Cheryl asked, "Can only an OB staff member assist with breastfeeding in the
recovery period or can it be a family member?"

I'm speaking from personal experience only, but...my first reaction is that
it is appalling that the OR staff would be "opposed" to someone assisting
the mother and baby with breastfeeding.  My first c-section was under
general anesthesia and once I awoke, the nurses did everything they could to
assist me with breastfeeding, INCLUDING giving me the name and phone number
of (at that time) the only LC in this city.  I called her and she arrived at
the hospital within the hour, made follow-up visits and home visits until bf
was established.  The relationship between this LC and the nurses was very
friendly.  No LCs were on staff then.

My 2nd c-section was with an epidural and I had two doulas.  These wonderful
women helped me hold my baby and bf was established in the recovery room
with the OR nurse there also.  She was attending to my medical needs and did
not seem disturbed that my doulas were working with me.  I was known to be a
"militant breastfeeder" by then as I had been nursing my 2-yr old son in my
room before being prepared for the cesarean!

By the time I had my 3rd c-section on May 15th this year, the hospital had
two LCs but no one suggested that I needed to wait for one of them to arrive
before breastfeeding was initiated.  Again, my doulas helped me get my baby
latched on.  I am a great believer in the need for doulas, including during
cesarean deliveries.

By the way, I understood Carol's comments about "holding off the nurses
until the LC arrives" to be referring to preventing the nurses from
separating the mother and baby by taking the baby to the nursery, not
preventing the nurses from assisting with breastfeeding.  I am so grateful
that the hospital where I delivered has always been understanding of my
strongly stated desire to avoid any separation from my babies unless it is
medically necessary.  Being very specific about not permitting routine
mother/baby separation in my birth plan was extremely helpful.  I was given
an anti-emetic after my last delivery which nearly knocked me out but none
of the nurse pressured anyone to take the baby to the nursery because I had
my husband and two doulas to assist me.

It just seems to me that it should be the mother's right to choose who may
assist her with breastfeeding.

Sara Dodder Furr, breastfeeding advocate and volunteer
Lincoln, Nebraska

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