy and birth are normal life events unless otherwise indicated and not something that needs to be controlled or monitiored at every opportunity. When we give women more education, more time, more support, better care.....then I am sure a good proportion will make the right choices for their individual circumstances which will include BF. A lot of these women don't even know what will be good for them in the long-term!
Of course we all have different views and interests and coming from the outside..... this maternity system still has a very long way to go........
Just my thoughts. Crucify me if you wish.
Health e-Learning
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