RE: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
From
personal experience, sore nipples, baby eventually attached correctly, nipples
hurt first few sucks, then no pain. I found if one left mum alone with bub they
eventually sorted it out. I think we place too much emphasis on 'the right
way' forgetting we all have our individual preferences. We tend to set women up
to fail.With my first, in hospital, first I would semi recline
with my knees bent, none of this sitting straight. We did ok. Ok with nos.
2 3. Trouble with no.4. Midwife by then, knew the 'right way'.
Big failure.
-Original Message-From:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Barb Glare
Chris BrightSent: Monday, 18 April 2005 6:45 PMTo:
ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.auSubject: Re: [ozmidwifery] FW:
Breastfeeding
Interesting, Carina and Denise,
I feel breastfeeding advocates have been "hoisted
on their own pettard" - for so long we sold the message that breast is
best. Not the obvious, that breast is normal; formula feeding is not,
and some risks. Risks which we may choose to accept, or may have to
accept. Unfortunately "guilt" has become a blunt instrument with which
to bludgeon breastfeeding advocates, and prevent sensible discussion of the
real issues.
As Denise said, occasionally, like any other part
of the body occasionally breasts don't work.
My son and I have asthma. (I guess I "gave" it to
him as part of our genetic heritage) Our lungs don't work
properly.Some-times I supplement him with oxygen, and everyday we both
take drugs. I don't feel guilty about that.
With my first child (not the asthmatic one - he
of course was fully breastfed til 6 mnths) I got into a complete pickle.
Work, lack of sleep, difficulty adjusting to my new situation. I was
easily "conned" into believing my breasts didn't work. The formula
flowed freely. Unfortunately the breastmilk did not seem to do
likewise. I scraped through - breastfeeding and artificial feeding.
Subsequent children have taught me that my
breasts worked fabulously - but I did not have a good idea of what "normal"
was.(they taught me that, too) I recieved liberal lashings of poor
information, until I managed to access the support of the Australian
Breastfeeding Association
I don't feel guilty about formula feeding.
I did the best I could under the circumstances, which were trying to say the
least.
In my volunteer work as a breastfeeding
counsellor and my professional work as an infant feeding consultant I work
with women every day. Not all manage to breastfeed, despite all our
efforts. Sometimes I don't know why. Some-times I do. We
don't live in a culture where breastfeeding is normal and understood.
However, I do believe women deserve the information that formula has risks,
and encouragement and information to breastfeed. I dispense info on
weaning, and work to promote breastfeeding as normal and to increase society's
knowledge of breastfeeding.
I help mothers as much as I can, understand why
it didn't work for them, grieve for a time of life lost, reflect on their
experience and enjoy their baby, and not feel guilty about the decision they
made, or had to make.
Barb
- Original Message -
From:
Denise Fisher
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 5:32
PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] FW:
Breastfeeding
Hi CarinaYou'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
breas
Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
Jo, Thankyou for this great contribution. This is exactly the issue that continues to frustrate me in working in a situation where I am a member of a collective of midwives who frustrate the hell out of women by giving conflicting advice. And the organisation I work in is BFHI accredited Handover often involves decriptions of how well babies are or aren't feeding but when you go and talk to the mothers the situation is nothing like you were told and what are you meant to say 'Well forget everything you've been told, I really know what I am talking about and this is what it will really be like and how it is and what you should do. Well see you later just ignore the next x number of people who try to help you and confuse you further. But remeber BF is really important. Another reason why a woman should have a known midwife because my private women dont seem to have these issues? Funny about that isn't it. Andrea Quanchi On 19/05/2005, at 11:32 AM, Jo Bourne wrote: As a consumer I don't know if I should butt into this conversation, but I will anyway. I breastfeed my daughter for 2.5 years (and weaned her before either of us was completely ready for fertility reasons). The first 8 weeks of breastfeeding was utter hell, the next 8 was not great either but definitely better, over the two years I experienced grazes, cracks (polite term for gaping wounds), vaso spasm (which I still get now in my luteal phase but not as badly), blocked ducts, engorgement, 7 or 8 rounds of mastitis, cellulitis, over supply, under supply, and that is what I can remember. I wought help from midwives, IBCLS, GPs and called the ABA. I have to say that I have very little faith in the advice most people are getting when there are real problems with breasfeeding. It seems to me that midwives and IBCLCs all dish out the same not very useful advice If it hurts the latch is wrong, fix the latch and it won't hurt. How anyone thinks that damaged nipples that hurt non stop 24 hours a day will stop hurting because a baby starts sucking on them is beyond me. Poor attachment will increase the damage and good attachment will in time allow it to heal but good attachment WILL NOT stop damaged nipples from hurting and if this is what you tell women they won't believe anything else you say has credibility either. And when nipple/breast pain problems go beyond attachment or vasospasm there is virtually no advice available at all. In the end, of the various breastfeeding advisors that I saw my own GP (who is also and IBCLC) was the only one prepared to say to me her mouth is small small, your breast is large, your areolas are huge and fat, your nipples are small and flat and extremely fiborous. You are doing all you can attachment wise and I can see that it still hurts and I can tell you that it will probably keep hurting for a while. You just have to wait until your nipples slowly and painfully stretch and her mouth gets bigger as she grows. If you persist it will get better around 8 weeks. It got better at eight weeks and three days. This advice was so much more helpful than the You just need to attach her right oh look at that it's perfect... oh why are you crying in pain?... have you tried the football hold? and here is some lahnsino that I got from everyone else. I paid a lot of attention to the breastfeeding women around me when I was breastfeeding and not many had the sort of problems I did, I heard only one story worse than mine and a only a few equally as bad but neither did I hear of many at the other end of the spectrum. I only ever met one woman who put her newborn first child straight to the breast and had never a single breastfeeding problem. In between were the women with minor problems through to those with truly dreadful stories and very few of them seemed to be getting great advice. My dear friend had her second child two weeks ago and the visiting midwife (from the RPA) tried to tell her to stop demand feeding, that she was feeding way to much, should feed only every 3-4 hours and that she must sleep more or she was in danger of hurting herself and hurting her baby (she is an experienced breastfeeder with great family support and knew this advice was laugable). In the end my friend agreed with everything she said just t! o get her out the door and make sure she never came back. So now she is trying to figure out on her own how to deal with a sever over supply problem and a late developing attachment problem Given she has over 2 years breastfeeding experience I know that she will sort it out but she should not have to do it on her own. I am sure that most australian women give up due to poor through to appalling advice from health professionals, possibly combined with lack of support from their families/partners not due to a physical inability to feed. sorry for rambling, my fertility treatment has gone seriously wrong in the last
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. Its very easy to be passionate about something and sing its praises when you have experienced success, but what about those women who dont 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
Interesting, Carina and Denise, I feel breastfeeding advocates have been "hoisted on their own pettard" - for so long we sold the message that breast is best. Not the obvious, that breast is normal; formula feeding is not, and some risks. Risks which we may choose to accept, or may have to accept. Unfortunately "guilt" has become a blunt instrument with which to bludgeon breastfeeding advocates, and prevent sensible discussion of the real issues. As Denise said, occasionally, like any other part of the body occasionally breasts don't work. My son and I have asthma. (I guess I "gave" it to him as part of our genetic heritage) Our lungs don't work properly.Some-times I supplement him with oxygen, and everyday we both take drugs. I don't feel guilty about that. With my first child (not the asthmatic one - he of course was fully breastfed til 6 mnths) I got into a complete pickle. Work, lack of sleep, difficulty adjusting to my new situation. I was easily "conned" into believing my breasts didn't work. The formula flowed freely. Unfortunately the breastmilk did not seem to do likewise. I scraped through - breastfeeding and artificial feeding. Subsequent children have taught me that my breasts worked fabulously - but I did not have a good idea of what "normal" was.