Along the current thread on how not to alienate a new mom, I have a
recurrent problem when I make our postpartum follow-up phone calls.  I don't
know how best to deal with a mother who feels it is somehow more effective
for her to pump and give EBM by bottle than it is for her to just breast
feed.  The one I spoke to last night (and no, I don't have her permission to
post) started to supplement with pumped EBM because the baby would only
nurse for 5 minutes. She started this the day after getting home from the
hospital.  Most of the time when I hear stories like this, they seem content
to be doing all this extra pumping and most of the time it sounds like it
was unnecessary.  Usually the baby has had good output etc.  Usually  it's
more reflective of a nervous, uncertain mom.  So, in those instances where
it wasn't broke and mom decided something needed to be fixed, I like to
encourage them to allow themselves to return to exclusive breastfeeding for
the ease of it.  I don't think any of them realize how it complicates the
nursing relationship by pumping and bottle feeding.  That it makes going out
anywhere a much more daunting challenge than if they simply nursed.  Most of
the time I'm talking to them in the first few days and they haven't even
ventured anywhere yet and have no idea how they've made feeding so much more
complicated.  But, usually even when I'm consciously trying to be gentle and
not overbearing with my advice, the mom gets quiet and I know that I blew
it.  Last night after this happened, I asked if she was OK and apologized
for making her feel badly, if that's what she was feeling.  I told her that
she should do whatever would make her feel good about feeding her baby.
But, she remained pretty tightlipped and I got off the phone feeling pretty
shitty.

Oh well, can't win them all.

Gotta go to an IS training,

Priscilla Tansley RN IBCLC

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