Hello,

I work at an urban hospital with about 4000 deliveries a year. We know we have a significant problem with supplementing BF infants with formula for a variety of inappropriate reasons and want to begin the process of decreasing this number and change the whole culture of supplementing.

In other hospitals that are Baby Friendly or are heading that way- how do they handle supplements when EBM or donor milk is not available? What is the criteria for supplementing? Is an MD order obtained?

I see such a problem with parents who do not keep the infants in the room past 10:00 at night, the nursery fills with screaming hungry infants and the mothers tell the nurses that they are too tired to feed the baby and to please give "JUST ONE BOTTLE" which is maddening to say the least!!!

We have a huge education gap regarding normal breastfeeding patterns and mothers who have never been around BF in a cultural context and feel that sending the infant to the nursery is the norm- despite the research- despite many nurses educating them to keep the infant in the room to observe for cues etc.

Does any one know the average % of infants supplementing at BF friendly hospitals and what those reasons are? 

Any wisdom from any hospitals who have tackled this challenging problem is much appreciated.

Thank you so much,

Ginny Combs RN, BSN, IBCLC

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