(they taught me that, too) I recieved liberal lashings of poor information, until I managed to access the support of the Australian Breastfeeding Association I don't feel guilty about formula feeding. I did the best I could under the circumstances, which were trying to say the least. In my volunteer work as a breastfeeding counsellor and my professional work as an infant feeding consultant I work with women every day. Not all manage to breastfeed, despite all our efforts. Sometimes I don't know why. Some-times I do. We don't live in a culture where breastfeeding is normal and understood. However, I do believe women deserve the information that formula has risks, and encouragement and information to breastfeed. I dispense info on weaning, and work to promote breastfeeding as normal and to increase society's knowledge of breastfeeding. I help mothers as much as I can, understand why it didn't work for them, grieve for a time of life lost, reflect on their experience and enjoy their baby, and not feel guilty about the decision they made, or had to make. Barb - Original Message - From: Denise Fisher To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 5:32 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding Hi CarinaYou'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 funDeniseAt 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. Its very easy to be passionate about something and sing its praises when you have experienced success, but what about those women who dont 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, IBCLCHealth e-Learninghttp://www.health-e-learning.com[EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
Dear Barb Your thoughtful discussion of he b'feeding issue is well-said and accords with what other LCs say I think. I am not one to argue for simplistic and individualistic interpretations of women's 'choice', eg to have elective caesars or to bottle feed, because all 'choices' are socially shaped. But I think it is very inappropriate and self-defeating to get on the moral high horse and neglect the obstacles that women currently face in what Pam Carter's called the 'working conditions' of breastfeeding. It is not necessary to attack a journalist personally nor is it 'women-centred' to accuse people of making choices we disagree with when we do not know what their personal story or situation is. Fiona Giles' Fresh Milk or Virginia Schmied's work show very well the variety of experiences and dilemmas women face, including cultural attitudes to the body and pressures from partners, mothers etc. Surely we should be focusing on the structural constraints such as poor birthing and postnatal care, lack of maternity leave and childcare etc that influence decision-making! Many women are simply stuck in a lousy system and deserve understanding and respect rather than condemnation. As that wonderful wise woman Sheila Kitzinger wrote in the Preface to my book Our Bodies Our Babies, 'If individual women are to find a voice, wherever they are coming from, their individual choices are valid. Those of us who find ourselves representing the birth (and breastfeeding) movement need to listen and learn. Only then can we understand.' As she goes on to points out , some women seek epidurals because they have suffered sexual or other abuse, and who are we to judge? Also, pertinent to Justine's recent comment, are they then to be denied midwifery care? Surely not! For myself, I think we need some humility here and, as Barb recognises, understand diversity of needs and circumstances. As Sheila K also comments, we face a tension between on the one hand 'helping individual women, enabling them to have the a positive experience, whatever kind of birth it is. On the other, we are working to change the system... to respect the normal physiology of birth and lactation. ' I don't think being 'Nipple Nazis', as people say, is very productive. Maybe we can share around the guilt of not yet making the world a fit place for mothers! In struggle Kerreen mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Denise Fisher Sent: Wed 18/05/2005 5:32 PM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au 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
Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
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 ofcontiuity 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 Iwho was aconvenor of BFHI in WA am now actively involved with Maternity Coalition to give women theopportunity 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 To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 3:32 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding Hi CarinaYou'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 funDeniseAt 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. Its very easy to be passionate about something and sing its praises when you have experienced success, but what about those women who dont 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, IBCLCHealth e-Learninghttp://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
Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
Title: 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: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au 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. Its very easy to be passionate about something and sing its praises when you have experienced success, but what about those women who dont 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
Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
