Arly,
        Great letter.  Your local hospital is so much farther alone toward
supporting breastfeeding than either of ours!  The only comment I would make
is that you might want to work, in general, toward circumcision in the
pediatrician's office at two weeks rather than in the hospital before
discharge.  In our area parents either have the circ in the hospital, done
by the ob/gyn without anesthesia, or at the two week check-up, done by the
pediatrician, with anesthesia.  Many parents choose the latter, and by that
time most bf pairs are off to a good start.  I was surprised to see the
doctor suggest that the parents go out for a walk or to get ice cream while
the child is being circumcized.  I didn't want my son circumcized to begin
with, but gave in to my husband's wishes.  I felt the least I could do was
hold my son's hands, look into his eyes, and talk to him in a calm and
gentle voice to reassure him during the procedure.  He only cried a little
(he had local anesthesia) and nursed as soon as it was over, then fell
asleep.  You might consider leaving that part (about the parents not being
present during the procedure) out.
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Katherine A. Dettwyler                                email:
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Anthropology Department                               phone: (409) 845-5256
Texas A&M University                                    fax: (409) 845-4070
College Station, TX  77843-4352