Most disappointed mothers, however, can blame our hospitals for their
lack of breast milk.  Some hospitals still give mothers
stibesterol--"drying up pills"--as routine, sometimes without even
telling the mother.  Many hospitals start supplementary feedings at
the firsts sign that a new mother is not a positive artesian well of
milk, even though experts say that babies will not nurse properly if
they are given supplementary feedings.  Dr. Clifford Grulee of chicago
was able to raise the percentage of nursing mothers in one hospital
from 50 to 90 percent simply by refusing to give any baby a bottle
during his first week of life.

"plus ca change, plus ca reste le meme"  (My comment)
Where I did my 4th year clerkship in 1960-70, there was a stamp of
"routine orders" for postpartum patients which included an injection
of stilbesterol.  New mothers were never asked if they had the
intention of breastfeeding.  What did I know?

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC