Just one more note about teen moms returning to traditional high school
setting.  I also believe that the baby in class might be too much of a
disruption, not only for mom but for the entire class.  My problem with our
school district is that these moms are not allowed extra time during the day
to express milk for their babies and also for their own comfort.  Several of
the teenage moms I have worked with have arranged to express enough milk
during non-school hours to keep the baby going on br. milk, but all this time
pumping is time spent not holding and re-acquainting with their babies, not
studying, not having fun (IMO pumping is the pits - I did it for 9 months and
hated every minute of it).  I must say that reading the posts has "pumped me
up" enough to at least contact the school board members that I know personally
and see if some changes can be made or at least begin to be made.

On another subject - I have always loved reading posts by Dr. Newman - he has
always been able to succinctly state what takes me lines and lines...but I
must say the post about the reflux had me TRULY ROFLOL.  I agree with him
whole-heartedly about this reflux thing...I hear this from parents more and
more..." I couldn't BF because s/he has reflux..."  When I began volunteer
counseling BF moms and families, one of the first families had a baby who I
believed truly did have reflux.  Tests revealed (I was told by his mom) that
he only absorbed about 35-40% of what he was fed and was a very slow gaining
baby.  HOWEVER, mom continued to breastfeed and he managed to gain some
weight.  He had surgery and mom didn't miss a beat with BF him through the
whole thing.   She breastfed him into his second year.   These babies I have
seen since that were Dx'ed with reflux just seemed to be babies who spit up a
lot.  BUT they gained weight well.  What makes me upset and a little angry is
that some parents seemed relieved that they have an excuse to stop BFing
because it just doesn't fit their schedule or lifestyle.  Maybe I am too
sensitive about it but I want to just scream to them - what did you think
having a baby was all about anyway?  These are not "soap opera babies" as I
like to call them (the ones that are awake for 5 min a day, smiling and
gurgling then go to a peaceful sleep for 23hrs and 55min as so many of the
daytime shows depict).  They are real live human beings with a set of needs
all their own.

Amanda Copeland, IBCLC
Griffin, GA
warm, sunny and Spring like - I just love living in the South (well, most of
the time....)