I am a hospital based LC doing 24 hours a week at our small community
hospital.  I also do home visits when I 'm not at the hospital.  I recently
started a Postpartum support group at my hospital.  The first meeting was
attended by mom's I had seen in my private practice and all were
breastfeeding.  We had a wonderful time.  I brought the electronic scale over
from the breastfeeding clinic and at the end of the meeting we had baby
weigh-ins.  In our next meetin I've reserched why breastfed babies do not
need vitamins.  My information comes from the AAP guide book birth thru age
5.  My second topic I plan to discuss is sleeping on the back or side.  What
is the latest info about using the wedges or a roll to position the infant on
their sides?
As we get near World Breastfeeding Week,  I would like to inform all my
lactnetter friends that St. Mary Hospital in Livonia no longer hands out any
info with any formula names on it !!!!!!!!!  We also no longer give out the
gift packs with formula coupons and free pedialyte coupons and milicon
coupons in it.  I assigned several nurses to review the gift packs using
Linda Smiths guide for reviewing education material and how it supported
breastfeeding.  I cleared out the formula room of everything.  It was so
exhilarating.  I came back two days later and found the formula rep left the
plastic bags, tape measures, books on preventing cavities ext.  I packed them
up and out they went.  We still use the tape measures as I haven't figured
where I can get other paper tape measures.  The staff agreed not to put them
in the bassinets when they go to their mothers.  I also replaced the crib
card with a generic card promoting out birth center and not the formula
manufacturer.  My final challenge is to stop the formula diaper bags.  I
don't think we will continue with this practice once the present bags are
gone.  We give the mom a very nice bag to take home with them.
I hope everyone going to the ILCA conference has a wonderful time.
Charlene Shedd RN IBCLC
Plymouth, Michigan
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