Oh dear, Betsy, this is not an easy question to answer.  You might ask the
paediatrician to come up with "evidence based medicine" to support what s/he
says.  You might come up with a few articles supporting your side (including
the AAP statement--official statements do help).

But this is really a question of empowerment of women, specifically mothers.
A hot topic on lactnet these days.  Until women say: this doesn't make any
sense, how do you know this doctor (nurse, Mr. Surgeon), nothing will
change.  It's a slow process, but more and more *are* saying "rubbish, I
don't believe you".

Check the websites below for the handout "how to know a health professional
is not supportive of breastfeeding" and give it to this paediatrician.
Maybe it will open his/her eyes.  Maybe not.  But people who are not willing
to listen are impervious--nothing to do about them.  They may listen to
their wallets. I encourage mothers to find another doctor (whatever) if they
get poor advice that endangers the breastfeeding relationship.

Work on the students, that's our only hope.

http://www.erols.com/cindyrn/drjack0.htm

or

http://www.firstfeast.com/articles/articles.html

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html