Cindyrn,
I will be giving classes for the staff at the hospital where I work in March.
I am using some of Dr. Jack's handouts as well as a summary of the AAP's
(Amer. Acadamy of Pediatrics) latest policy statement on BF (breastfeeding).
Thank you for providing a wonder web site with great links!! Most hosp. nurses
do not read the AAP journal and are not familiar with this statement. I think
that it is highly relavent to the care of newborns in the hospital.

I will be starting off my class discussing the AAP statement, including a
handout. Other topics will include wake & sleep patterns in the 1st 48 hrs of
life (including a mention about PACIFIERS which are placed in EVERY crib at
our hospital), gentle effective waking, assessing the normal healthy newborn
(look at the WHOLE baby-not just wt. loss or how long it has been since a void
or stool has been recorded), how long can they go without eating, when is
supplementing with glucose water or ABM indicated (mostly when it is NOT
indicated) & alternative methods of feeding (usually NOT needed for the NORMAL
HEALTH NB).

All this in a 2 hour class. I also plan to show the video on newborns crawling
up to the breast after delivery (Dr. Richert-I think?) This is to impress upon
the nurses that a little skin-to-skin contact and LEAVING MOM & BABY ALONE for
a while may be just what is needed. Nurses usually don't have to spend an hour
bending over mom & baby forcing the baby's mouth open & pushing the baby on
the breast. IT DOESN'T WORK! I know because I have tried this approach too!
Then I went on to learn about breastfeeding and normal newborn behavior.

Thanks for allowing me to vent!!  This topic always gets my emotions going.
I've worked in hospitals all of my 30 years in nursing. I know what it is like
there and how many nurses are so resistant to learning something new and
"outrageous" like the proper way to breastfeed does not include giving a
bottle!

Laura Hart, RN, BSN, IBCLC