I thought you would enjoy hearing some of the stories that I heard today  
from some of the participants at the Maternity Fair.
Mother  to be #1--told that she couldn't pump for a premie because  pumping 
took too much fluids and energy from her body and since she had a C  section, 
she had to heal first. Spent 4 days in the hospital and never pumped,  even 
after she left. And she said she had told them she wanted to breastfeed her  
baby.  When I tried to gently be diplomatic and tell her that I am sorry  that she 
wasn't able to provide breastmilk for that baby, and that now the  hospital 
was much more informed ( the hospital applying to be Baby Friendly),  and that 
now the staff is much more supportive then in past years. She said but  it 
wasn't years ago, it was 9 months ago.
Mother to be #2--baby was dehydrated, with cracked lips, and no urine  
output, called the hospital breastfeeding counselor and left a message which was  
returned 2 days later. Luckily a lady in her church brought supper over and  
helped her to get pumping and feed the baby with expressed milk.
Mother to be # 3-- ( wearing a teeshirt that said " An epidural is in my  
future") when handed a brochure and told to file it near the phone so she can  
call with any concerns or to arrange a consultation, told me " If my baby needs  
something, it's going to get a bottle stuck in its face right quick".
Mother to be #4-- was told 6 months ago that the breast infection had  spread 
into her milk and she would spread the infection to the baby if she  nursed 
even one more time. She had to wean upon MD orders.
Mother # 5-has a 9 month old who breastfed for 2 months and at that time  was 
told her baby was growing too fast on mothers milk and she had to start baby  
food to slow down his growth.
 
Does anyone really think we are making any steps forward? After all these  
years, and mothers are still being told these things?  The good news is  that I 
spoke with many fathers to be who were fairly well informed and  supportive of 
breastfeeding, and even eager to ask questions and talk about it.  And I saw 
3 grandmothers to be who I had helped them to breastfeed their babies  20+ 
years ago and now I may have the chance to help their daughters breastfeed.  
Those were special reunions.

Barbara Whitehead, BC, IBCLC, RLC
eastern NC

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