Hi, All:  I can't help myself.  I have to say it.  Wipes and sterilzation
bags would be a total non-issue if women hand-expressed like women did back
before electricity was invented. Handwashing is the only clean-up
required.  How many of us actually bother to teach hand expression?  How
many of us have actaully bothered to learn/use hand expression ourselves?
Granted it is virtually impossible in the hospital setting to impress
mothers with the beads of colostrum they'll see, but I take every
opportunity that comes my way to teach when I have mothers in full
lactation in front of me.  I have taught hand expression several times now
at my weekly support group and have no trouble with volunteers because the
volunteer usually states she has tried it on her own and not been
successful.  In a matter of seconds I have her spraying across the room and
all are very impressed.  I have also taught hand expression using myself as
the "volunteer" to both mothers as well as lactation students.  I hand
expressed at work for all 3 of my children and all were nursed up to 2
years.  I know, like anything else in life, hand expression will not be for
everyone, but I think it needs to be routinely offered as a viable option.
Those of us who have successfully hand-expressed swear by it.  I personally
rank baby as most efficient, followed by hand expression, and then the
classic electric pumps.  I would like to see nursing one's baby get back to
the normal natural feeding process that Mother Nature intended.
Pam Hirsch, RN,BSN,CLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL  USA

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