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Subject:
From:
Jennifer Davis <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 15 Dec 2001 07:40:02 -0500
Content-Type:
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This sorry state of affairs is found in Raleigh, NC - yes, home to one of
the mother's milk banks, although this is not the same hospital.

As a doula, I work in this hospital a lot.  I have been in meetings with the
directors of L and D and women's services about starting a doula program
there.  Four different times I sat with them, sat with nurses, answered
questions, etc., etc..  We want to get this program going quickly, they
said...blah, blah, blah.  This was a year ago, and the only thing I've heard
is "we'll get back to you."

I like to think they are getting a tiny bit better - in January, they are
instituting a mandatory non-separation of mother and baby policy...but the
qualifications for this are endless.  IF the baby is perfectly healthy, can
maintain temperature on its own, IF the baby's bilirubin levels are
acceptable, IF mother has no complications, IF there is another adult in the
room with mother when she's resting...and it only counts for vaginally
birthing mothers anyway.  Their current policy is that vaginally birthing
moms and babes get one hour together - and that is a literal clock hour -
and then every baby must go to the nursery for the "mandatory" checkup.  Mom
moves to a postpartum room, and 3-4 hours afterwards, gets her baby back.

The sadder thing still, though...moms don't complain.  They think that this
hospital is a wonderful place to give birth because the staff is sooooo nice
and the rooms are clean.  Private hospital, private doctors, you get the
picture.  And they have a wonderful, in-hospital breastfeeding store.
Wouldn't you know, they sell the SNS systems, so that if mom goes home
syringe feeding formula and she gets tired of that, she can go buy the SNS
right there in the hospital.  I don't think there are any IBCLCs - lots of
"lactation specialists" though.  Makes me sick!!

It is interesting though - the directors I have met with are truly
interested, I believe, in lowering the c-section rate, better breastfeeding
success, fewer interventions.  One of them even came and spoke at our doula
conference.  But they are fighting against some obstinate nurses and even
more stubborn doctors who are not going to change their ways because they
are convinced that they are right.  Free formula abounds, clocks, pens, etc,
etc..  Nurses tell the new moms stories (I have been witness to this) of how
they tried to breastfeed, too, but it just didn't work, and the baby was so
much happier once they switched to formula.   Time limits are given to moms:
If you don't have the baby latched on by x time, we're going to have to give
him/her some formula and you can try again later.  Babies do need to eat,
you know.

I could go on, but I've gone on enough.  Everything in me wants to go to
nursing school and try to get in working there, just to see if I could get
things to go differently, but I am unconvinced I could make much of a
difference.

Thanks for asking, Pat - I'm sure this is more than you wanted to know!!

As an aside...back in 1985, when the birthing center part of this hospital
was established, the hospital hired Celeste Phillips, author of Family
Centered Maternity Care, and a wonderful breastfeeding advocate as well, to
help them plan the center.  It was to be a free-standing birthing center,
staffed with midwives, with LDRP rooms and jacuzzis, wonderful place.  What
was built?  A new wing of the hospital.  Four pods of rooms, 12 rooms per
pod.  All built as LDRPs.  Nice pictures covered the resuscitation equipment
on the walls.  Small showers in each room, no jacuzzis.   Then, wouldn't you
know, someone got upset that the pictures might get stuck and the equipment
couldn't be reached, so away went the pictures.  And, the doctors started
complaining that they might have a woman in labor in Pod A, finish with her,
and actually have to run down to Pod C to catch another baby.   So, the
hospital now has deliveries in only Pod D, and moves every mother after one
hour to A, B, or C - this is when the baby is in the nursery.

In a nutshell, the whole system stinks.

Jennifer D
BirthBasics
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pat Young" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2001 11:43 PM
Subject: BF post c-sec


> OK, Jennifer,  now tell the whole story - where in the world is this
> unenlightened hospital???  Enquiring minds want to know! (City and state
> will do, you don't have to name them :-)  Sincerely, Pat in SNJ
>
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