Yes, Caren, they're all over.  The only way to fix the problem is for a
hospital to have protocols and procedures related to breastfeeding and for
management to enforce them.  If a nurse gives glucose water or formula
without a MD order, or encourages a mom to sleep though the night rather than
 explaining the ramifications of skipping feedings i.e. engorgement, nipple
confusion ( I believe it exists! ), etc., she gets written up.  If she
persists with these practices, she gets a poor evaluation and no raise.  And
if she's really stubborn about it, she's out of a job.  A nurse can't give
out medication without a MD order, or do a dressing change "her way".  ( My
apologies to the gentlemen who are nurses out there! )
Has my hospital fixed this problem?  Well, not yet!  Just yesterday I did a
maternity home visit with a very sweet 18 year old and her 4 day old, 5 lb. 7
oz. baby girl.  The chart said the baby was on Nutramigen, having gone though
all the other ABMs during her 2 day stay. ( Regurgitating them all.)  A
diagnosis of "reflux" was made, although no pneumogram was done, or reglan or
apnea monitor ordered.
Anyway, while examining mom, I ask about how her breasts are feeling.  She
says they're full and leaking "lots of milk".  Then she asks wistfully if she
can still breastfeed.  Of course, I'm delighted to say yes.  She then tells
me that she had always intended to breastfeed, but "the nurse scared me to
death!"  Apparently, when the baby was brought to her at 6 AM, she was
awakened confused from a sound sleep and "told" to feed her baby.  When she
said she would need some help because she had never done it before (
Obviously, L & D dropped the ball, too. An unmedicated delivery, even! ),
"the nurse" told her she didn't have time and she better just give her a
bottle, because she was so small.  My sweet young mom thought she shouldn't
breastfeed, or she would hurt her baby.  An almost admission to the NICU to
R/O reflux certainly didn't ease her worries.  Well, after getting this baby
started breastfeeding ( they were doing terrific when I called today ), I got
a description of said "nurse", and wrote a memo to the head nurse of
maternity, with a copy to the Director of Nursing for Maternal-Child Health.
 They were happy to get it, for they are supportive of breastfeeding and
knowledgeable about the proper management of it.  And yes, we do have those
policies and procedures in writing.
Please know you're not alone, Caren.  We'll win this battle in the end, one
mom and baby at a time.  Kim  former NICU nurse, current home care nurse and
lactation consultant in NJ, who thinks most nurses care and try to do the
right thing.