Title: Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding 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 - From: Carina To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au 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 BrownOn 18/5/05 8:13 PM, "Denise Hynd" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear CarinaThe 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: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 3:32 PMSubject: Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: BreastfeedingHi CarinaYou'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 regardl
Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
Hi Barb, This was very good Thanks Lyle [EMAIL PROTECTED] 04/18/05 6:44 pm Interesting, Carina and Denise, I feel breastfeeding advocates have been hoisted on their own pettard - for so long we sold the message that breast is best. Not the obvious, that breast is normal; formula feeding is not, and some risks. Risks which we may choose to accept, or may have to accept. Unfortunately guilt has become a blunt instrument with which to bludgeon breastfeeding advocates, and prevent sensible discussion of the real issues. As Denise said, occasionally, like any other part of the body occasionally breasts don't work. My son and I have asthma. (I guess I gave it to him as part of our genetic heritage) Our lungs don't work properly. Some-times I supplement him with oxygen, and everyday we both take drugs. I don't feel guilty about that. With my first child (not the asthmatic one - he of course was fully breastfed til 6 mnths) I got into a complete pickle. Work, lack of sleep, difficulty adjusting to my new situation. I was easily conned into believing my breasts didn't work. The formula flowed freely. Unfortunately the breastmilk did not seem to do likewise. I scraped through - breastfeeding and artificial feeding. Subsequent children have taught me that my breasts worked fabulously - but I did not have a good idea of what normal was.(they taught me that, too) I recieved liberal lashings of poor information, until I managed to access the support of the Australian Breastfeeding Association I don't feel guilty about formula feeding. I did the best I could under the circumstances, which were trying to say the least. In my volunteer work as a breastfeeding counsellor and my professional work as an infant feeding consultant I work with women every day. Not all manage to breastfeed, despite all our efforts. Sometimes I don't know why. Some-times I do. We don't live in a culture where breastfeeding is normal and understood. However, I do believe women deserve the information that formula has risks, and encouragement and information to breastfeed. I dispense info on weaning, and work to promote breastfeeding as normal and to increase society's knowledge of breastfeeding. I help mothers as much as I can, understand why it didn't work for them, grieve for a time of life lost, reflect on their experience and enjoy their baby, and not feel guilty about the decision they made, or had to make. Barb - Original Message - From: Denise Fisher To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 5:32 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED
Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
As a consumer I don't know if I should butt into this conversation, but I will anyway. I breastfeed my daughter for 2.5 years (and weaned her before either of us was completely ready for fertility reasons). The first 8 weeks of breastfeeding was utter hell, the next 8 was not great either but definitely better, over the two years I experienced grazes, cracks (polite term for gaping wounds), vaso spasm (which I still get now in my luteal phase but not as badly), blocked ducts, engorgement, 7 or 8 rounds of mastitis, cellulitis, over supply, under supply, and that is what I can remember. I wought help from midwives, IBCLS, GPs and called the ABA. I have to say that I have very little faith in the advice most people are getting when there are real problems with breasfeeding. It seems to me that midwives and IBCLCs all dish out the same not very useful advice If it hurts the latch is wrong, fix the latch and it won't hurt. How anyone thinks that damaged nipples that hurt non stop 24 hours a day will stop hurting because a baby starts sucking on them is beyond me. Poor attachment will increase the damage and good attachment will in time allow it to heal but good attachment WILL NOT stop damaged nipples from hurting and if this is what you tell women they won't believe anything else you say has credibility either. And when nipple/breast pain problems go beyond attachment or vasospasm there is virtually no advice available at all. In the end, of the various breastfeeding advisors that I saw my own GP (who is also and IBCLC) was the only one prepared to say to me her mouth is small small, your breast is large, your areolas are huge and fat, your nipples are small and flat and extremely fiborous. You are doing all you can attachment wise and I can see that it still hurts and I can tell you that it will probably keep hurting for a while. You just have to wait until your nipples slowly and painfully stretch and her mouth gets bigger as she grows. If you persist it will get better around 8 weeks. It got better at eight weeks and three days. This advice was so