I'm attending the annual conference of the AZ chapter of the AAP this
weekend. A lecture by Dr. Barton Schmidt today was on infant feeding
problems(very well respected pediatrician and founder of the hugely
successful after-hours phone call triage system in Denver). He's a
developmental PED guru and also author of a "Instructions for Pediatric
Patients" which all pediatricians are familiar with. Anyway he went on to
 recommend that BF infants, in the 1st 3-5 days, who are still hungry after
BF should be supplemented with 1 oz of formula after BF to make sure the
infant does not dehydrate. Of course I couldn't let that one go, and felt all
my LACTNET buddies with me. I'm not one to stand up in a large conference and
speak my mind but somehow I got the nerve. I went to inform him, and
hopefully all those present that I was a PED and a LC and that this was not
something I recommend. I launched into the issues of identifying proper
latch, nipple confusion, moms getting the impression of inadequacy, lack of
physican education related to BF in general and all the proven BAD advice we
continue to distribute. WOW, he was a bit taken back but interested in
learning more. Also, I discussed that bottles are not the only way to
"supplement." I described the SNS and briefly mentioned finger feeds and cup
feeds. By this time most people had their heads turned and mouths hanging
open. Lots of comments and interest afterwards. I feel docs aren't
intentionally doing bad things, they just don't know and unfortunately think
they know it all or can't admit when they don't. I've made it my personal
mission to point out the misconceptions and raise BF awareness wherever and
whenever I can.

I also berated a drug rep giving out candy in a baby bottle to push her
product. It was a asthma drug newly released for kids 6 and older. I asked
what 6 year old still is on the bottle and that I resented the implication
that BOTTLE = BABY.

Then to top it off the AAP luncheon was sponsered by a ABM company. I
confronted the AAP official present but will send a formal letter to the
chairman. This has got to stop.

All in a days work...

Karen
Flagstaff, AZ (where the fires are almost all out and my heros are the
firefighters)