Patricia Gima,

You wrote

> Wow!  This thread on hospital practices in the US is most distressing.
>  It does help one to understand why "American women can't breastfeed."
>
> I used to give a talk at LLL conferences that I wanted to title, "How to
> get out of the hospital with a breastfed baby."  And after reading about what
> most mothers and babies are facing these days, I should dig out those old notes.

Pat, dig them out.  The title is still too confrontational (though accurate), but
the mothers need the information.

> If you read back over the past week, one thing is quite clear...Most US
> hospitals are not safe places in which to give birth. These are NOT places
> of Health. Decisions are based on antiquated, hierarchical, inflexible
> protocols that treat with little discernment. I would call little of what I
> have read about this week "health care."

One reason I got out of labor and delivery--the more I learned the more frustrated
I became.  Thought I would move to a less contraversial field.  Was I surprised!
Out of the frying pan into the fire?  Maybe, but I enjoy lactation even more than I
did labor and delivery and childbirth education, though I welcome the chance to
teach an occasional childbirth class.

> I was reading on the Reuters News Service last night that 40% of Americans
> are using Alternative Health Care.  The MD who was quoted said, "This trend
> must be guided by scientific inquiry, clinical judgement, regulatory authority
> and shared decision-making." Huh??!  If it is so guided, it will be new to
> medicine in the US.

Well said!

> I now have a better understanding of what I am up against in my attempt to
> help mothers breastfeed their babies. It also explains the conflict I had
> with a Ped a couple of months ago about a jaundice treatment decision. And
> it explains a comment someone made here a couple of weeks ago about a mom
> who had been using fenugreek and blessed thistle to increase her milk
> supply. "The hospital staff were uncomfortable with the herbs so they gave
> her Reglan." And they can always treat her depression with another drug,
> all of which fits "community standard."

Happy to help you understand, sorry to burst your bubble.

> I have much sympathy and appreciation for all of you who try so hard to
> serve health in such settings. And I appreciate the calluses on your foreheads.

Thanks to all on this list who help us keep our sanity.

Maybe its time to go back to the starfish story and listing our good experiences.

My good thing--given permission this week to order the breastfeeding  video I've
been wanting!

BTW, I am thankful to live in the United States of America.  I think we have a good
form of government.  I think the concepts of the jury system are good--just would
like to see some reforms.  When you disqualify doctors and nurses from medical
cases, you remove the people who have the best understanding of the issues.