Dear Lactnetters

Merry Christmas!  I was catching up on mail last night and read about gift
packs with interest.  I have mixed feelings about gift packs.  New Mexico had
a large medicaid and just plain poor population.  Most of the teens I see, and
sadly, there are alot, have little more than nothing material.  They use the
diaper bags.  They appreciate the little plastic breast milk storage
containers from Ross which fit on the breast pump they get from WIC.  I have
seen children having children that are too poor to qualify for WIC because
they don't have electricity.  These people need any "gift" we can provide.
Although a "gift" of breast pads, thermometers, and the like would be
preferable, there is no one to pay for these useful things.  Hospital finances
are cut to the bone and formula companies take up the slack.  This might not
be a good thing but it is reality.  Right now I'm having more problems with
the nursery nurses who treat all breastfed babies as potential blood sugar
catastrophes than with the formula reps who know we are taking all the formula
out of the gift packs we give to the new breastfeeding Moms.  That, however,
is another story.

Happy New Year and greeting from New Mexico
Karen Taylor RN, IBCLC