Margie,

The only thing I can tell you - as I have not yet succeeded
 in being Baby-Friendly - is to be patient and just as you 
are with your moms, do not expect them to KNOW what to do, 
do not expect them to CHANGE just because you said so, and 
understand that they have their own history which may
cause you much frustration...  

Create a work group with as wide a variety of people as 
possible - nurses, doctors (ped, ob, nicu),physical therapy,
dietician, public relations, human resources, 
administration.  (Some of my best allies are the 
secretaries of the administrator, medical director and 
the nursing supervisor)

Eventually, as changes occur, do not take CREDIT for 
everythig that is good and do not take the BLAME for 
everything that does not go as well as you had hoped.

Most of all, find something you really enjoy to do every 
week - whether it is seeing a mom, run a support group, or 
write an article.  

I really get a kick out of going to the floor and meeting 
the moms - especially ones I haveve NOT been asked to see, 
as those can be very frustrating.  The other day I went 
into a room and was greeted by "hi Ms. Panchula" - of 
course I did not remember this mom and her very happy
husband.   But they remembered me and the help I had given 
them during the birth of their TWO previous children 
(I have only been here since 1994). 
She is Tandem Nursing all three...  And this on an island
with a breastfeeding rate well below 15% at 6 weeks...

No, everything is not perfect at our hospital, but some 
moms go home very happy...

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC, LLLL
Puerto Rico
[log in to unmask]