I know we talk a lot on here about how moms make the decision to initiate/continue breastfeeding. I have been taking a slightly new tactic with my patients who don't think they want to breastfeed, but aren't outright hostile to the idea. I have been strongly encouraging moms to put the baby to breast "just once" in the delivery room before making the decision. I've had a few moms now try this, and most still don't continue long-term, but I figure at least baby got a little colostrum, and perhaps mom will be more open with a future child if they come along, and some moms decided to continue. I have one mom nursing her 1 month old now, who initially wasn't planning to breastfeed! I attended a birth this morning, mom age 37, 3rd baby, didn't breastfeed previous children, really not sure about it with this one. The last week of pregnancy she said in the office "My breasts are leaking something!" I explained she was making colostrum in preparation for a baby, and that this means her body is doing exactly what it should. She still wasn't too interested. Then on admission in labor, she told the admitting nurse she would be bottle feeding. Labor was long, and she pushed a long time (longer than either of her 1st too) and finally birthed her baby in a full squat on the foot of the bed. This baby appeared absolutely furious at being evicted! He screamed and screamed and screamed, would not be comforted by anything. Finally, I said - "Why don't you just try offering him the breast and see what happens?" She said "What the heck, I'll try it once." Baby quieted immediately when his face was next to the breast, although he didn't latch. I left the room to write my delivery note, and the nurse came jogging down the hall to get me. "You have to see this baby!" she said. I went back in the room, and baby was latched beautifully, sucking happily, and mom was grinning ear to ear. "He's actually breastfeeding!" she exclaimed. Baby has been to breast several more times since birth, and mom is now thinking about continuing - she works in a daycare center and can bring baby to work with her, even. So, it doesn't always work, but sometimes being encouraged to try "just once" can be a start. Jennifer Tieman Family Physician Mom to 4, including my toddler nursling Caroline Rose *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html