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Subject:
From:
Laura Hart <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 29 Jun 1998 15:38:11 EDT
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Loni,
I also work in a hospital situation. There seem to be some nurses who just
aren't motivated to learn about breastfeeding and become more supportive.
Continue to smile & be gentle in your approach with moms and nurses, even
though you would love to tie some of them to a chair and make them drink ABM
while listening to tapes of BF conferences!!  You have definately come to the
right place to sound off. I'm sure you will get lots of good support.

How supportive is management? If supervisors are supportive of breastfeeding &
enforce breastfeeding policies, things can change SLOWLY, but surely. Do your
written policies need to be updated? Will management support mandatory classes
for nurses to become updated? What percentage of your moms BF in hospital?
(National average is over 50%.) Since such a large number of women BF, the
nurses should know how to properly support them and at the very least NOT
interfere with breastfeeding. Get a copy of the current AAP statement on BF (
available at www.aap.org/policy/pprgtoc.html) for management & staff.

Form a committee of management, staff nurses & physicians to update policies &
promote BF. That way it's not YOU against THEM. You will be backed up by a
whole committee of BF supporters. Offer classes for nurses who would like to
become more supportive of BF. You could offer certificates & designate them as
"BF Support Nurses" or something similar. It doesn't necessarily have to be
limited to the nurses. Sometimes nursing assistants & unit secretaries who
have breastfed are also very supportive.

With World Breastfeeding Week coming soon, do an in-house promotion of BF:
decorations, food, slogans, breastfeeding information tidbits on brightly
colored paper, balloons or pencils with slogans, etc.

Give a written "thanks for supporting breastfeeding note" to anyone who did a
good job with a BF dyad. I have posted some notes with graphics made on my
computer on individual lockers & on the bulletin board in the nurses' lounge.
One note recently commended several nurses & a pediatrician who worked with a
dyad (& avoided giving bottles) until baby finally latched & breastfeed at 42
hours of age. That was a real landmark at our hospital!

Good luck. I really do understand.
Laura Hart, RN, BSN, IBCLC  (breastfeeding preservationist)
Staff nurse & lactation consultant (20 hours of each)
Winter Park FL

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