much more helpful than the You just need to attach her right oh look at that it's perfect... oh why are you crying in pain?... have you tried the football hold? and here is some lahnsino that I got from everyone else. I paid a lot of attention to the breastfeeding women around me when I was breastfeeding and not many had the sort of problems I did, I heard only one story worse than mine and a only a few equally as bad but neither did I hear of many at the other end of the spectrum. I only ever met one woman who put her newborn first child straight to the breast and had never a single breastfeeding problem. In between were the women with minor problems through to those with truly dreadful stories and very few of them seemed to be getting great advice. My dear friend had her second child two weeks ago and the visiting midwife (from the RPA) tried to tell her to stop demand feeding, that she was feeding way to much, should feed only every 3-4 hours and that she must sleep more or she was in danger of hurting herself and hurting her baby (she is an experienced breastfeeder with great family support and knew this advice was laugable). In the end my friend agreed with everything she said just t! o get her out the door and make sure she never came back. So now she is trying to figure out on her own how to deal with a sever over supply problem and a late developing attachment problem Given she has over 2 years breastfeeding experience I know that she will sort it out but she should not have to do it on her own. I am sure that most australian women give up due to poor through to appalling advice from health professionals, possibly combined with lack of support from their families/partners not due to a physical inability to feed. sorry for rambling, my fertility treatment has gone seriously wrong in the last fortnight so my hormones are whacked and interfering with my concentration but I really wanted to say something... cheers Jo At 5:32 PM +1000 18/5/05, Denise Fisher wrote: 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
Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
Thank you Jo for your email - these are definitely not the way we want
women's experiences to occur, and I'm sure that some of your experiences
were preventable (had the knowledge been available to you and your
advisors), but maybe not all. Your commitment to your self and your child
is wonderful.
When I first started working in my capacity as a Lactation Consultant (15
years ago), and up until the last 3 to 4 years, the majority of problems
that I saw were very simply fixed by positioning. ie. back then that's
what the midwives and child health nurses were pretty lousy at. Since
then things have changed! The problems I'm seeing now are much more
complex, suggesting that the basics are being addressed much better. (By
most, not all X;{) BUT, there's still not one conference I've come away
from in all those years that I haven't learnt something new. Our
breastfeeding knowledge is still in its infancy.
Breastfeeding has been very much the ugly step-sister of birthing - every
other aspect was researched and examined closely and has been for many
years, probably because of the high medical involvement in it.
Breastfeeding was ignored so badly that during the 50's and 60's the
breastfeeding rates were so low that a whole generation of
mothers/sisters/aunties/grandmas AND midwives knowledge of breastfeeding
was lost. This has been a very difficult situation to come back
from.
Research into breastfeeding is very recent. There are still huge gaps in
our knowledge. Trying to disseminate what knowledge we do have is
laborious, particularly when so many people (general population and
health care population) dismiss it as just a 50:50 choice for how a
mother feels like she might want to feed. Infant formula carries VERY
significant risks of ill health and sub-optimal development for ALL
babies who are fed it. We can't bury our heads in the sand and say this
isn't true - it is!! It's the best alternative we have when
breastmilk is not available, but that doesn't deny the facts.
Breastfeeding is normal. Major breastfeeding difficulties in a majority
of mothers is NOT normal. Let's support and encourage our researchers,
and make sure we update ourselves at least every year so that we are
always giving mothers the best knowledge available at the time.
Denise
At 11:32 AM 19/05/2005 +1000, you wrote:
As a consumer I don't know if I
should butt into this conversation, but I will anyway. I breastfeed my
daughter for 2.5 years (and weaned her before either of us was completely
ready for fertility reasons). The first 8 weeks of breastfeeding was
utter hell, the next 8 was not great either but definitely better, over
the two years I experienced grazes, cracks (polite term for gaping
wounds), vaso spasm (which I still get now in my luteal phase but not as
badly), blocked ducts, engorgement, 7 or 8 rounds of mastitis,
cellulitis, over supply, under supply, and that is what I can remember. I
wought help from midwives, IBCLS, GPs and called the ABA. I have to say
that I have very little faith in the advice most people are getting when
there are real problems with breasfeeding.
