Sandra - Unfortunately the story you relay is not uncommon. This is a
perfect example of medical intervention to undermine breastfeeding by
HCP's who have little understanding and support for lactation. Thanks to
your intervention this mother still has a chance of succeeding in doing
what she wanted to do in the first place - breastfeed her baby.
Hopefully she will receive much needed support from her WIC
breastfeeding counselor.
The process of educating HCP's and gaining their support for
breastfeeding is certainly challenging and frustrating. Yes, things should
have been handled differently from the beginning with this baby but even
so, you should feel a sense of accomplishment that you were able to
facilitate this mother and baby resuming breastfeeding against so many
obstacles. Keep up the good work!
Rachelle Lessen, RD, IBCLC
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia