>While I am impressed with these mothers for their dedication, I am dismayed
>that pumps and either improper advice or lack of followup, have gotten them
>in the predicament they are in.     Does anyone else see that pumps given
>in the first few weeks or months, can often have negative effects?
>Love our connections here at lactnet!   Michelle Scott, RD,MA,IBCLC
>
Michelle,
    I am primarily a rental station.  I can't begin to tell you the number
of women that I have delivered a pump to in the first week after delivery,
that are working with their hospital LCs.  I am extremely hesitant to step
into their territory.  I do try really hard to stay on good terms with the
hospital LCs and give them what feedback I can.  I offer tidbits and warm
thoughts like she should be able to transition the baby (depending on the
situation) to the breast within 3-5 days, etc, etc.  I always tell them that
they can call me for any help they want and I provide them with information
on contacting LLL.  But when I am a pump delivery person and they are not
asking for my LC help because they are being helped by the hospital LC, I
don't keep after them.  At least, when I deliver the pump, they get good
pumping information, rather than getting it from a store with no set-up
information.  Some of these moms end up pumping and feeding.  It is not the
pump person's fault, it is the mom's lack of sleep, sleepy baby, the mother
not asking her hospital LC for more help, in-laws, grandma, and every other
reason that mothers fail to succeed in breastfeeding.  It took a long time,
but finally, I am able to accept that for some moms, pumping and feeding is
what they can do.
    Jacie in the great American Southwest, Albuquerque