It's interesting how little things actual change over the years. It has been
my experience with each baby to demand...more. Meaning, I started standing up
for my rights as a breastfeeding Mom in the hospital. With my 1st, I ASKED if
I could breastfeed my baby and played the "good patient" and complied with
everything the hospital staff wanted. Fast forward a few years and you'd be hard
pressed to get me to release my baby to anyone!  With the last 4 babies I
refused-sweetly smiling, of course- to have anyone take my baby to the nursery,
lab, for hearing test, etc., nor did I go down the nursery either unless
absolutely necessary. I did not leave my baby's side.  If someone wanted to see my
baby, we were in our room nursing and they were welcomed there. Only one
pediatrician over the years had a hissy fit according to the nurse and my response
way "oh, well."

If we look at how childbirth practices have changed (ok, not enough but it
did) because the parents refuse to back down, we can see that it is possible for
protocol to change in other areas, too. BUT, parents are not standing up and
saying no. Until parents realize what is possible and demand change, we will
remain where we are.  I have found that a lot of what is done is done because
it's been that way for years and no one has challenged the system.

An another note, my last baby(and 1st) was a c/sec (after 4 successful vbacs)
and as with the others, he never left my room after his initial once over
after birth. My husband stayed with him and brought him to me 15 min later. I
nursed him immediately. When my husband went home to open Christmas presents with
the other children, the baby stayed with me and no one said a word. When my
DR came in the next morning, he even asked me how I got "them" to leave the
baby in the room. I said they didn't have a choice. I was up walking within hours
of the surgery so I think the nurses just forgot I had a c/section! My
experience with the 1st c/sec was a little different as he was GBS pos so until he
stablilzed he obviously was in the nursery. But after that, I had him in my
room-I refused to go home so they found me a room after I was medically kicked
out-and I was by myself with my son. My husband was out on a ship at the time
and I had no family there, either.

So, I feel that a lot of the work needs to come from the mothers. As
consumers of a service they need to be aware of their rights and feel that is where my
job comes in-to offer them the information, help that lightbulb go off and
hopefully encourage them to act to make the change. But, alas, many are quite
content with the status quo. Which is why I have such bruises on my forehead
from beating it against the wall...

Lori, LLL Leader
Sunny S. Florida
Mom to 6 breastfed children

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