(Note: I wrote this before my other comment, but misdirected it so
it did not go to LN right away)
Kathy wrote: "What more can you do??? Be supportive, give good info
and step back."

It can be so frustrating when a mom has a plan fixed in her mind and

no matter what we say and how off base the plan is to us, she will
not deviate from her plan.  We may even begin to question whether we

are really saying what we think we are saying.  We question whether
anyone is listening to us.  (Hmmm-isn't that how a baby feels when
it cries and no one trys to fix whatever is making baby cry?)
My biggest frustration is the moms who, no matter what I say and how

I say it, insist on giving bottles "until my milk comes in".  I can
express streams of milk from her breast to show her there really is
milk there.  I can explain that baby gets a trickle of milk the
first couple days so he has a chance to learn before he has to
handle large volumes.  I can give examples of how a baby may become
confused if we ask her to learn 2 skills at the same time.  Mom may
nod and say "OK", but I am no longer surprised to walk in the next
day and find her giving a bottle because "There's no milk yet."!!!
(and in the case of a mom who doesn't speak English well, I have
used an interpreter to help me talk with her).
We need to realize that many factors have played into her current
plans, some of which may stem from years in the past.  It takes more

than our wonderful prenatal classes, well-written patient education
materials, and exquisite teaching to counter all those unknown
factors that have led her to her present convictions.
If we want to make long lasting changes in how moms, HPC's and
society in gereral view infant feeding we need to keep working on
MANY fronts, not just the individual contacts we have with any given

mom.  This is not meant to downplay the importance of that
individual contact, just to point out how it alone can't overcome 20

or more years of other input she has received before coming in
contact with us.
Winnie Mading IBCLC - grateful for the small gains while still
wishing for the big ones!

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