<<While doing rounds on the inpatient unit today I was stopped by a male
RN who told me that a few patients who were asked to supplement by other
staff nurses recently refused stating that "my lactation consultant told
me not too".  He inferred that these patients gave the impression that
they feel "formula is poison".  He wanted to know what I have been
teaching in classes.>>

We get the same grief with natural childbirth. The doctors feel we "make the
mothers feel guilty" when they choose an epidural, or have a cesarean. We
have to choose guilt for ourselves! I felt guilty after my cesarean, having
had Bradley classes and all, but in time, the true feeling was not guilt, it
was regret and sadness. And it was my childbirth teacher who helped me see
the distinction.

We can find out all of the "benefits of formula" by looking at every single
magazine, "Welcome Baby" bag and television ad. Where is the informed
consent on that issue?

Truthfully, I am very glad to have been an LLLL before I started on the
nursing path. There is so little mention of breastfeeding in my courses, if
I hadn't been an LLLL, I would be just like my classmates, with no idea that
there was a difference. It is terribly sad that I will graduate with a class
of nurses where I am the only one out of 40 who put a baby to the breast,
and there are 35 parents in the class. And, let's talk Plans of Care?? I can
now understand why that nurse would want a flow chart! But, the LLLL side of
me says we need to look at the baby, who is unpredictable, and make our
decisions accordingly.

Hang in there, Renee. Being the only one standing up for a cause is
draining, but you have a lot of support here, and there, too (but those
people may be frightened to stand up for what are doing!)

Best wishes from sunny Ohio
Heather "Sam" Doak

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