I will formally from this day forth apologize and understand why so many
physicians have less than optimal support of exclusive breastfeeding. The
reason? I today attended a seminar that cleared up for me why Drs.
sometimes seem to be less supportive.
The seminar was offered at a local hospital, with a speaker (MD) from out
of state that I once (repeat- as of today ONCE) repected very much as a
neonatal nutritionalist who gave fair balenced presentations.
While the conference was sponsered by A-R formula company,I still believed
in the opportunity to recieved supportive,non biased information on how to
improve post discharge nutrition in the NICU graduate.
The seminar was broken down to three time frames-(1) DC Nutrition first-
especially geared to the MD and nutritionlist audience (2) second session
talking about earlt feeds and TPN and (3) a repeat of session one but
geared more for the LC in practice........
Being me and because my physicians could not attent I chose to attend all 3
sesions. THANK HEAVENS!!!!!!!
Talk one was excellent- strong clinical graphs,multiple studies (but a
heavy trend on ones by englands Dr. L) but really good information that at
the end I felt was presented in a generally non biased,supportive format
that tried to protect breastfeeding but identified that the premi group
appeared to need 2-3 n-sure fortified feedings per day for at least the
next 4-6 months post discharge to prevent significant height and bone
density issues during life.  I was a believer after this
talk..really,really! just one or two concerns but I was essentiall sold (
and so was apparently were the peds MDs in the audience)
Talk two was great- no problems- good information,good studies.
Talk three: ( yeah- supposedly the same talk as one but just "geared more
for the lactation consultant) REALITY SHOCK!
The LC  power point presentation opening slides didn't match the physicians
ones. The difference? The LC outline variences were NOT given as a handout
( no log of the following descrepencies I guess...) The first few slides
explained to the LC audience how and what the benefits of breastmilk was in
the premi population ( now- haven't we all talked about how the Physician s
get so little information on breastfeeding ?) But apparently, the speaker
felt that the LC's were at more of a knowledge deficit on breast milk
benefits for premis.....
The slides later..some of which were from the MD session, now had the
addition of very cute and bright clip arts...( so LC's need crawling babies
and flashing eye balls to keep our attention to scientific graphs)
I could go on and on but (beside forever losing my respect for this
physician to present unbiased information) it opened my eyes to why some
DRs. can't accept what we are trying to accomplish with breastfeeding. I
don't care if this speaker did advocate " Just mix the "super" formula
powder into EBM and feed 2-3 times a day to protct the breastfeeding
relationship..we don't want mother to think her milk is totally not
effective" He also stated that it DID NOT affect any of the micronutrients
if you mixed this powder with EBM ( my heavens- the risk is short kids with
rickets woman!!!) GROAN!!!!! The difference in the talks was so
overwhelming in subtle bias... I came back and told all my Drs. I was so
sorry that this was the type of education they often were offered....and
how sorely disappointed in this physician and his now obvious sponsers ....
Sorry all, I know my spelling and typing suffered during this rant but I am
so very mad!!!!! So please- lets keep doing what "we're" doing- research,
publish, support and continue with patience to encourage our non
breastfeeding informed physicians  to learn more from others because it
obvious that some of their information from peers  appears to be changable
to the current audience.......

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