National Public Radio's program All Things
Considered (USA) had a segment November 19 that
discussed 24 hour discharge and the extra day
options offered by hospitals. Although I am not, per
se, in favor of 24 hour discharges I am weary of
hearing the argument for longer stays riding on the
back of "the danger of jaundice" and the "need for
mom to learn breastfeeding."

Did anyone else hear this report and feel the way I
did? I was sickened by the tales of how babies were
readmitted for jaundice, wondering to myself how
hospitals that put so much emphasis on treating
jaundice could help someone learn breastfeeding. I
wrote to NPR suggesting health care dollars would be
better spent training health professionals to teach and
assess breastfeeding--- instead of being put into
high-tech, expensive interventions to treat the
non-illness of jaundice. (Yes, I know that jaundice is
not always benign. But we all know how many
treatments are a waste of time and money)

I'd like to hear that hospitals were keeping moms and
babies extra days until they could ascertain that
feedings were going well. THAT would be a criteria I
could get behind.

Margery (who sounds like she needs a nap) Wilson,
IBCLC