Pat (NJ) brings up an excellent point - "some of this is her
responsibility".  Thank you!  I think this is one of the reasons
breastfeeding management by staff nurses is ranked down there with having a
root canal done on their list of least favorite things to do.  We all seem
to have a "savior" complex when it comes to others.  Must be the
woman/mother in all of us.  We forget that it is the responsibility of the
mother and her baby to establish a nursing relationship.  My only
responsibility is educating the mother on how to do it and supporting her
in attaining her goals - it is not to nurse for her!  I just had this
discussion this morning with one of our SCN nurses who is a wonderful
breastfeeding advocate.  She told me she "hates" helping mothers with
nursing.  She said that she will no longer spend "hours" trying to wake up
a baby to nurse.  And she shouldn't.  If after 5-15 minutes of trying (max)
baby is still sleeping, stop, wait awhile, and try again after watching for
feeding cues from the baby.  All moms need to be told this - after the
nurses realize that babies don't feed on a schedule.  I pray for the day
when hospital staff realize that they are doing way too much "work" in
helping mothers/babies breastfeed.  Put a mom and baby together (after
educating the mom a little) and see if they don't figure it out on their
own!
Off to "save" the world! (Tongue-in-cheek)

Pam Hirsch, RN,BSN,CLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL  USA

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