Marie,

I'm behind on reading Lactnet, but your letter (7 Oct 1998) and your despair
touched me.  I see moms in a Pediatric office after they have left the
hospital and where I have full support of the docs and staff.  I hear the
stories of what new moms are told by the nurses at the hospital (some who have
even completed a course in lactation and now are called Lactation Educators).
I hear the misinformation and the lack of attention to their breastfeeding
difficulties.  The two major hospitals have LCs on staff, but they are
overworked and don't make it to every mother.  The moms who are lucky enough
to have the LC work with them are much better informed, doing better and are
more confident.  I know all the hospital LCs in my area and I know that they
are good people, doing the best they can under unfortunate circumstances.  I
hear the frustrations both from the LCs and the patients.

I don't know when the attitude of breastfeeding "just being another way to
feed a baby" is going to change or if ever.  We can't lose faith and give up.
The mother who chooses to breastfeed and give her baby "its birthright-
mother's milk" needs us to continue to fight for their rights.  We are
fighting what often seem an endless battle and it is. Formula isn't going to
go away, managed care probably isn't going to go away, economic problems of
staffing a hospital are not going to be instantly improved. But, mom's will
keep having babies and they won't have a chance at being breastfed if we don't
continue in our efforts.

I often pray and give thanks for my job, because I have an extra ordinary job.
I pray and give thanks that I don't have the discouragement and hardships of
my "sister LCs" in hospitals.  I'm going to change my prayer and include in my
thankfulness a prayer for all LCs to be blessed with encouragement, strength
and endurance.

In prayer,
Pat Lindsey, IBCLC
Pediatrics Plus Staff LC (and private practice)
Orlando, FL