I experience this way too often.  I am a good sales person (for things I am
passionate about like bf) and many women are receiving messages from other
places as well, so the hospital discharge rates are getting better.  By the
time they call for their first WIC appointment between 3-7d PP, they are
supplementing!   If I see them, I am sometimes able to convince them to
drop the bottles for a while and only breastfeed AND I send them out of the
clinic with NO FORMULA vouchers.   This probably works in 1/2 or less
cases.  The more women I follow up on in a day or two with a phone call the
more success I have.  However, I only work PT and half of that time I am
working clinics as a dietitian.
So, to address your plea, I think it would help to call women at 3d, 7-10d,
14-16d, 21d,  1mo, 6 wk, and definitely help with pumps to use if they must
give a bottle at least it can have breastmilk.   Another big stumbling
block is the frequent use of pacifiers(I love the word dummies, much more
descriptive).  These, when used to quiet a hungry newborn, alter the
natural flow of milk, teach poor sucking to some babies who aren't
adaptable, and generally are not necessary.  We need continuing ed. to
hospitals and mothers, that these are not advisable in the first 4-6 wk.
        Another factor is that the mother uses all devices such as swings, plastic
carriers, strollers, swinging bassinetts, etc,etc to quiet the baby instead
of holding, or using a sling where the baby is kept close and she can be
alert to feeding cues.
No formula at discharge (Ask how much of a supply they have at home)
Advise not to use pacifiers in first 4-6 weeks of life,by telling parents,
'when baby sucks, she/he needs calories'    (How would you like a 'dummy'
stuck in your mouth every time you felt a hunger pang?   Even if you were
trying to lose weight, you probably would not like it.)
Teach parents to recognize their baby's individual feeding cues.  This
empowers parents and shows them how unique and smart their own baby is.
Lastly, educate pediatric staff and family practice staff regarding the
value of exclusive, up-to-one-year breastfeeding, and HOW TO MAKE USE OF
LACTATION CONSULTANTS!
Good luck, Michelle Scott, RD,MA,IBCLC
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I have gotten several informative e-mails in the last few days and I need
more.  To refresh your memory I have been given the job to write out
guidelines to increase bfing in our county.  Any thing that you have seen
make an improvement in your community I would love to here about it.  We
have
a large amount of starters but alot of quick quiters.  Thanks again.