Dear Judy,

You wrote:

  After grandma was through, the new mom looked
>at her with tears in her eyes and said, "but I DO want to breastfeed!  Why
>do you think I'm trying so hard??"  At this point I felt like crying.  I
>know that no matter what I do, this girl's mom will sabotage any attempt at
>her breastfeeding.  How do you handle family members like this?  I felt
>terrible.  This mom was asking for my help, and I really don't think
>anything I do will help her, at least not while her mom is around.

Sounds as if you are doing a great job of supporting this mom.

I might suggest helping to start the mom's breastfeeding support network.
She might appreciate having someplace she can go to vent about her mom and
mom-in-law once she and her baby are home.  If you can put her in contact
with a La Leche League Leader or some other breastfeeding support group in
your area you can help her have some continuity of support.

You are worried about the mom being sabotaged by her family.  Make sure you
give her lots of praise about knowing and doing the best thing for her
baby.

Hang in there - you are helping her and many others I'm sure.


Alicia, LLLL in the Bluegrass (Lexington, KY)
aka Post Poster and AS for Kentucky
and academic nomad
mailto:[log in to unmask]