Help, I am an RN at a moderate sized hospital and enjoy working with the
breastfeeding moms. I have found that 2 recent policy changes have wreaked
havoc on breastfeeding success. The first is that we went from a very
limited visiting policy to a very liberal one (11am to 8pm for general
visiting). When I go in at 7pm most of the moms are cross-eyed tired from
all the visitors and have not nursed because they are too embarrassed in
front of visitors, then are encouraged by staff and family to have the
infant fed in the newborn nursery (yes we have a separate central nursery,
much to my dismay)
  THe second is the brand new hypoglycemia protocol that is now causing
even asymptomatic infants to be transferred to Intensive Care Nursery where
they are being supplemented until discharge. We are just now starting to
have meetings with the neonatologist about the protocol, praying to get it
changed.
   While we are doing that, does anyone have documentation on visiting
policies and breastfeeding success? I feel like I'm beating my head against
a wall.
  One other issue I have is that we have a lot of moms coming in now not
caring if the babies get supplemented, intending to "do both" or never
initiating to begin with and changing their minds. Many feel there is no
problem because they already have ABM at home since the companies are now
sending cases straight to the parents homes. Any comments?

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