LACTNET Archives

Lactation Information and Discussion

LACTNET@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Managed Health Care <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 10 Jun 1996 23:37:00 GMT+0200
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (46 lines)
Greetings from Zimbabwe. My name is Pamela Morrison and, having certified as
the first LC in the country in l99O ("What's a Lactation Consultant"?) I
have worked in private practice in Harare since l99l, clients have numbered
about 14OO from all racial groups, but mostly (comparatively) higher
socio-economic status who might culturally be expected to to breastfeed with
uncertainty.  Recently re-certified by exam.  I work from home, make
hospital and home visits on request, with referrals from doctors,
gynaecologists, paediatricians, ante-natal teachers and former clients.  I
have facilitated at 17 Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative l8-hour courses for
Ministry of Health and Harare City Health personnel and am a BFHI National
Assessor.  We now have 24 "baby-friendly" hospitals in the country, with 3
more awaiting the Task Force blessing. I also serve on the multi-sectoral
breastfeeding committee convened (from time to time!) by the Min of Health.

I have been following the Lactnet for about a week, thanks to my husband's
assistance, and am enthralled by all you have to say out there!  We are now
two LCs here and we are - frankly - very short on contact with OTHER LCs so
LACTNET seems like the answer to a prayer!  In Zimbabwe we are very
fortunate to have a "breastfeeding culture", with almost lOO% initiation of
breastfeeding, 94% still breastfeeding at 6 - 9 months and weaning commonly
at 15 - 18 months. However, there is still a lot to do as "exclusive
breastfeeding" 4 - 6 months is only ll% and recent relaxation of foreign
exchange constraints has caused an alarming influx of imported formulas,
weaning foods, bottles, teats, dummies (pacifiers) and other gadgets.  My
clients seem to include the mothers whose "cultural norm" has heretofore
been bottle-feeding, and I work very hard to make breastfeeding possible,
comfortable, enjoyable and "normal".  There are many advantages to working
here, it is a very brave mother who advises hospital staff that she does not
want to breastfeed and I have seen babies leave the hospital at 2 - 3 days
having eaten NOTHING, very worrying!  The paediatricians I have contact with
EXPECT that mothers will at least initiate breastfeeding, that babies will
lose 5 - 10% of birthweight and not regain it until lO - 14 days and seem to
be very laid-back about bilirubin levels, and prefer to monitor them daily
for 2 - 3 days before diving in to photo-therapy and supplements, NEVER
recommend glucose water etc.  Unfortunately some of the G.P.s are not quite
so enlightened and less up-to-date nursing staff can also cause a few
problems.  On the technological side, cup-feeding prem babies is universal
in Government hospitals, as is manual expression of breastmilk.  I have
never SEEN an electric breastpump (the videos look wonderful!), nor an
orthodontic syringe (where can I get them?) nor a "finger-cot".

It's been nice to meet you, it has been immensely reassuring to hear that we
face many similar difficulties and seem to work in the same ways to help
more mothers breastfeed.  I look forward to learning from you and sharing
what has worked for me.

ATOM RSS1 RSS2