<<When investments into this
substitute for breastfeeding are huge, then we can be sure that "someone"
will find reasons why babies cannot be put to the breast or reasons to keep
mother and baby apart.  This is the problem with infant formula companies
making a formula more like mother's milk.  And this is the problem with
breast pump technology.>>>

In response to Valerie's post regarding the new pump technology I would like 
to say that many of us work with a whole population of high risk moms who 
deliver prematurely and have sick infants.  The situation at hand is what 
keeps mothers and infants apart.Their babies aren't able to be at the breast 
for a very long time. Initiating and maintaining milk supplies is  
problematic even with good equipment. Any new research and technology that 
can improve our practice for these situations is welcome especially since the 
bottom line is how can we assist the mother baby dyad to initiate and sustain 
lactation for as long as possible. 
However, sometimes it is the mother who also chooses to bottlefeed her 
expressed breastmilk in spite of my encouragement to breastfeed. Technology 
that enhances her ability to have an MER faster, and pump more milk in a 
shorter period of time sounds like a dream come true to this mother and for 
the mom whose baby was never able to latch for whatever reason. It is still a 
better option than AIM.
Of course I agree with you that the optimal situation always keeps mother and 
baby together with breastfeeding intact. But we must also have good 
technology for our less than optimal outcomes

Jane Ciaramella RNC, IBCLC 

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