I am glad someone brought this up again, becuase I wanted to comment a few
days ago when I was 'catching up.' (I hate to get behind). I am definitley
hands on when I think I need to be. If a mom appears to be not getting my
verbal instruction or the baby is frantic etc I will put my hands over hers
and basically do it, saying something like "let me show you the first time
so you see what I mean". I have heard Dr. Newman say the same thing that
moms having problems can be shown and then they see the baby can do it and
they (mom and baby) finally get it. It is often nice to help in a hands on
way and then to have the mother do it herself on the second side, or at next
feeding if baby only takes one breast.
I also find it is not so simple to say one will 'meet the mother where she
is.' Very very often I am told by the mother that she wants to do both
breast and bottle. She then leaves the baby to be fed by the nurses most
feeds and gets in an occasional bf. I also am told by the mom that she will
start bf when she gets home (she is shy, too uncomfortable, worried about
pain meds, feels has no milk yet). How can you just meet her where she
is???? So I have an agenda to educate and really try to (gently,
respectfully) convince the mother to initiate bf early, exclusively bf, room
in etc. Of course I will not force the mother to do this. It is a fine line
sometimes, I will concede.
Laurie Wheeler, IBCLC, MN, RN
New Orleans Louisiana, s.e. USA




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