"Mom should have very few, limited visits by others so she can really
concentrate on feeding, and get into a groove with her baby. "

Anne, you have hit on something I think should be added to the list of red flags
that whoever was compiling a few weeks ago. I saw moms in an Atlanta hospital as
an outside LC (before moving to TN) who would have a continual parade and/or
party going on in their rooms. If we were called in, it was because mom was
having difficulties beyond what the nurses could handle (and they were quite
good). Often I felt like an intruder to a private party and guests and sometimes
mom would glare at me for "barging" in. Baby' cues would go unnoticed until mom
was forced to try to bf either a screaming infant or one who had zoned out.
Neither presents an ideal "teachable moment" for a new mom. And by not learning
to recognize those early cues, mom reinforces the mistaken notion that crying is
the indicator baby needs her.

Perhaps the hospitals did moms a disservice by going from virtually no
visitation (especially when baby was in room) to allowing anybody and everybody
to come in and see mom when she needs to be resting and nursing and little else
(I liked the "resting between nursing" instead of "nursing between resting").
Many of the moms reacted in predictable ways--either they would be too
embarassed to even try to nurse in front of all the company (who typically saw
no reason they should have to leave) or would be on the phone inviting MORE
visitors. I can surely understand the "need" to show off cute babies (having had
2 of them myself! ; ) ), but these moms need to be encouraged early on to limit
visitors until AFTER they have gotten to know their babies.

Then there are the grandmothers who come and want to help the new mom by taking
care of baby and letting mom rest.... I had did one consult with a hispanic mom
whose mother or grandmother was there. This fiesty little old lady was a staunch
supporter of bf--at least her version of it--but was making comments (some in
Eng that I could half understand, some in Spanish that I could only get the tone
of!) that were anything but helpful. We got baby latched on and I watched in
total disbelief as grandma came over and started punching mom's breasts to get
milk going!

The air is getting thin up here on the soap box.....

Melissa Vickers, IBCLC
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