Hi everyone,
      I work in the ward as the breastfeeding nurse - been doing it for 2
years and will be writing in July.   Last month I kept some stats on what
was happening and to compare ourselves to other hospitals to see how we are
doing.   It will be on-going.   I do not work over weekends.
Deliveries: 167
Mothers refusing to breastfeed: 4
Mothers not breastfeeding for "other" reasons - 10
Changed from breast to bottle in hospital - 1
Cracked nipples - 1
Engorgement - 1 (in one breast - mother couldn't latch)
Jaundice 21.   3 Prems
                         3 Cephlahaematomas
                         3 blood groups
                        10 0ther ?
                         2 - breastfeeding (I think so!)
      We do get sore nipples - mainly the flat nipples which I am improving
my skills at getting them latched - but severe ones - no, well not those
that look like "brake lights".   Now I am going to stick my neck out and say
that I use an infra-red light on sore nipples - they increase the blood
supply to the nipple and promote healing - I have had mothers that have gone
and bought their own - to be honest I have found the i/f red light very
effective.
I also use lots of the purple tube.   I would appreciate any comments and
you are welcome to e-mail me.
      I was watching Eddie Murphy in "Dr. Doolittle" on TV and he was
talking to a goat and he had clutched in his hand - our famous purple tube!
It was a mega-tube - all four teats must have been sore!   Break through
coming - I am starting to notice "things" that others certainly wouldn't!
Sincerely,
Barbie Currie.   White River, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
PS Hi to Gail Hertz - it takes days or never to reach you on e-mail and the
same with Pat Young.
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