Jean,
I was so moved by your post. I could picture you in the dark, behind the
curtains, helping mothers and I know you could have just as well been at the
desk reading a magazine.  You were TRULY a pioneer!!! When I get discouraged
I think about how far we've come.  When I started in the NICU 30 years ago no
mother ever touched her baby never mind breastfed.  Now in my hospital
although we're far from perfect, staff no longer question putting a tiny
premie to breast long before offering a bottle, we have a 24 hour visiting
policy for parents and siblings, and nurses and physicians seek out the help
of the lactation staff to support families. They don't always get it right
but more and more people are trying and as Barbara Wilson-Clay has pointed
out, providing information in a non threatening way has made an impact.
I do feel blessed to be doing work I love so much at this point in my career.
I never question why I'm doing it or whether it's worth it. That in itself is
a gift. So when the going gets tough, I guess we just gotta hang in there.
Posts like yours, Jean, make us know we've come a long way baby!!!

Kathy Boggs, RN, IBCLC
Mountain View, CA

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