You’re already busier than any human being should be, and now we’re adding yet another patient expectation, right?
But these items are do-able, even in the ever-changing office/clinic scene.
Start with getting a handle on WHY you should do something. Spend a few minutes perusing the Call to Action. Often practitioners are sure they are doing all they can to see that their youngest patients get off to the best start possible. For some very practical stuff on what can be done, take special notice of ‘Doctors in Action‘
This document from the surgeon general’s office can be an eye-opener, and a fresh perspective. You might just start by taking a closer look at the magazines that are in your waiting room, for example. Most promote formula feeding–rather than breastfeeding– as normal. Or, in most cases “just as good as, ” breastfeeding. Even the so-called, ‘medical’ mags, signed by cyber-doctors, have discussions about how to manage breastfeeding using language and evidence that is out-of-date, and even downright medically incorrect.
Information that we give our moms and dads should be current, evidence-based, and clearly and universally understood–by patients and practitioners alike. There should be no anecdotal teaching, from one clinic staff member to another, depending on who she sees this week. There should be no subtle, ‘just in case you can’t breastfeed’ undertone that undermines a woman’s already vulnerable confidence about her body’s ability to get the job done. Remember: this has been shown conclusively to be one of the biggest predictors of breastfeeding failure
- Maternal Confidence
in the United States, by far.
And the bag of free formula samples given away in countless doctor’s offices around the country serves only to do just that–undermines maternal confidence levels.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Yes, to ourselves. Because when a mom becomes a failure statistic, we all suffer. It puts an additionally heavy load on our already crushing health care system that cannot adequately meet the needs of the most vulnerable members of our populations.
The best way to get them out of the vulnerable category is to start them out with human milk–and only human milk. And the best way to do that is to support the needs of the new mom, who is attempting to do the very best thing, but needs help understanding the management of breastfeeding, or in some cases breast-milk feeding.
And we can only do that when our practitioners and our clinic, office staffs, hospital staffs, community organizations and agencies- to name just a few–are all adequately trained in education, support, and long-term care and management of human milk feeding.
http://lactationnarration.com/index.php/2012/06/docs-children-breastfed/
Great article at Lactation Narration, and posted on Kellymom.com as well, from June 16, 2012, entitled, “Were Your Doctor’s Children Breastfed,” along with the research from studies on this topic. PLEASE read!
bainnemisean 