When I worked in a Houston, Tx, USA hospital, the nursery nurses frequently 
had 8 babies each to care for. That was our "safe" patient/nurse ratio. But 
when census went up that high, even the most pro-breastfeeding nurses didn't 
have time to help anyone. The night staff seemed to promote moms bottle 
feeding and keeping the baby in the nursery, even with rooming in as a 
hospital policy.

I believe there is a "myth" that bottle feeding is quicker and easier for 
the staff than helping the mom to breastfeed. They justify to themselves 
that it only takes 10 minutes to bottle feed but probably half an hour to 
help someone breastfeed. They also felt that a formula fed baby will stay 
quiet longer than a breastfed baby also (because they are often over fed). 
When the baby was given so many bottles, it usually took longer to help mom 
breastfeed than with a baby not given bottles, so the nurses essentially 
created their own reality.

Also, the nursing staff wasn't trained in breastfeeding and some were 
intimidated when asked to help a mom do something that they had no training, 
personal experience, or skills with. Most of the doctors didn't seem to care 
one way or the other. When I discussed this with the pro-breastfeeding OBs 
they all said "we have no power, get the pedi's to complain." When I talked 
to the breastfeeding friendly pedi's, they all said, "we have no power, get 
the OBs to do something." The staff certainly had no power!

And I see that the new formulas with "lipils" have really moved people away 
from breastfeeding. That myth that formula is just as good has won over here 
big time.

Ester, see what you can come up with that will be a "win-win" situation. 
Talk to the night nurses and see what their reality is. Ask them what they 
want to see happen. Perhaps some training in latching on and encouraging 
active sucking for the staff would help? But realistically, unless you can 
lighten their burden on the evening shift, they will most likely not be able 
to add more tasks such as breastfeeding help to their routine.

Sad story, indeed. Kathy Eng, BSW, IBCLC 

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