I really enjoyed the ILCA conference.  I learned  so much and am still 
sorting through the info.!  Nicki’s post that included Chele Marmet’s 
description of a hospital in Japan was just another reminder to me that the 
babies I work with are NOT behaving normally.  I  was reminded of this many 
times, especially listening to Dr. Nils Bergman.  He stated several times 
that he has 28 week old babies breastfeeding and breathing room air!!  I am 
excited when I see a full term baby go home breastfeeding well never mind a 
preemie!!

We see a lot of near term babies due to inductions and of course they have 
breastfeeding issues.  I see many babies that cry at the breast, but suck 
well on pacifiers and the like.  Nipple shields work well here.  I feel the 
more interventions we do during delivery the more interventions we do after 
birth.  

I find that we tell moms that it is normal for babies to sleep the first 24 
hours with few feedings, normal for babies to have to “learn” how to 
breastfeed, normal to have very few voids and stools in first days, normal 
for early babies to not know how to breastfeed well, so on and so on.  

After hearing Dr. Bergman speak and others too I feel we do not give babies 
enough credit and we are putting the blame where it doesn’t belong (usually 
on baby).  Birth interventions are a definite issue, but separation of mom 
and baby is a huge issue also.  I feel like I need to say, “Your baby is 
not breastfeeding well because he is separated from you!” Instead of things 
like he is not old enough or good enough or strong enough or he is too 
tired or doesn’t know how to suck.

I find it so sad that many babies cry or fuss at the breast, but happily 
suck away on anything else.  I told a nurse that this should be a big clue 
to us that things are very wrong.  Babies are made to survive and something 
is very wrong when they cry and fuss when put in the very spot that is 
solely responsible for their survival.

I had a chance to talk with Dr. Bergman for a few minutes and he reminded 
me that when babies are kept in their natural habitat (mother) they nurse 
about every 1 to 1.5 hours from the beginning!  This fits Chele’s 
description of the hospital in Japan.  This is a far cry from what I see at 
my hospital.

Is there anyone on Lactnet that I could correspond with that is lucky 
enough to work in a hospital that does unmedicated deliveries and skin-to-
skin for an extended period of time after birth.  I know as I begin to talk 
with the nurses and doctors about all of this that they will have many 
doubts and I need to be able to give them some real examples.  

Thanks for your time once again.

Christine Lichte, IBCLC, LLL Leader

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