I am in need of your professional advice; especially from those of you who
have clients who are from India and living in the USA.
We are having increasing clients in hospital of Indian background.  The
nursing staff are complaining about difficulty helping this population with
breastfeeding.  Some are first time moms and some are experienced.  Most
have female family member support; many of whom do not speak English.
The common problems we are having are: difficulty getting infants early to
breast( the reasons given vary) and women who want the nurse or LC not only
to stay with them during breastfeeding but also to hold the breast and the
baby.  Since I do not do this for other clients, unless they have a physical
handicap or transient arm weakness, I have recommended the usual pillows and
encouragment. Due to high patient/nurse ratios it is impossible for nurses
to stay with the patient for each feeding without neglecting care of other
patients.  The result usually is the mother says the baby doesn't want to
eat, even when it is awake ( because the distance to the breast is too far
due to "rubbery arms" and poor position.)  Am I expecting something from
these women they cannot do?  They come to us because of female, Indian
descent, Obstetricians.  Sometimes female family members are helpful and
other times they seem to be chaperones.
Most of these women do not attend prenatal or childbirth classes at our
facility, so we do not have the opportunity prenatally to discuss concerns
and expectations.  Is this unique or am I missing part of the necessary
information to help these clients.
Liz Spannraft IBCLC RNC
Dan & Liz Spannraft