A little hospital in a nearby county gives mothers a handpump *at three
weeks*.  Mothers must return to the hospital to get it.  Their reasoning:

1)  Lots of moms quit before 3 weeks and the hospital has spent money on
unnecessary equipment (this must mean the hospital pays for the pump.  I
don't understand this part).

2)  Giving a pump at birth sends the message that pumps are needed.

3)  If the mom does need a pump before then, it's probably for a problem
and she ought to be using a hospital grade pump.

I like their thinking!  Wish our local hospital agreed.

Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC, LLLL  Ithaca, NY