Laurie:
Please don't give up.  There are a few of us out there who value what you do,
and our numbers are growing.  Unfortunately the "evidence" for a lot of what
we do and believe in breastfeeding circles is not as strong as we would like,
and physicians and nurses need HARD evidence to change anything, even if they
had no evidence to start doing what they are now doing!

For example, the nurse is right in that with equal amounts of formula and
breastmilk, the bilirubin will come down faster with the formula - not
because of any magic ingredient in the formula, but because many mothers'
milk inhibits conjugation and excretion of bilirubin.  What we often forget
is that the optimally breastfed infant is the NORMAL, and that formula-fed
infants are HYPOBILIRUBINEMIC.

Keep up the good work!

Nancy E. Wight MD, FAAP, IBCLC
Neonatologist, Children's Hospital and Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women
Medical Director, Lactation Services, Sharp HealthCare
San Diego, CA, USA


Nancy E. Wight MD, FAAP, IBCLC
Neonatologist, Children's Hospital and Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women
Medical Director, Lactation Services, Sharp HealthCare
San Diego, CA, USA
Pager: 858-493-0198
Office: 858-541-4180
Office Fax: 858-541-4135
Email: [log in to unmask]

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