Hi all,

We just had a mini family vacation -- thank you Casimir Pulaski -- and did
the Chicago area touristy sorts of things.  Hadn't been to the Field Museum
 in a LONG time.  Interesting, if small, segment on families -- discussing
birthing, play, etc. etc, & including feeding.  Big (huge), up front
in-your-face picture of a dad bo fdg a baby, labeled "United States:"  Back
on the wall, not so up front, but just as big -- a mom in a hospital (still
had gown on -- bf twins.  While I was glad to see the bf picture, it annoyed
me that it was on the back wall, and also that it was something one does in
the hospital....

Then, in the hotel, had the TV on where Bob & Tim were channel surfing.  One
of the zillions of talk shows (my word, there are a lot) yesterday morning
(Monday), had a brief segment on milk banking.  I didn't see the whole thing,
just the last part of it.  Looked pretty good.  Did anyone else catch it?
 One of the hosts asked one of the moms if it didn't seem a bit bizzare to
give your baby another mother's milk.  She assured her it was much less
bizzare than giving her baby milk from a cow!  And they showed a picture of a
baby that was obviously FTT early on, healthy and thriving whose life had
been saved because of donated human milk.   I don't even remember the name of
the talk show or anything about it.

I just this minute, as I was writing you all, got a call from one of my moms
(we've done three babies together) -- some of you might remember the story
about the neonatal nurse practitioner that wouldn't let her bf because it was
too tiring for the baby, and who didn't believe that nipple confusion
existed?  (I shared that one a month ago).  Well, yesterday her house burned
down -- (I had JUST read about it in the paper); she got the two older boys
out, and a fireman rescued Alexander, our premie who is burned on 18% of his
body, and who coded last night and has been revived, but is now on a
respirator.  They simply don't know how he is going to do.  The doctor told
her he has never dealt with a baby who is burned like this that is still
supposed to be in utero!  Mom usually has tons of milk; needless to say, she
isn't getting much. She's hoping the 2 gallons of milk she has pumped and is
in the freezer is intact. Lots of colostrum in there which would be extra
good for Alex.  She, herself is an inspiration to determination, guts & grit.
 I don't know that I've ever met a 23 year old quite like her -- neat, neat
lady.  As you think about it, please pray for her (LeeAnn) and baby Alex.

Jan Barger, Wheaton, IL who has decided that some days, TV has a minute
amount that is OK, but most of the rest of the stuff is garbage.  And who is
speaking about BFHI at the March of Dimes conference in Chicago on Friday,
and is uncommonly nervous about it because this time, she ain't preachin' to
the choir!  (Any tidbits from the 900 netters on line would be
appreciated....)