Great news to share!!

The voucher system that the Family Advocacy Office here in the Azores is
setting up will not be nearly as comprehensive as what WIC does, meaning
that they will be unable to provide enough *donated* formula for a baby and
the family will still have to purchase some.  One of the provisions they've
agreed to include is a trial period for breastfeeding, and to include a
statement from the AAP position about "all women who can should
breastfeed." (my paraphrase)  Babies born while the mother is here on the
island will be asked to try breastfeeding for at least two weeks before
receiving any free formula.  During those two weeks, I will be in contact
with the mothers about how to breastfeed, how to evaluate their successes
at breastfeeding, and hopefully keep them breastfeeding well beyond that
second week!  (I heard the argument that some women are dead set against
not breastfeeding, and quickly added that it's only two weeks, so what
would the harm be from trying, especially if the military was so supportive
that it was a "requirement" to try.)

The RNP in the Women's Clinic/GYN has offered to convert one rarely used
room to a pumping room as well, and they have a full-size breastpump there
and are planning to purchase some ready-to-use collection kits to keep on
hand for the moms to use at no cost!  In addition, if a mother experiences
difficulty in being able to leave her workplace to use the pump, I have
been assured that all possible avenues to promote pumping will be used,
including giving appointments!

The Breastfeeding Resource Center got final funding as did many of the
books and magazines on our wish list!

When I spoke with the FAN today, we talked about how little training she
(and I) had gotten from nursing school, and how little we knew about
breastfeeding before having attempted it.  She added a compliment that
she's learned more about breastfeeding from our LLL meetings, from books
suggested at our meetings, including LLL's Breastfeeding Answer Book, and I
even sensed a slight hesitation when we talked about the benefits of
extended nursing when she mentioned her reasons for weaning her son at 6
months.  I think she's catching on!

Woo hoo!  :D

Thanks to all of you who have given me other information from other
military and government facilities with lactation programs. Knowing that
she's not having to forge a new path must be reinforcing the idea that
breast truly is best!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Angela Howell
LLLL in the Azores