Some nurses here in Spain also claim that new mothers insist on having bottles of formula and pacifiers given to their newborn babies, and that the babies be taken to the nursery at night so they can rest.  This practice is supported by gynecologist and pediatricians alike, who consider that a "few bottles would not hurt".  I propose the following approach:  Explain to the mother how important is for her baby to be with her; how she can rest with her baby, facilitating rooming-in and co-sleeping, positioning a baby while lying on ones' side, etc., a skill that will certainly be needed after discharge.  If nevertheless, the mother continues to insist on the formula, offer her the use of a breast pump and explain how her baby is going to be fed at the nursery, that is, with a feeding syringe or a spoon.  In this way you stress the importance of mother's milk as well as the importance of not using artificial nipples, and at the same time you boost the mother's confidence based on the uniqueness of her milk.  The fact that the hospital personnel insist on having her milk and no other, even if the baby is not fed by her own mother, as well as their resistance to go for the artificial nipples, is "per se" a very possitive message for a new mom.   However, the eternal question is: are they -the hospital personnel- willing to do it?

Lavinia Belli, LLL leader, Spain

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