all-It is disheartening to hear the same story as mine from
all over the country, but encouraging all the same to hear
that we all keep working for better. My current strategy is
to work with the local Healthy Start coalition (we meet this
week) to establish a database. I don't even have any staff
or time to have done so, so don't know our statistics for
duration of breastfeeding. Our initiation rates have
increased, and are now about 61% (up from 53% over 3 years,
and our public health population is increasing at a good
rate this year, but I have no idea of our rate at 6 months.
Sad but true. I have written two grant proposals this year
trying for $$, but have not been successful, and have very
limited time to search for more. At the present time, our
hospital will give no money for LC hours, AND is taking
hours away to create case management positions. NOt that I
feel they aren't needed-I hope to at least integrate BF into
postpartum case management! I was a one man show in BF at my
hospital for quite a while, then gained a CLE, and converted
several others, so it's not so bad as it might be....but
could be alot better. We've phased out a lot of formula co.
literature, now use only our own or non-formula stuff for
breastfeeding, and give discharge paks only if forced to. I
dream the same dreams you do, KB, and probably every other
LC! I am familiar with the video on Evergreen, and was just
planning yesterday to purchase one. (probably with my own $,
since you can't get much of THAT from the hospital
either:(.It's  great to meet with you all and chat - hooray
for Lactnet! Who's going to ILCA this year??

                                   Denise