>
>It would feel like I was "committing schizophrenia" on myself to try to
>complete the routine tasks yet empathize with the prime importance of the
>immediate long bonding interlude that moms and babes deserve. How do
>others deal with that?
>
>Jean
>********


This is why the UNICEF Baby friendly hospital initiative is so *good*
for those important hours after birth.

The routine tasks cannot take priority over the essential one of
leaving mother and baby together, skin to skin so feeding can happen
in a gentle responsive way  (for formula feeding mothers, as well, by
the way - though this is not part of the BFI, skin to skin for
formula babies is important, too).

That way, skin to skin becomes part of the hospital routine, and all
the other stuff comes later. The healthcare professional is doing her
job properly  if she follows this, and there is no split between what
she is told to do by the protocols and what she knows she should be
allowing to happen.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html