It might be useful for folks to know that Paula Meier donates her lecture
fees to the  Milk Club, which is a program at her hospt. that funds cab
rides, meals, and weekly support groups for low income moms whose babies are
in the preemie NICU.  In other words, she is not getting rich off pump
companies or by giving lectures.  She has not enjoyed perfect health in the
past few years, and I would imagine that the travel is often more tiring and
stressful than enjoyable. She is so dedicated to the work, particularly to
the issue of the rights of preemies to get mothers milk and to advance the
science of helping these moms maintain milk supplies over weeks of NICU
separation.

 Those of us who read her research are, since she ethically obliges us by
revealing her sources of funding, obligated to read it carefully to
determine if it is well done and demonstrates what it purports to.  As to
the issue of funding, I don't know who else would fund pump research if not
the pump company.  Should we expect it to be funded by the general public?
In this funding climate?  If we are to have any research at all, some of us
who know something about these machines and who have contact with nursing
mothers are going to have to be involved in examining how they work and
should give feedback.  In my opinion, as a tool user, this benefits us all.
I often call up both pump companies to complain or describe something I
need.  I am happy to give my opinion about how pumps work because I want
better tools.  And I want research to back up my observations, because this
is a science, and the more we know the better we can use technology to serve
the moms in special circumstances.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates
LactNews Press
www.lactnews.com
PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL ADDRESS:  [log in to unmask]

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

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