"Hot" topic/formal training/real world

Clearly, breastfeeding is not a simple straightforward subject like ATN...
As we all have our perspective on things (my residency director is a
pediatric nephrologist - from his standpoint the purpose of the heart is to
pump blood to the kidneys).

Andrew MD writes:

<< Given that we Docs get little or no formal training in med school on
breastfeeding >>

Geez, I got news for you as you complete your residency and join the rest
of
us in the real world. You are not going to get "formal" training in med
school on a lot of things that you will need to be a good pediatrician. As
a
pediatrician, you are smart and you can think which means you can read,
learn
and educate yourself as you practice the art of medicine. The art &
practice
of medicine is a never-ending learning process - you must be the true
"professional student" for the rest of your career. Medical school does
not
teach you everything you need; it only gives you a good basis to start
with,
if you know what I mean.

From my perspective, medical school (and many residencies unfortunately,
as well) medical school DOES NOT give you a good basis on breastfeeding.
I'm sorry but 30 minutes on prolactin does not equal "basis", much less
"good basis". To omit information about how the majority of the world's
infants are initially fed is NOT acceptable. [and before anyone starts with
USA stuff - I must have sat through 6 sessions on malaria and I have yet to
see a case here]

This lack of information forms the basis of the misinformation that is
passed down from doc to doc which is why, Andrew MD, patients don't trust
their docs to know about breastfeeding. If they felt we were the source of
good information and that we took their desire to breastfeed their babies
as seriously as they do then they would come to us. Some docs have a
better reputation than others and some will just interact better with some
parents.

As to who has a better reputation - your moms can tell you. Interestingly,
breastfeeding management is a lot like proper manners - the people that
need the most help are the last to realize it. So often docs will give
advice and since nothing "bad" happens think that the advice is just fine -
without realizing that it was so off base that mom knew better than to
follow it.

I wholeheartedly agree that medicine is a lifelong learning process, that
was one of the things that attracted me to it as a second career - yes, I'm
recycled - and I have as you suggested, done reading to learn and even
writing to teach others. It is interesting, though, as many conferences
and lectures I have attended on breastfeeding -physicians are poorly
represented...

Gail S. Hertz, MD, IBCLC
Pediatric Resident (R-2, halfway through)