Gail says,
*********************************************

I still  maintain that the best way to fight this phenomenon is to first get
the  facts in a non threatening manner, and second, to win the nurses over  to
your way if thinking. This is why the formula companies give so many  goodies
to the nurses [even bags to "give away" to parents -  talk  about making
someone feel good]. And why the formula companies balk at  having the bags
given out at a different part of the hospital, by people  not in a position
to promote their product. Again, this game is about  persuasion.

Comments?


*********************************************
Ahhhh -- where to start?

I am an IBCLC that visits all breastfeeding moms in the hospital for our
pediatric group (what a job -- NO, NO -- you can't have it!  MINE!).   When I
make rounds each morning, I ask the mom (along w/ numerous other  questions that
are recorded on my chart form), "how many times have you been  able to
breastfeed the baby since birth (this on the day after delivery)," and  "has the baby
received any formula since birth?"  Interestingly enough, I  would say that
most of the moms volunteer the "why" (since that is my next  question).  "I
needed to sleep last night." or, "The glucose was really  low, so the nurses said
he needed formula" (the responses to the rest of my  questions on that one
have made for very interesting lectures when I do our  Lactation Consultant Prep
or Cram Courses!!).  It's pretty non-threatening,  and then often I have a
chance to explain what will happen during "Second Night"  which is when the baby
wakes up and decides that he'd rather be back in the  womb, thank you very
much, but mom has to explain that it was a one-way ticket  out.....

Often the formula supplementation is that second night when baby is fussy,
wants to be at the breast constantly and not put in the plastic bucket (CNS
overload), and the very caring nurse suggests that perhaps just a "little
topping off" with formula would be helpful.  Mom, if she doesn't know  better, may
agree.  After all, the nurse has just told her, "Y'know, honey,  y'only have a
teaspoon of colostrum -- when it's gone, it's GONE!"  (True  statement to
several of my patients by a yet-to-be-identified night nurse at our  hospital).

Anyway, Amy, it's helpful to find out the context.  I totally agree  with
Chris Mulford that so many of these moms say "breast and bottle" because  they
are going back to work or because they want their husband to be able to  give a
bottle at some distant time in the future, or because they want the baby  to
be able to TAKE a bottle -- Lord knows the number of babies that have NEVER
taken a bottle so mom is absolutely confined to the house for 12 months (had one
 of those yesterday).....

What was really fun was presenting "Second Night" at ILCA this summer --  the
affirmation of the rest of the participants who have seen it over and over
and over again was amazing.

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC
Wheaton  IL
www.lactationeducationconsultants.com

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html