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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, that is an awful story and I'm glad you and her husband were able to manage the situation.  Having said that, there are plenty of lactation consultants who are nothing like that so please be careful how you generalize.[/quote]

But there are also plenty of lactation consultants--whose literal job it is to SUPPORT the WOMEN who want to breastfeed--who do behave this way.

I'm so sorry for your friend, OP.  She did nothing wrong.  Good for you and her husband for standing up for her.  [/quote]

Agree.  I think part of the problem is that we are often so vulnerable right after birth, especially when it’s the first child.  And we get slammed both ways.   Poor maternal leave policies, so we feel pulled back to work, but at the same time, we’re expected to sacrifice our bodies and our mental health for our children, just because we are mothers.   So-called “baby-friendly” hospitals have done away with nurseries, leaving women who may have just labored for hours or days, or had surgery, are expected to care for newborns alone.   And on top of that, there are lactation consultants like the one that op’s friend encountered, pressuring everyone to breastfeed, even when it’s clearly not working for the mom or the baby.

Op, I get why you saw that as “mean girl” behavior, but in reality, I think probably the lactation consultant is assessed by how many moms are breastfeeding when they leave the hospital.  She’s saying the things she has to in order to get moms to breastfeed when it’s difficult.   I think the “baby-friendly” movement in hospitals is incredibly “mom-unfriendly”, and many women suffer for it.  [/quote]

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