Dear Becky,
I too came back from the conference with new interest in the first few hours
of life.  I was over joyed that I got to shake M. Klauss's hand and you got
to have lunch!!  I was a nursery, NiCU nurse for 15 years before my job now
as LC and I can tell you the time crunch is there at birth.  You have so
little time to do all the "stuff"  which really is important, but, here is
the crunch.... it can wait!   As truely baby friendly nurses we must
emphasize the magic hour.  At every contact remark to nurses the wonderful
things that go on in the first contact for this little one and that first
contact should be the loving closeness of his mother not the quick,
efficient, moves of a time crunced nurse.  We must also emphasize that many
of the exams can be done while baby is in moms arms.  When I got home and
back to work I had the opportunity to go to a delivery and I found myself
observing more closely the babies behavior (I also made a point of remarking
on the behavior I saw to mother, family and students that were with me)  and
yes, I did leave them alone for at least an hour skin to skin.  It was
amazing to watch, I have always tried to do this but I was so much more aware
of all the communication and touching.  That mom remarked over and over how
different this birth was from her others and you know I don't think that baby
ever did hit the nursery.
Although many of us work in institutions that fall short of baby friendly
standards, little steps can make an impact.  We need to continue to educate
ourselves and our co workers of the amazing things that happen at the
beginning of life and although our institutions may have difficulty with the
"wording" of baby friendly hospital goals we can become Baby Friendly in our
hearts and pass on the essence of this concept where ever we are.

Linda Rosetti RN IBCLC
Clarkston Wa.
PS.  I've just recently been able to come out from all the mail I've let back
up.  I also found I deleted the addresses for sending policies to those who
wanted to see them, I promise I'll try to fax them... at least after World
Breastfeeding week.