Jan states:
"I want mom & baby leaving the hospital as a breastfeeding couplet, looking at
 bf as normal -- and not needing (in the norm) extra help."

At the hospital where I work part-time as an educator (not as a lactation
consultant), I created an avenue for pumps to be available on-site strictly
for circumstances such as separation due to baby staying in the hospital
after mother is discharged.  It was not intended to be for every mom
experiencing difficulty with latch-on, but going home with baby.
Unfortunately, it has led to many pumps going out the door with mom and baby
at discharge.  What it creates is lack of confidence in mother's ability to
nurse her baby, and thus it jeopardizes the breastfeeding situation rather
than facilitating it.  I don't believe pumping needs to be initiated within
the first few days of life when babies are sleepy.  Rather, we need to
encourage moms to kangaroo care and foster their confidence levels in being
able to adequately nourish their infants.  And then we need to offer
appropriate follow-up by a lactation consultant in the event that
difficulties arise after discharge.  Lengths of stay are often too short to
adequately assist properly with breastfeeding by the time of discharge.
Often times, mothers don't even comprehend they've had a baby yet.
Appropriate follow-up by LCs is the plan of care that facilitates the ability
to breastfeed in the event that a sleepy baby persists or difficulties with
latch-on persist beyond the first few days of life.  Now I'm off my
soapbox.....
Carol Chamblin, RN, MS, IBCLC
Breast 'N Baby Lactation Services, Inc.
Geneva, Il

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