Dear Ann, You said on you last post about the pediatrician you work with:

> She was adamant that I stay with them that long-every time.  I
>asked her if she felt that would be empowering to the mother and she said yes,
>they all need that.  She says she requires me to have ALL babies sucking and
>nursing by 24 hours of age, No moms should go home with a breast pump, and No
>alternative feeding methods, even a bottle would be allowed. She said she would
>let the mom board if baby is not nursing by then and mom could not go home
>>until breastfeeding is going well.
>Needless to say, I am not happy.  I would love for all babies to latch and
>>nurse well, I would love to not send moms home with a breast pump.  I
>would >love to never have to use a syringe or a cup or a nipple shield
>BUT
>it doesn't seem realistic when 98% of all moms or more have large doses of
>>labor meds plus an epidural usually.  (In two months I have seen 5
>unmedicated >moms).Hospital has 125 births per month.
         I'm a LLL Leader and nursing student. What will most likely put
you on the road to meeting her goal without much help from the ped., which
she didn't seem to offer, is to ensure that each mom attends very good
prenatal education childbirth education classes that emphasize avoiuding
all medications etc., then also at least a series ( 4) LLL meetings.†ut
isn't that the responsibility of the caregiver for the birth, not the IBLC.
I'm not saying pass the buck, but the facts stand clear.
        I realize that lots of early breastfeeding difficulties happen even
to those completely educated in these areas. Its only antecdotal but I
would guess that a higher percentage occur in those who aren't prepared
with the CORRECT information prenatally. Hopefully its not just a theory
that education is power. I've seen it work in many lives. The pediatrician
needs to understand the many circles of care givers and varied information
that that preceded each breastfeeding situation all can add up to problems.
as an IBLC you get to untangle the mess. Good luck.
                Amy Mohrbacher

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*                namaste
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~                        amy     :-)
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*  Truth is after all a moving target                                    *
~  Hairs to split, and pieces that don't fit                            ~
*  Truth is after all so poorly lit                                         *
~                                     ...NP
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