Had an interesting experience this weedend at the Hospital for sick
children in Toronto.  My four year old daughter  (otherwise known as
the proof that you can breastfeed after hysterectomy)  was admitted
on friday night for an emergency umbilical repair (sounds silly but a
piece of her intestine was caught in it).   My partner and I spent
the night in a constant care room with our daughter.  Two of the
other occupants were babies 7 and 3 weeks old.  Both were receiving
breastmilk.  About 4 am, we overheard two nurses trying to decide
what to do about the 3 week old.  They were going to run out of
breastmilk for him at the next feed.  The mother had apparently left
instructions that if they were to run out of breastmilk....they
should call her, day or night  instead of giving formula.  Both
nurses thought this silly, and were not going to call.  I decided to
stay out of it....and was reminded by my partner that I was "just a
civilian" and to try and disengage.  When they ultimately decided to
"top the baby up" with 20ccs of formula so they wouldn't run out
(gasp)  my partner apparently snapped.  He  leapt off the
chair.....ran across the room and urged them to call the mother.  He
made an empassioned plea for the babies future health and reasoned
that giving formula so you don't run out of breastmilk and have to
give formula was  (and I quote him here)  "insane logic".    I lay on
the bed and reflected that  A) maybe we have futher to go at sick
kids hosp than I thought, and B) maybe I don't have as far to go with
my partner as I thought.

my best to all...

Stephanie Pearl
IBCLC-  but this weekend, just a civilian.