Recently I was sitting at the desk at the private maternity unit where I am working a little (my shift was over and I was catching up with the dreaded paperwork...I cant keep up! 12 years since I worked in a hospital..."'waddayamean I have to think about more than one woman at a time???") when along comes one of the fathers... A midwife asks him 'how's things?' They had been experiencing very challenging breastfeeding problems... "Oh, great!" says the Dad..."No worries" Surprised, the midwife questioned further and the father replied they'd been fine since "She!" pointing at me had looked after them. "something she said changed everything!'
Everyone looked up, eager to know what this gem of wisdom I had shared was. Uh Oh thinks me. I had relayed a story of a woman I had spoked to a week or so before hand... I was about to go home when a bell rang from one of the rooms... I did not know the woman but noone else was available so I went in. The woman was in tears...'Can you help me? I cant get him on the breast properly..Is that where his top lip should be? I cant see his tongue. I don't know if his mouth is wide enough..should I sit up or lie down...??" I said to her gently "Where are you from" and she answered 'PNG'...I asked her is she remembered seeing the women in PNG feed their babies and she said 'Yes' I asked her if she could visualize and she said Yes...With her eyes closed she saw a large group of women sitting around all with babes at the breast. I asked her 'Are they looking at the babies?' "No" 'Are they concerned where the lip ofr the tongue or anything else for that matter is?' "No...they're just talking and laughing" I said...'Listen..just forget all that white man shit and let the baby do its thing' She replyed with 'Ooooh...the baby's on! He's feeding' mmmm I tell you things at the desk stopped still for a moment as this father tells all... "Oh, she told us just to forget all that white man shit and get on and do what we please...we've been fine ever since' Vicki -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Macha McDonald Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 6:28 AM To: ozmidwifery Subject: RE: Melbourne's Child article As a recent consumer, I can say that the (over) emphasis on technique and latch, although it is important, is very confusing. When I had my daughter, in a baby friendly hospital, every midwife had a different idea about what I was meant to be doing. Confusion is not the word. My mind was in chaos!!! This baby friendly hospital recommended formula to me. So much for the 10 steps!!! Also, their LCs were very limited in their advice. For low supply, I was told on more than 10 different occasions over 3 months to just keep expressing. I agree with the baby friendly initiative, but seeing it 1st hand, I dont think its working. Some staff are just not committed enough. Friends and family who are also recent consumers have sited that the MCHN and midwifes in hospital (rural VIC) told them their milk did not have enough nutrients in it, and that it wasnt strong enough. I think the whole situation is worse than we think, and I am surprised that anyone is breastfeeding at all, considering the current climate....in my humble opinion!!! Regards, Macha. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Johnston Sent: Sunday, 2 June 2002 8:04 PM To: ozmidwifery Subject: RE: Melbourne's Child article Dear Liz While I agree wholeheartedly with most of the discussion on this, and I have seen the article in question, I feel I need to make a comment about your statement : < The 'baby friendly initiative' I believe, was aimed at developing countries whose children were dying of diarrhoeal disease through contaminated water, incorrect formula and lack of hygiene. > This is a not uncommon response, and it worries me greatly - I believe it's wrong. I was involved in both the Victorian and the national BFHI set-up. I am not actively involved in it now, but I support the underlying principles wholeheartedly. I know of no reason why every maternity service in Australia should not implement the '10 steps to successful breastfeeding', and seek external assessment through the Baby Friendly Hospital accreditation process. This has very little to do with dirty water - babies die unnecessarily in Australia too because they are not breastfed. The reasons for failure of breastfeeding (most are willing to initiate breastfeeding, but the drop-off rates are alarming) are many. There is reliable evidence that practices which have for many years been common in maternity services across the developed world, such as separation of mother and baby, timing of feeds, use of artificial supplements, use of dummies and teats, advertising of alternatives to breastfeeding ... all contribute to early weaning. These are the issues that are dealt with in the global Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. Sally's comments about babies who are brought into this world doped up to their eyeballs in narcotics are also relevant here. These babies and their mothers require special skilled support, and it can all be done within the baby friendly process. There's nothing daunting, or excessively focused on technique in the baby friendly initiative that I know about. (I'm a realist - not everyone gets it right all the time, but that's life!) Finally, we all agree that most mothers, most of the time, want what's best for their babies. Midwives who seek to provide woman centred care will do all that they can to support the mother-baby bond, working with the natural process, and only interfering when we have a good reason. That's being mother-friendly too. Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding doesn't come easily. There are many deterrents in our society. Our work should be underpinned by reliable evidence, and I would ask anyone who knows of evidence contrary to the BFHI '10 steps' to speak up now. With my best wishes Joy Johnston -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
