>Any ideas how our hospital can get mothers to keep their babies all night
>with them to nurse them on demand?  Our mothers have the best of intentions
>in the morning but then "hit the wall" at 1:00A.M. and start crying and
>asking the nurse to take the baby and give formula.  Night nurses have asked
>for ideas.  Got any?   TIA.  Loni Denman, RN, IBCLC


At Derby City Hospital in the UK , I am told, they tuck the mothers and
babies up together in bed, with skin-to-skin. The mother is supported and
encouraged and someone will explain to her gently, what the risks of
formula are to her breastfeeding. Over time, they have have  fewer requests
from mothers for formula, as the bedding-in has become more common (not yet
the norm - they still have cribs)...any mother who doesn't want to bed-in,
or who still wants her baby to have formula, is of course supported, too,
but her request is documented in her notes and the midwife has to record
that other options were given to her.

The rate of bottles given to breastfeeding mothers is now down to between 1
and 2 per cent.

I would guess that in staff time, giving a bottle to a baby is about the
same as talking to the mum, helping her bed-in with her baby, and sitting
with her a little while.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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