Rene Fisher wrote:

>Now I have something I want to vent about.  A mom called me who had her
>baby at 9AM.  Baby is 37 weeks and 6.5 lbs.  Before delivery mom had mild=
>flu.  when the baby was born they took it to the nursery and told mom she=
>could have no contact with the baby because she was contagious.  She was
>upset and wanted a pump to get things started.  She was  told she couldn't
>have the electric (M----a) pump because she would contaminate it!!  At 8pm
>they brought her a hand pump, with no instructions on what to do.  She
>called me in tears at 9pm, still not allowed to see her baby.  I know this
>mom from her previous breastfeeding experience and she calmed down after
>we talked.  She again asked, for the electric pump and this time she was
told
>that they didn't have all the parts.  I offered to drive there and give her
>the parts if she could get the pump(all mine are out), but she couldn't I
>had her pump with the manual, I explained how long to pump and what to
>expect and then told her about  breast massage.   I called this morning to
>speak with her and she said they were bringing in the baby, 28 hours after
>the birth.  He latched on great and nursed for an hour, thank goodness.
>But what is wrong with this picture? There was no one there to help her and
>give her the correct information and support.  I spoke with her again and
>everything is working out well but she is still resentful about what
>happened.  OK,  I feel better now that I've told everyone.
       Rene Fisher LLLL, DAMiddletown, NY


Rene, There is something the mother could do besides vent to you. ( She's
lucky to have you to talk to).  I'm an  IBCLC/RN in a hospital in Louisville,
Ky.  Our  Maternal- Child Director is very concerned with our unit giving the
best care in town. Any complaints  are handled by her.  Have your Mom write to
the Administrator of the hospital, the Director of Nursing, & the Manager of
the OB unit with her complaints surrounding her separation from her baby, lack
of breast pump parts, etc.  Any references you can get her to support that she
& the baby need not have been separated will help.  This won't change what
happened to them but may help other mothers in the future.  Hospitals  are a
business & they compete for business especially in OB.     Hope this helps.
Sometimes the consumer can accomplish more than we can.  Good luck.

Debbie Moses, RN, IBCLC
Louisvillle, Ky.