>>
>>Hello, Lactnetters.  I am an LC in suburban New York who has been lurking
for a month or so and now desperately and QUICKLY needs some help.  I just
received a call from a very upset mother who is going through a very messy
divorce.  She is exclusively breastfeeding a 4 month old baby and the courts
(in their infinite wisdom) have granted to her soon to be ex-husband 8 hour
visitation to be extended to 30 hours when the baby is 6 months old.  She is
absolutely desperate to avoid overnight visits until the baby is weaned.  So
my question is: Has anyone ever dealt with this issue?  Specifically, what
steps could be taken to help her?  I worked with another situation like this
and the case was resolved so that the father had unsupervised visits of 4
hours until the baby was weaned.  I suggested the mother's attorney contact
the attorney we dealt with last time.  I would be willing to testify about
the benefits of extended exclusive breastfeeding.  Do you all have any
experiences with this stuff?  Any lawyers out there?
>>
>>Secondly, and very superficially at this point in time, I have been
tossing around the idea of getting my MA in something connected with
breastfeeding.  Has anyone (preferrably someone in NY or NJ-but ANY ideas
would be useful) done anything like this and would you like to share how you
did it and what major was chosen?
>>
>>Now a little about me-I have been IBCLC since 1986 and was a LLLL for 5
years before that. I have 5 children, 4 of whom were breastfed and one who
is in foster care with us (a very interesting story-to be told privately)
but who was breastfed by her own mother.  My husband of a 22 years, is a
wonderful, supportive husband and father who is presently an unemployed high
level accounting executive so if you know any one who wants to see his
resume email me privately (please!!).  I am presently working on a contract
basis with a local WIC program 3 days a week and for a community hospital 2
days a week.  Work is interesting and challenging but thank goodness it
serves to pay the bills right now.
>>
>>Please get back to me soon on the issue of visitation.  This mom goes to
court on October 5th and wants to have a solid case before then.  Thanks!
>>
>>Barbara Leshin-Zucker, IBCLC    Highland Mills, NY  (Orange County)
>>
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