My point is that there is a group of women who do not fit this mould and that it is dangerous to assume that women who are having problems with breastfeeding are doing so because of the fragmented medical model of maternity care. I can see how some problems are exacerbated by the fragmented care model, but to make generalised statements is dangerous. I am also well aware of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and am in full support.
Carina Brown
On 18/5/05 8:13 PM, "Denise Hynd" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Dear Carina
The World Health Organisation and most research shows that the problems that most woemn in our culture have are down to misinformation and disempowering management.
That is why their is the Baby Freindly Hospital Initiative !
However anyone who has had expereince or an understanding of contiuity of care by a known midwife knows that what is even more effective support of the overwhelming majority (98%+) of women's iniate abilities to nurture their babies as they need including breastfeeding after brithing them the way that they need is for the woman to have this care!!
That is why I who was a convenor of BFHI in WA am now actively involved with Maternity Coalition to give women the opportunity to choose this model of maternity care.
The current problems of birthing , breastfeeding and mothering are a reflection of the fragmented medical model of care imposed on them!!
Denise Hynd
"Let us support one another, not just in philosophy but in action, for the sake of freedom for all women to choose exactly how and by whom, if by anyone, our bodies will be handled."
— Linda Hes
----- Original Message -----
From: Denise Fisher <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 3:32 PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
Hi Carina
You've brought up some points that are good food for thought. It was a tragedy the day that milk banks were closed in Australia due to the scare with HIV, despite pasteurisation easily killing HIV (I wonder why sperm banks weren't also closed??). I note that a new bank is opening in WA and perhaps one in Melbourne. I wish them success.
The incidence of physiological inability to breastfeed is somewhere in the order of 1 - 2 per 100 women. I don't believe with an incidence at this level that it warrants we guard everything we say to every woman. And then there's that really fascinating topic of 'guilt'.
Can you induce guilt in someone? - maybe, if they really are guilty. However I don't feel guilty about something I have no control over. For example if I had no uterus I wouldn't feel guilty that I'm not adding to Australia's population, no matter how much Mr Howard exhorts me to. If I had no breasts or my breasts were not functional I would not feel guilty that I'm not breastfeeding regardless of how many people told me it was best.
My opinion is that some health professionals don't know how to support women to breastfeed adequately and in covering their own feelings of guilt about this they 'pretend' that it's the mother they are trying not to make feel guilty.
To give you lots of different opinions on guilt and breastfeeding do a google search using those terms.
Have fun
Denise
At 03:23 PM 18/05/2005 +0930, you wrote:
Some food for thought,
What about the women who simply cannot breastfeed and cannot produce enough milk???? The wet nurse is still in existence in many tribal cultures where formulary has no influence. It’s very easy to be passionate about something and sing it’s praises when you have experienced success, but what about those women who don’t succeed despite months of trying and perseverance. I, like all many midwives of course believe that breast is best and should be promoted as optimum nutrition for a baby but sometimes I believe that in trying to get this message across we need to be careful not to make other women lose their ‘confidence ands fall into the motherhood guilt trap’.
Carina
***************************************
Denise Fisher, MMP, BN, IBCLC
Health e-Learning
http://www.health-e-learning.com
<http://www.health-e-learning.com/> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
****************************************
Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.6 - Release Date: 6/05/2005
