Guest guest Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 Niki: I really don't see the attacks. And we all really do try to help women as best we can. So please don't assume that we don't in our own ways try to help women with their diets in ways that they find doable. We're listening, but please also listen to us and don't asssume that our intent is to attack you. It is very easy to read far more into written comments than is attended. And also don't assume that we are all in favor of medicalization either. Quite frankly, I no longer understand what people mean by the term medicalization. I think probably what is meant is something else. Among the things that private practice IBCLCs have to cope with are: 1) iatrogenically induced problems from routine hospital procedures that interfere with breastfeeding. Here I have to say that the nurse who tells the mother that she'll take the baby to the nursery at night so mom can get some rest is JUST AS destructive to the breastfeeding relationship as the surgical delivery. So, is taking the baby a " medical " procedure? Not really. It is an anachronistic HOSPITAL procedure from a past that did not recognize either the essential nature of contact between mothers and babies and the nature of feeding from the breast. 2) culturally induced problems from the segregation of activities in women's lives. In the US, women USED to be able to achieve their economically productive, reproduction, and caregiving activities in the SAME environment. Men USED to be around as well. Then MEN moved into factories and offices and stopped observing how hard women were working -- and therefore no longer valued those activities. Some low income women also struggled when they also moved into factories --- I think of the shirt waist factories. There women couldn't spend time with their babies as long as needed and so babies were fed all sorts of concoctions and the death rates skyrocketed. One of the studies that I vaguely remember and I think was in Chicago showed infant death rates of 300 per 1000. So, now we have made it very difficult for families to feed their children well because economically productive work requires travel to a separate environment from the caregiving environment. 3) the nutrification of foods. Along with prematurely assuming we had wiped out infections diseases with sanitation and antibiotics, we preamaturely assumed we could manufacture better foods than we could grow. In an environment where keeping a home had become devalued as trivial work (when in fact it actually is very important) women were more than welcome to consider short cuts like hamburger helper. I remember my mother struggling with cookbooks. She had the usual Betty Crocker augmented by this huge library of meals from A to Z. My mother made everything by hand -- but not quite as far as plucking chickens. When she went to work when I was 11, she deteriorated in her ability to make meals. Hamburger helper became her salvation. And in so doing, the many " housewives " who were told they were of no value by both men AND the early feminists moved into the workforce and away from cooking which could be replaced by manufactured meals. I've seen lots of changes in public health programs over the years, but having a long timeline is really helpful. I AM encouraged by changes in New York City. Our " Nanny " mayor as some like to call him has just gone even further to remove " promotional samples " of formula from hospitals. I saw " promotional " because I was just called by a reporter who asked me about the " promotional " samples rather than the " free " samples. That may seem like a minor word changes, but in the conceptual framework in which parents think about breastfeeding, this is huge. Not that many years ago, Peyser of the NY Post was talking about the " Free Formula " that fed a generation and got really pissed off at me because I pointed out it wasn't free and I sent her the article showing the increase in death rates for formula fed infants. She also wasn't pleased because I outed her on the fact that she MADE UP a quote from a psychiatrist. The NY Post never retracted her made up quote. So now I was able to talk to a reporter who UNDERSTOOD that promotional samples are costly. Please don't be so angry with us. We are not angry with you, we are merely trying to share and understand. And I DO appreciate the reading assignment. I've had my mind opened up to lots of new ideas when I follow through on reading new info. Again, Peace Off E Burger, MHS, PhD, IBCLC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 I just wanted add that I never read any posts on this list and hear criticism or judgement - I hear women exchanging ideas and experiences in an honest effort to help one another. I love this list, I've learned so much from everyone on it and it's really great that we do come from so many different backgrounds and work in such different sub-cultures. with much admiration and gratitude, McCormick, IBCLC, LLL Shelburne, Vermont, US Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2012 Report Share Posted May 10, 2012 , Thank you for sharing the term *promotional samples.*Yes, this does more accurately reflect the nature of the beast! I will be using that from now on.normaNorma Ritter, IBCLC, RLC Breastfeeding Matters in the Capital Regionwww.NormaRitter.comJoin us on Facebook for the latest birthing and breastfeeding news and views:http://tinyurl.com/BMCRonFB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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