metta

on 4/8/00 2:38 AM, JodyeB1@... wrote:

> The right side was another story. I can't describe the
> strange sort of pain I felt. It wasn't anything like the normal pain I was
> feeling on the left side, and it didn't go away. For some reason my right
> breast (especially the nipple) is very, very sensitive (all the time). I
> talked to my doctor who dismissed me saying " no one's body is perfectly
> symmetrical. We're not exactly the same on both sides - not in shape, size
> or sensation". So, I stopped breastfeeding my son. I didn't even try with
> my next daughter. I was very discouraged at that point. When my fourth baby
> was born, 14 months ago, I did try to nurse her. She was injured at birth
> (by the same doctor who gave me the advice on symmetry) and because of low
> muscle tone she had problems latching on and sucking. I was totally stressed
> out! There was just too much going on. It was our first year of
> homeschooling, my baby was hurt, and I knew that to successfully breastfeed
> her was going to take lots of time and energy (especially since I'd basically
> be doing it for the first time). Besides all that I never did figure out
> what the problem with my right breast was...or is. So, I quit. I spent the
> first few months of her life avoiding some of the very people who
> could/should have been supporting me. You know why? Because I didn't want
> to hear the breastfeeding lecture...again. I know it's best for the baby! I
> know! I know! I know! And guess what? I think homeschooling is best for
> kids. But I don't go around preaching about it to every person I meet.

I don't preach breastfeeding but I do get very upset when I hear stories
like this. Not because you didn't breastfeed, but because you got
inadequate/and or wrong information from your doctor. I hear lots of stories
similar to yours. My mom wasn't given a choice. She was told she couldn't
breastfeed and was given a shot to dry her up and she wasn't even allowed to
try. She wanted to, though. That makes me crazy. I preach patients rights
and the responsibilty of informing ourselves. I don't care if women make an
informed choice not to breastfeed. But I really don't like when women are
misinformed or don't feel they can question the doctor or go against his/her
advice. I've met women who didn't know they could change doctors if they
felt the care was inadequate. Or their health plans wouldn't let them
change. That makes me nuts.

The baby book my mom had when she was pregnant with me admonished women not
to talk to any doctors but their own or to talk to other women about what
their doctors were telling them about pregnancy/birth/breastfeeding. The
authors thought that would only confuse us poor dears. That was in the 60's,
but I know there are doctors who value these same unquestioning and helpless
attributes in their patients. In my career as a nurse I've met doctors who
didn't know what they were doing, but that didn't stop them from giving
advice/writing orders/doing surgery.

I think informed choice is the key here. I know there are women who choose
not to inform themselves, but more often I think they are discouraged from
doing so.

--
Thea
metta@...