Pat in SNJ writes,

<< What I see is there are no consequences to giving mothers inconsistent or
 incorrect info about BF.  If, as an RN, I give the wrong med or teach a
 patient incorrectly about how to care for X, Y or Z, I would be censured.
 But I can tell her anything I want, off the top of my head, about BF and
 nobody holds me accountable for that inconsistent/incorrect info.  I see
 this as a basic problem in hospitals.  No clearly written policy, no
 accountability to use policy.  Sincerely, Pat in SNJ >>

Oh yes, oh yes, oh YES!!!  So frustrating!  Today, as I was seeing a mom who
delivered yesterday, she asked me, "Can I talk confidentially?  (OK, so
telling 2000 of my closest friends is not *exactly*
confidentially.....but.....) The nurses last night really PUSHED me to give
formula.  I mean, really PUSHED it.  They kept saying the baby was hungry
(he's about 18 hours old at this point, and has been bf quite well) -- I
wonder if they were just tired of bringing him in from the nursery...."

Well, of course, had they recommended he stay w/ her all night instead of
being back in the nursery, that might have helped.  But circumventing the "bf
by personal experience" rather than "bf by policy" seems to be the norm.
Nurses (OK, guys - recognize that I'm one of them as well) -- really want to
"protect" the mother -- allow her to "get her sleep" (as though she'll never,
ever sleep again -- this is her LAST chance!!) -- and therefore if they can
give the baby formula in the nursery, it accomplishes a couple of things.
One, they don't have to schlep the baby out to the mom, using identifying
criteria, and maybe (oh, gasp, oh horror, oh no!!!) help her get the baby
latched on), and two, they KNOW how much the baby has taken (how that helps,
I'm not sure, but nonetheless....) (of course, don't mention caseinomorphins
which help the baby sleep)...and three -- I think I've lost my train of
thought here.  But anyway, yes, nurses (and physicians, and nurse assistants
-- whatever they are called) tend to teach about bf by experience rather than
by policy or evidence-based research.

Frustrating, to say the least.

Jan -- dealing with this by occasionally doing the ostrich regime.

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