I promised an introduction about 2 weeks ago and am finally getting around to
it. I am an IBCLC working in private practice and on call for the military
hospital here in Anchorage. I am also a charter board member of the Alaska
Breastfeeding Coalition. I led LLL meetings for 10 years in Germany and
Alaska but am currently on reserve.

 My husband retired from the Air Force 2 years ago and we finally put down
roots here in Anchorage. We are foster parents for the state of AK so have a
fluctuating number of children in our home. Currently the number is 6--our
adopted son (17 1/2 years), our birth daughter (16 1/2 years), our soon to be
adopted foster children ages 5,4,and 3 and our newest foster child 1 month
old. I nursed our adopted son with the aid of a Lact-aid for about 6 months
and then gave birth to our only birth child when he was 14 months old. She
was breastfed for a v-e-r-y long time (we negotiated her weaning). Our other
children have all come to us in various conditions and due to CPS policy even
the wee ones have not been put to breast. Our 5 and 3 year olds are both
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Our 4 year old was exposed pre-natally to alcohol but
seems to have escaped FAS/FAE but was diagnosed with Leukemia (ALL) last
September.

Now, to the Help part of my message. The military hospital called me today
for help with a mom who had emergency surgery for a perforated appendix 2
nights ago. The staff of our hospital are for the most part supportive and
helpful. The immediate problem was how to manage her full breasts---that has
been dealt with. The long range situation is: she will be hospitalized for 10
days, has an incision that will remain open, and she is concerned about going
home to a very active 11 month old. She is considering totally weaning.
However, she will still need to nurture this young one.One of the nurses and
I have already suggested finding some kind of pillow to cushion mom's stomach
so that she can more comfortable hold her little boy. Do any of you wonderful
Lactnetters have any other suggestions that I could relay to this mom?

TIA
Catherine Tapey,IBCLC
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