Hi All,
I have to comment here, only because of what I have seen as a result of rough
treatment.
IMHO, rough treatment is borderline abuse.  The act of shoving a baby to
breaast and holding him there until he starts nursing (or turns purple from
screaming in fear) is rude, unfair and cruel.  I have worked with too many
babies who have been traumatized this way to be able to say that this is
something that is OK.  Also, forcing a baby to open his mouth and
aggressively stimulate his palate is my opinion of a rape.  That babies mouth
is HIS and we should be asking permission to stick our fingers in there.  If
someone forced their finger into our mouth in such a rude manner we'd bite
them, and be pretty darn mad about it too!  So why should we expect anything
less from a newborn?
Gentle is the way to be with all babies, IMHO.  When a baby is traumatized at
breast, I have fond that the majority of times, a mom gives up BF because it
is so hard to encourage the baby back to breast.  The more severe the trauma,
the harder the work.  SOme moms can stick it out, some can't.  I have
encouraged all my moms to formally complain to the hospital they delivered at
when they have a traumatized baby.  This rough treatment is a good way to
permanently deprive a baby of its birthright;  BF with mom, breastmilk, and a
bond unlike any other.
Now, there may be some babies who are able to stand this type of treatment.
 As we all know, there is always an exception to any rule.  But just because
some babies can handle this type of treatment, doesn't mean that ALL babies
can, and anyone who thinks that way really needs their head examined.
There is no way I could work in a situation like the one described by
Barbara, and I would have left the position too.  Some people refuse to "see"
the horrors of what they are doing, believing that all they do is right and
everyone else's opinions and ideas are wrong.  These people are impossible to
work with, especially if your theories and values differ strongly from
theirs.
Anyway, this really touched a button for me.  I also don't like the RAM idea.
 Mainly because I don't like the word "RAM" as a way to get baby to breast.
 The picture it sends out is not an appropriate one for new moms to have when
learning how to L-O their newborns.  Genlte, quick movements are great, but I
always see a baby being slammed (rammed) into a breast when RAM is used.  Not
a pretty sight.

Off my box....

Jay Simspon, CLE
Who has had to counsel to many grieving moms whose babies were treated to
rough.