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Thank you Kerreen and Carina. It seems to me that
despite the BFHI about 10 to 20 % of women within our maternity system will and
do have problems with breastfeeding. I appreciate that only 1 % may have truly
insurmountable difficulties neverthless these other women are a significant part
of our population and their situation must be respected and supported. For some
of us women, breastfeeding is ridiculously easy, even a deliciously sensual
experience but, dare I say this, this doesn't make us(or at least me) better
mothers, just as for some of us, despite the culture, birth is easy or at least
some of us would birth normally upside down in the back of a bus: does this make
us better mothers? I think not. It is simply just how some of us are and
incidently just how some of us are not. Isn't it clear that forcing agendas down
anyones throat creates a back lash? Aren't we in the middle of one? There are
miriad reasons for all of this not the least of which is our culture but also
genetics, physiology, socialisation to name a few. I do get truly tired of
the habit of blaming women, categorising them for being "dramatic" etc., in a
general way when they a simply part of a system they have been conditioned to
accept. Believe it or not not all of us were conditioned this way and so for
some of us it is far easier to step outside the system, in fact for some of us
it is the only way we can be!! Again it doesn't make us better only different
and adds to the richness and diversity of the palate as well as the menu of
skills we must possess as midwives to facillitate as much breastfeeding success
as possible.
marilyn
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 4:20
AM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] FW:
Breastfeeding
Dear Denise,
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]
****************************************
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