Hi all,
It seems to be that while we have made progress with giving Moms of healthy
or full term babes more appropriate brfdng advice, this is not often the case
with the babes discharged from level 2 /3 nurseries. I often felt this to to
be true while working in those settings but have been especially alarmed by
it since adding VNA visits to my private practice and seeing a number of
these babes and realizing that the "bad" advice is now being given by the LCs
in these institiutions!
 My most recent case is a growth retarded, 37 wkr. discharged at about 3 wks
of ages whose mom was told by all of the LCs at this large Boston hospital's
NICU to continue with the pumping and bottle fdng 30cal "formula +milk"
(right Barbara?) regime, that putting the baby to breast was too risky and
tiring. Now this baby  may in fact have a "syndrome" not picked up by genetic
testing but has gained terrifically (14 oz/2wks!). I had to spend an
inordinate amt. of time convincing these well meaning parents that it was
perfectly appropriate to try this healthy appearing, alert baby at the
breast. They were convinced that the baby would receive just as much benefit
from the br. milk via the bottle as it would via the breast and they were IN
AWE (and not in a good way) of my suggestions that perhaps the breast could
be offered as a comfort when the baby was fussy (he is often!) or that
perhaps the benefits from the MECHANISM of br. feeding might be hugely
underestimated and could greatly benefit them all! Interestingly when I did
convince Mom to give it a try after his normal bottle fdng., he latched on
with minimal assist and continued to feed despite the fact that he had
refused to take ANOTHER DROP out of the bottle! Now obviously this baby took
MORE than he would have if just given the bottle and more quickly and easily,
how is this risky or tiring?  I left them with what I hoped was a glimmer
that this was now possible but after speaking with Dad today, the pedi. told
them to hold the brfdng. to 1xday!

Same thing almost exactly with another case, but twins this time who are also
working with the LC in the pedi  office, same rhetoric, baby will get too
tired, they need the extra cals etc. Prove to me that this is true! If these
people actually had the skills to work with these babies they might be
inspired by the power behind breastfeeding  for these needy little ones
rather than scared by it.
As you all know it is soooo frustrating to be forced to contradict info.
given by people who purport to know and to do so in way that allows you to
get the job done.

Lynn Shea Rn,Bsn,Ibclc
Franklin,Massachusetts

             ***********************************************
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