I hope someone will be able to help me advocate for one of my patient's going through a divorce currently. I have mom's permission to post this here, and told her I would be asking for advice. Mom is currently in early stages of divorce, is exclusively breastfeeding a 9 week old infant and has 2 older children. She nursed the first two, but weaned within a few months and supplemented from the start due to a terrible time with inverted nipples and poor latch. This baby is doing great, though. Dad left the family when mom was 34 weeks pregnant with #3. Dad has so far had very little voluntary visitation, usually for just a few minutes, and only if mom pursued him (she did this in the beginning, and is no longer actively inviting him over, etc.) He has not paid any child support, which is in violation of his court order. He is seeking prolonged visits (wants baby and older kids for 3 days over Thanksgiving and Christmas both) and wants all the kids every weekend. Dad currently works full-time, and has no weekends off, so kids would mostly be watched by his parents. Mom is going back to work this week, currently works full-time and has every weekend off. She has offered for him to have kids on his days off (which would be rotating weekdays), but he has refused citing the fact that the oldest is in kindergarten and he currently has moved to a different town (well within driving distance.) Her lawyer has told her he cannot protect her breastfeeding relationship in the least, and that she will have to go along with extended visits. Mom wants to have the baby on her days off, and doesn't want overnights at all at this point as baby is still very young and exclusively breastfed. Is there any way I can help her as her physician, by writing and documenting the importance of breastfeeding, and the unfeasibility of maintaining a supply if she is not allowed contact with the baby on her days off, and with extended visits? Can anyone give me any pointers on how to write a letter (if such a thing would be helpful) and maybe what, if anything to avoid talking about? Thanks for your help in advance. Jennifer Tieman, MD Family Physician Mom to 3, and new baby #4 expected 5/31/03 *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] 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