Lynn shared:  "This experience and the experiences of many others tells me
that the medical
establishment is not only "new" to breastfeeding but "new" to the subject of
infant feeding in general."

That brings to mind an interesting case I had a few years back when a
nursing mom with a 3-week-old slow-gaining infant was asked by her
pediatrician to express some milk into a specimen cup  so he could examine
her milk. (I still shudder at the audacity of what he requested!)  The baby
was hungry because she had put off nursing, so of course what she expressed
was thin and watery.  He held it up to the light and said, "Just as I
thought...your milk is not rich enough.  You'll need to supplement with
formula after every feeding."  The happy ending to this story is that she
got help.  She was assessed for frequency and duration of feeds,  taught the
difference between milk at the beginning and the end of the feed, breast
compression technique, and how to offer expressed hindmilk to the baby.
When she went back to the doctor a week later, we advised her to nurse her
baby before she saw the doctor.  Sure enough, the baby had gained well
during the week, and the doctor asked again for another "specimen."  After
peering at the richer, fatty milk, he announced triumphantly, "Well, that
explains why the baby has gained.  Your milk finally got richer."  We still
chuckle over this one...

Cathy Carothers, BLA, IBCLC

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