In a message dated 1/20/99 8:03:44 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< Now I understand why a friend of mine felt it necessary to put in her
 nursery care instructions that any giving of bottles or pacifiers would be
 considered assault and battery and those responsible would be reported to
 the police.

 -wendey studying LC in Montreal
  >>

Wendey,
Your friend is more informed & assertive than most moms that I know. I wish
that more moms, nurses & peds understood how detrimental the use of bottles,
abm & pacifiers can be to the breastfed baby. Some nurses justify giving
bottles by saying that the mom was tired & needed to sleep. Many moms don't
understand that the bottle can be a problem & think that it is OK (if not
helpful or necessary) when the nice, concerned nurse suggests one.

As far as being a punishable offense....we don't have any orders or policies
against supplementing with abm (for any reason). And our limited lactation
program was in danger of being canceled because the LC's were too rigid about
NOT giving breastfed babies bottles. We were also accused of making the
bottle-feeding moms feel guilty! We (LC's) barely have time to see the
breastfeeding moms, we sure don't have time to try to talk those who have
chosen to abm feed into breastfeeding! IMHO, the nurses have there own
personal opinions & agenda that influences their behavior. Isn't nursing
supposed to be research-based?

Laura Hart, RN, BSN, IBCLC
Winter Park FL