It seems to me that midwives and IBCLCs all dish out the same not very
useful advice If it hurts the latch is wrong, fix the latch and it
won't hurt. How anyone thinks that damaged nipples that hurt non
stop 24 hours a day will stop hurting because a baby starts sucking on
them is beyond me. Poor attachment will increase the damage and good
attachment will in time allow it to heal but good attachment WILL NOT
stop damaged nipples from hurting and if this is what you tell women they
won't believe anything else you say has credibility either.
And when nipple/breast pain problems go beyond attachment or vasospasm
there is virtually no advice available at all. In the end, of the various
breastfeeding advisors that I saw my own GP (who is also and IBCLC) was
the only one prepared to say to me her mouth is small small, your
breast is large, your areolas are huge and fat, your nipples are small
and flat and extremely fiborous. You are doing all you can attachment
wise and I can see that it still hurts and I can tell you that it will
probably keep hurting for a while. You just have to wait until your
nipples slowly and painfully stretch and her mouth gets bigger as she
grows. If you persist it will get better around 8 weeks. It got
better at eight weeks and three days. This advice was so much more
helpful than the You just need to attach her right oh look at
that it's perfect... oh why are you crying in pain?... have you tried the
football hold? and here is some lahnsino that I got from
everyone else.
I paid a lot of attention to the breastfeeding women around me when I was
breastfeeding and not many had the sort of problems I did, I heard only
one story worse than mine and a only a few equally as bad but neither did
I hear of many at the other end of the spectrum. I only ever met one
woman who put her newborn first child straight to the breast and had
Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
Title: FW: Breastfeeding How wonderful Justine! Great letter and fabulous to hear of another gorgeous baby for you!!! Sonja - Original Message - From: Justine Caines To: OzMid List Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 9:32 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding FYIMy letter to Cindy PanJCxx-- Forwarded MessageFrom: Justine Caines [EMAIL PROTECTED]Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 21:28:46 +1000To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: BreastfeedingDear CindyI read your recent article on infant feeding and was very disappointed.As you say Breast is indeed by far best so why not promote breastfeeding and a womans amazing ability to nurture a child? Your piece did nothing to improve womens confidence or ability to fall into the mother guilt trap. In fact you trod the tired road of those with vested interests. What I read did not empower women, promoting their wonderful capable bodies, it erred on undermining them. Feeling like a milk bar etc.But I think you really excelled when sayingit's vital that the mother's feelings and preferences are considered. Theoretical benefits must be carefully weighed against practical concerns.Theoretical benefits??As a mother of 4. I ask the theoretical benefit of being able to instantly soothe my infant and not wait for the formula to be made at the right temperature. I ask what is the theoretical benefit of reduced admission to hospital for breast-fed babies? Why not look at the support women need to successfully breastfeed? Post-natal support in Australia (other than highly specialist crisis care such as Trescillian and Karitane, also nearly impossible to access) is virtually non-existent. Australias maternity health system is very broken and is based on the needs of practitioners and organisations, rather than women and their families. The huge increase in surgical birth has a direct impact on breastfeeding success. It is very difficult to bond when recovering from major surgery with a morphine drip in-situ. Any artificial hormone such as oxytocics or pain medication interferes with the amazing cocktail of natural oxytocin that assists a woman fall in love with her baby (see Michel Odents work).I can say with authority that when this natural love hormone is maintained the results are amazing.Lovely experiences dont sell papers, books or infant formula do they?They just negate mother guilt and assist in the development of a happy and healthy human race.I know whats more important.I hope this helpsKind regardsJustine CainesMother to 4Ruby 5, Clancy 4, William 2 and Tobias 14 monthsAnd the last little one due December(Someone who loves mothering, birthed her babies under her own steam and fed each in excess of 12 months and feels no guilt!)
Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
sounds like someone may have some mother guilt of their own and are looking to bend facts in order to ease their own guilts from the past. shame she had to publish it so widely..is she a GP or an obs? either way, im embarrassed to be in the same profession as her.. on a happier note did anyone catch the article on doulas in sunday telegraph sunday magazine may 8th? what a wonderful article and great to see it in a publication with such a wide audience. it constantly amazes me to see how many people dont even know what the word doula means! love emily Barry Sonja [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: How wonderful Justine! Great letter and fabulous to hear of another gorgeous baby for you!!! Sonja - Original Message - From: Justine Caines To: OzMid List Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 9:32 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding FYIMy letter to Cindy PanJCxx-- Forwarded MessageFrom: Justine Caines [EMAIL PROTECTED]Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 21:28:46 +1000To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: BreastfeedingDear CindyI read your recent article on infant feeding and was very disappointed.As you say Breast is indeed by far best so why not promote breastfeeding and a womans amazing ability to nurture a child? Your piece did nothing to improve womens confidence or ability to fall into the mother guilt trap. In fact you trod the tired road of those with vested interests. What I read did not ! empower women, promoting their wonderful capable bodies, it erred on undermining them. Feeling like a milk bar etc.But I think you really excelled when sayingit's vital that the mother's feelings and preferences are considered. Theoretical benefits must be carefully weighed against practical concerns.Theoretical benefits??As a mother of 4. I ask the theoretical benefit of being able to instantly soothe my infant and not wait for the formula to be made at the right temperature. I ask what is the theoretical benefit of reduced admission to hospital for breast-fed babies? Why not look at the support women need to successfully breastfeed? Post-natal support in Australia (other than highly specialist crisis care such as Trescil! lian and Karitane, also nearly impossible to access) is virtually non-existent. Australias maternity health system is very broken and is based on the needs of practitioners and organisations, rather than women and their families. The huge increase in surgical birth has a direct impact on breastfeeding success. It is very difficult to bond when recovering from major surgery with a morphine drip in-situ. Any artificial hormone such as oxytocics or pain medication interferes with the amazing cocktail of natural oxytocin that assists a woman fall in love with her baby (see Michel Odents work).I can say with authority that when this natural love hormone is maintained the results are amazing.Lovely experiences dont sell papers, books or infant formula do they?They just negate mother guilt and assist in the development of a happy and healthy human race.I know whats more important.I hope this helpsKind regardsJustine CainesMother to 4Ruby 5, Clancy 4, William 2 and Tobias 14 monthsAnd the last little one due December(Someone who loves mothering, birthed her babies under her own steam and fed each in excess of 12 months and feels no guilt!) Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - Sign up for Fantasy Baseball.
Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
Title: Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding Could someone please point out where to find the article. I am interested to read it. Thanks Carina Brown On 18/5/05 9:14 AM, Emily [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: sounds like someone may have some mother guilt of their own and are looking to bend facts in order to ease their own guilts from the past. shame she had to publish it so widely.. is she a GP or an obs? either way, im embarrassed to be in the same profession as her.. on a happier note did anyone catch the article on doulas in sunday telegraph sunday magazine may 8th? what a wonderful article and great to see it in a publication with such a wide audience. it constantly amazes me to see how many people dont even know what the word doula means! love emily Barry Sonja [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: How wonderful Justine! Great letter and fabulous to hear of another gorgeous baby for you!!! Sonja - Original Message - From: Justine Caines mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: OzMid List mailto:ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 9:32 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding FYI My letter to Cindy Pan JC xx -- Forwarded Message From: Justine Caines [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 21:28:46 +1000 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Breastfeeding Dear Cindy I read your recent article on infant feeding and was very disappointed. As you say Breast is indeed by far best so why not promote breastfeeding and a womans amazing ability to nurture a child? Your piece did nothing to improve womens confidence or ability to fall into the mother guilt trap. In fact you trod the tired road of those with vested interests. What I read did not ! empower women, promoting their wonderful capable bodies, it erred on undermining them. Feeling like a milk bar etc. But I think you really excelled when saying it's vital that the mother's feelings and preferences are considered. Theoretical benefits must be carefully weighed against practical concerns. Theoretical benefits?? As a mother of 4. I ask the theoretical benefit of being able to instantly soothe my infant and not wait for the formula to be made at the right temperature. I ask what is the theoretical benefit of reduced admission to hospital for breast-fed babies? Why not look at the support women need to successfully breastfeed? Post-natal support in Australia (other than highly specialist crisis care such as Trescil! lian and Karitane, also nearly impossible to access) is virtually non-existent. Australias maternity health system is very broken and is based on the needs of practitioners and organisations, rather than women and their families. The huge increase in surgical birth has a direct impact on breastfeeding success. It is very difficult to bond when recovering from major surgery with a morphine drip in-situ. Any artificial hormone such as oxytocics or pain medication interferes with the amazing cocktail of natural oxytocin that assists a woman fall in love with her baby (see Michel Odents work). I can say with authority that when this natural love hormone is maintained the results are amazing. Lovely experiences dont sell papers, books or infant formula do they? They just negate mother guilt and assist in the development of a happy and healthy human race. I know whats more important. I hope this helps Kind regards Justine Caines Mother to 4 Ruby 5, Clancy 4, William 2 and Tobias 14 months And the last little one due December (Someone who loves mothering, birthed her babies under her own steam and fed each in excess of 12 months and feels no guilt!) Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - Sign up http://pa.yahoo.com/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=31508/*http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com for Fantasy Baseball.
Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding
Title: Re: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding 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. Its very easy to be passionate about something and sing its praises when you have experienced success, but what about those women who dont 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 sounds like someone may have some mother guilt of their own and are looking to bend facts in order to ease their own guilts from the past. shame she had to publish it so widely.. is she a GP or an obs? either way, im embarrassed to be in the same profession as her.. on a happier note did anyone catch the article on doulas in sunday telegraph sunday magazine may 8th? what a wonderful article and great to see it in a publication with such a wide audience. it constantly amazes me to see how many people dont even know what the word doula means! love emily Barry Sonja [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: How wonderful Justine! Great letter and fabulous to hear of another gorgeous baby for you!!! Sonja - Original Message - From: Justine Caines mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: OzMid List mailto:ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 9:32 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] FW: Breastfeeding FYI My letter to Cindy Pan JC xx -- Forwarded Message From: Justine Caines [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 21:28:46 +1000 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Breastfeeding Dear Cindy I read your recent article on infant feeding and was very disappointed. As you say Breast is indeed by far best so why not promote breastfeeding and a womans amazing ability to nurture a child? Your piece did nothing to improve womens confidence or ability to fall into the mother guilt trap. In fact you trod the tired road of those with vested interests. What I read did not ! empower women, promoting their wonderful capable bodies, it erred on undermining them. Feeling like a milk bar etc. But I think you really excelled when saying it's vital that the mother's feelings and preferences are considered. Theoretical benefits must be carefully weighed against practical concerns. Theoretical benefits?? As a mother of 4. I ask the theoretical benefit of being able to instantly soothe my infant and not wait for the formula to be made at the right temperature. I ask what is the theoretical benefit of reduced admission to hospital for breast-fed babies? Why not look at the support women need to successfully breastfeed? Post-natal support in Australia (other than highly specialist crisis care such as Trescil! lian and Karitane, also nearly impossible to access) is virtually non-existent. Australias maternity health system is very broken and is based on the needs of practitioners and organisations, rather than women and their families. The huge increase in surgical birth has a direct impact on breastfeeding success. It is very difficult to bond when recovering from major surgery with a morphine drip in-situ. Any artificial hormone such as oxytocics or pain medication interferes with the amazing cocktail of natural oxytocin that assists a woman fall in love with her baby (see Michel Odents work). I can say with authority that when this natural love hormone is maintained the results are amazing. Lovely experiences dont sell papers, books or infant formula do they? They just negate mother guilt and assist in the development of a happy and healthy human race. I know whats more important. I hope this helps Kind regards Justine Caines Mother to 4 Ruby 5, Clancy 4, William 2 and Tobias 14 months And the last little one due December (Someone who loves mothering, birthed her babies under her own steam and fed each in excess of 12 months and feels no guilt!) Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - Sign up http://pa.yahoo.com/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=31508/*http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com for Fantasy Baseball.
