Hi All,
  Marie, your post really got to me, I have been going back and forth about
a recent situation here - that sounds just like what you are going through.
I ended up listening to the mom twice on the phone for quite a while and
visiting her - just to see the baby. My hunch was right, nothing seriously
wrong other than so much conflicting advice and the fact that the instant
anything went wrong or mom had a question, a bottle was handed to her. She
has done well to survive this long with a breast pump, breast shield,
bottles and no help what-so-ever. What galled me the most is that from
prenatal visits on, this mom expressed a desire to breastfeed, and yet from
moment one, no one supported her, provided her with information or even
bothered to give her a phone number (mine) to get her help. Since she was so
very young (18 if she is a day), the Community Health Nurse finally saw her,
and gave her my number. They are the one aspect of the care at the local
military hospital that I can count on.
  I was infuriated (sp?) that everyone was so non-supportive of this mother,
simply because of one issue - she has pierced nipples. Yes she and her
husband were the most different military couple I have seen, but so what?
Military hospitals are used to dealing with a lot of difference (including a
high percentage of people who do not speak English).
  It is days like these that I wonder why I am doing it. Then I remember the
young mom with bright shining eyes, holding a beautiful baby and realize
that both have managed to survive this mismanagement and I congradulate her
commitment to continue and to keep looking for help. It is a shame though
that she had to go through 3 weeks of misery that may have been preventable.
And should have been.
   Hang in there Marie, you are not alone in what you do and what you go
through. We understand and wish you the best.

Leslie Ward
Vine Grove, KY (who feels that a book store sounds real good right about now)