Aloha all,

I finally found that there was still one doctor in the area who would clip a
frenulum.  I am keeping his number in my files.

I am still feeling very frustrated.  I recently finished going through all
the hoops necessary, so that I could go up to the postpartum floor at the
local military hospital.  There is no LC on staff.  Much of the nursing staff
on the floor is quite young--no children, no breastfeeding education.  I saw
three moms today.  There were more on the floor, but only three were nursing.
 Why?  Of the three, two were supplementing with formula.  The one mom gave
the baby a bottle every time he would not latch and nurse.  I started to talk
to her , but realized my information was not wanted.  The second mom was
supplementing until her "milk came in."  Baby lost 7% of birth weight by
discharge.  I was told by the staff that baby was latching and nursing like a
champ.  Then why has baby lost weight, no wet diapers at all, dry mucous
membranes?  I talked to mom a bit, but knew that it really didn't matter what
I said.  When I spoke to the nurse about this mom and baby, I was told--don't
worry they'll be fine. I hoped I backed off appropriately because frankly I
don't want to be labeled a fanatic or worse.

What good will I be if I am not there at the first nursing?  If that baby
doesn't latch and nurse, formula is the answer for the hospital.  No looking
at what is going on with the breastfeeding, but how could there be when the
staff is not educated?  I'll give it some time--after all tonight was my
first night up there--but I am not going to continue to bang my head against
a brick wall anymore.

I will be going out of town for a week.  Just Rose and I.  Hopefully, I can
clear my head, and release the frustration that this past year has brought.

Aloha,
Gloria Thai--wishing the trip were back to Hawai'i---waiting for book #5 of
Harry Potter--and trying not to read book #2 again until just before the
movie is released.

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