"...they still wouldn't let her nurse."

I want a nickel for every time I've heard this! What gives hospital
personnel of any stripe the *right* to "let" or "not let" a baby nurse?
Especially a baby progressing well, in an open crib, of good size, no o2,
and able to PO feed?!

This is one of the things we need to do, when women come to us with this
story: we must tell them, in a supporting and empowering way, not in a way
that makes them feel stupid or wimpy, that this is *their* baby, not the
hospital's or the doctor's or the nurse's, and that once the baby is cleared
for PO feeds they will be there to breastfeed. And if they need "help" doing
so (we won't discuss the quality of help they're likely to get in a place
where mothers are "allowed" or "not allowed" to nurse their babies...), they
expect to get it whether or not the presiding nurse or doc or whoever
approves of their decision. And if they find it too difficult to take this
step alone, we will go with them & facilitate this conversation with the
presiding breast police. Period. The end.

This makes me mad! I was beginning to take hope, from all the better places
& improved policies I've read about in this spot, but, hell, this makes me
so mad I could spit!

Cathy Bargar RN IBCLC Ithaca NY

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