Re: Holistic practices again

[Guest guest]

nne,

I do not tend to sell products to my clients, but as I work in an

office with naturopaths, clients can sometimes get what they need

there. Mostly, I just send moms to the health food store. I would say

that it is less than 15% of the time when I happen to have a product in

my office that a mom needs, although I debate it a lot. After all, I am

sending them to find products unfamilar to them that are likely sold in

very limited locations. So, I have often considered having things

available, but it blurs the line then as to whether i am a consultant

or someone hawking products. OTOH, the naturopaths provide all of the

products they recommend and I have observed that the clients apprciate

it and od not feel resentful. I don't know--I have considered having

only the more emergency-type things on hand, like the remedies and send

moms to buy the rest.

Actually, I have never had a negative outcome, but I do not think I

create unecessary risk. I am very clear with people. But, I think the

bigger problem is not those of us practicin holistically. I think the

bigger problems are that the Code is poorly written and ought to better

protect mothers, babies and us than the medical model and that the

IBCLC has become a medicalized profession. I do not want to defend

against my own profession--I want to be supported within it to give the

best possibole care. IMO, w/o holsitic practices, I do not beleive it

is possible to give the best care.

Again, using he example of mastitis. Is it best care to refer to a doc

for abx which will lead to a spiral of other problems when with just a

little knowledge you could help the mom with a remedy that causes no

harm? I am not interested in being a cheerleader for breastfeeding,

while impotently standing by and watching people be harmed. That is not

a profession--that is a lackey.

Anyway, I know I sound a little annoyed, and in truth I am quite

annoyed with the medicalized model of care that has seeped into

lactation. So, I will do what I do and hopefully more and more of us

will be interested in doing it, too. Then it will be normal and the

foundation of good care. That is my objective.

Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

Intuitive Parenting Network, LLC

Posted by: " nne Vanderveen-Kolkena " vanderveen.assen@...

vanderveenwarenhuis

Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:38 am (PST)

Hi en ,

Very interesting issue indeed...

I'll tell you a little something. Not by far am I competent in the

field of holistic practice, like (gosh, still so much to

learn!), but the fact that phytolacca can be very helpful with mastitis

has been known to me for years. I made it into a real issue within my

breastfeeding organisation, when many were still saying: " The doctor

will help the mother, as we as volunteers do not deal with medical

issues. " We all know that most doctors never ever heard about the

difference between a sterile mastitis due to milk stasis and a

bacterial mastitis due to nipple cracks or other bad luck like reduced

resistance. So I would talk things through with moms and when I thought

that milk stasis was the cause, I would tell her about phytolacca as a

good option. Many chose to use it and were thrilled about how fast it

would work. Often, though, they would call me at funny times, with the

pharmacy not open or with no phytolacca in store. I had a little bottle

at home and people could pick it up, shake out a few granules on a

spoon and bring it back after a day (usually they didn't need longer

for the problem to be resolved!). I know: I'm not a pharmacy and our

behavioural code certainly excluded this option... hahaha. Then again,

like says: it thought it was the best way to serve the moms

and that has always been highest on my priority list and falls squarely

into *my* (personal) code of ethics! That didn't help, however... I got

suspended! My, what a hassle and a stress it was... :-s After a couple

of weird weeks, suspension was reversed, but I felt fragile going back

to work, with many people having built an image of me that wasn't fully

correct. There was so much they didn't know. It's been some eight years

now and I still work in my volunteer bf organisation, by now a highly

respected member (many from those days left, new ones don't know), but

still a member that comes up with uneasy ideas once in a while, ideas

that bother the board or annoy co-workers, because my standpoint is

'uneasy' and very clear, well-worded and well-based, either evidence

based or psychologically based.

I reckon, , you often end up or have ended up in comparible

positions, or not...? I have come to get used to that role and now try

to play it eloquently and friendly. The thouroughness is still there,

though, probably even stronger, and no matter how friendly you put it,

there will always be people who take offense, because they know inside

that you disagree with what they are practicing. Well... so be it. At

the end of the day, I have to be able to say that I did it for the

moms. That's the smell test Myr spoke about on Lactnet as part

of Liz ' lecture on ethics in Vienna, and I want to pass my own!

;o)

I think, , that sometimes what people do, can seem to be without

a single problem and still violates the Code of Ethics, because moms

interests were not served. I really think it is complicated: you can do

'forbidden' things and comply with the Code of Ethics and you can do

'normal' things (or leave out simple things!) and violate it.

I'm really curious how others feel about this!

Warmly,

nne Vanderveen, Netherlands (and busy arranging a meeting with a

couple of Dutch lc's, because my collegue and I feel that they strongly

violated the Code of Ethics on several issues...! )