Hi everyone,
         I just wanted to update you on the mother I spoke about who had a
bad hospital experience.  To briefly review, she was told  because of a
mild flu she was not allowed to see her baby (for almost 24 hours), when
she asked for a pump she was told that she would contaminate it and she
wouldn't get milk so why bother.  She called me that night,  I gave her
information about breast massage and talked her through what to do. The
next morning she  demanded her baby and they brought him to her.
        Everything worked out well for her, she is happily nursing.  The
hospital sent her a questioneer about how her breastfeeding experience and
she wrote a long letter explaining what happened.  She wrote that she was
not encouraged to breastfeed by the staff, she was given misinformation
about breatfeeding and about the use of a pump,  when she asked for a pump
she was not given one, and that her experience was not a positive one.  She
told them that if she haden't had a previous breastfeeding experience or 
outside support  she might not have succeded.     She generally let them
know what was on her mind.  (I was so happy she called to tell me this, I
had encouraged her to write a letter to the hospital)
        I hope some changes can be made in a positive direction.

Rene R. Fisher, LLLL
Middletown, NY
(wanabe and hopefully willbe after the exam IBCLE)