Well, I don't work in a hospital so I can't be of any reral help, but I have
to say that I am very surprised by some of the hospital protocols some of
you are reporting.  Both of my children were born by cesarean.  Both times I
labored and recovered in the same private room.  I was never separated from
my babies, and my daughter even had to be resucitated at birth.  We weren't
allowed to nurse *immediately* after birth, but my husband and my mother
held them until I returned to the room after surgery, at which time we
nursed to our hearts' content.  They were measured and bathed right there in
front of us.  The only time either of them saw the inside of the nursery was
when I took a shower and nobody was visiting to care for them.  I was
rehospitalized after my son's birth and he came right along with me and they
set up camp for him in my room and provided a breast pump and instruction
and support and milk storage for the night-time (from 11-6) when he did have
to go home with my husband (All right, this could have been improved!) Not
to mention no hassles for giving him my milk despite IV antibiotics and pain
meds. (Thank my wise ped. for that!).

These were two different hospitals in my large metropolitan area.  Both do
have LC's on staff (and lovely people they are too!), but otherwise I would
never have considered either hospital particularly "radical" in their
policies towards birth or supporting and encouraging breastfeeding.  It has
been very eye-opening to hear the reports here.

Sincerely,
Andrea Simmons, LLLL
St. Louis MO

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