I just took a lovely weekend away with my husband on the Oregon coast,
and returned to work to discover I had missed a birth.  That disappointed
me enough, but when I went to see the mom on Monday morning I was even
more upset.  Next to her bed were a bottle of formula and a bottle of
glucose water!!  She said the baby wanted to nurse all the time (8 lb 11
oz and HUNGRY) so she gave her a bottle so she could have a break.  I
reassured her that her milk would soon be in, and encouraged her not to
give the baby any more bottles because of nipple confusion.  I told her
that even if she felt the baby needed formula (which of couse she really
didn't) it would be better not to use a bottle.  She was surprised that
there were any other ways to give a baby formula.  I'm not upset with the
mom, of course, but with the nursing staff at our "baby-friendly
hospital"!!!

--
Anne Montgomery, M.D.
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