Dear Maureen,
        I sympathize with you concerning your situation with coworkers. With
baby #3 I returned to work at 3 months, one night shift a week. Rather than
jeopardize breastfeeding for the one bottle a week I went home on break to
nurse. My coworkers (OB nurses) were downright mean to me. That was the most
ridiculous thing they ever heard. After my third night doing this I was
reported to the Nursing Director for "jeopardizing patient care and absconding
with hospital funds." Those were the official comments in the report which
placed me on unpaid suspension for three shifts. As devastated as I was about
the comments I was happy to have 3 more weeks off. By the time I went back he
was sleeping all night. I continued to work at this hospital and am now the LC
(they paid for everything)!
If I knew then what I know now I would have called the newspapers and hired a
lawyer.
      My advise is the less said the better. Many women seem to have a real
problem with breastfeeding....guilt, jealousy, sadness, feelings of
inadequacy, etc. Mothers who did not successfully breastfeed do not get the
concept that nursing is more than receiving breast milk. Know that you are
doing the best for you and baby.

Sincerely,
Nancy Imperiale, RNC, IBCLC

 PS   Only fellow Lacnetters know you didn't really mean that all formula
feeding babies turn into unhealthy, insecure teenage punks!