Here are two requests that I hope some of you LactNetters can help me with!

In Puerto Rico, the insurance companies are notoriously poor covering
preventative care(they don't cover the cost of the erythromycin drops, prenatal
vitamins, etc.).  However, we just met with the medical director of one of the
insurance companies and she (yes, she) breastfed her children, realizes the
importance of education and support and is willing to go to bat for us to try to
get coverage for rental/sale of breastfeeding equipment and visits to a
breastfeeding clinic.  In our case, the clinic will be run by three
pediatricians as no insurance company reimburses anyone other than MD's (no
OT's, PT's etc. unless connected with an MD's office).  She asked if there was
any way I could get information to her related to Blue Cross/Blue Shield
covering this sort of thing in the US which she can use as a lever.  I told here
- if there was one group of people who could help, it would be Lact Net.  So now
I'm begging.  If you have anything she could use when addressing this issue with
the "Powers that Be" (read $$$), please E-mail me privately.
Jeanette F. Panchula INTERNET:[log in to unmask]

Second Request:
The L&D Head Nurse (who up 'til now has been half-heartedly supporting our
breastfeeding program) has suddenly realized through her stats that more and
more of the OB's are doing planned inductions.  In fact, she says  she only
remembers seeing TWO mothers this month (we deliver about 300 a month) who came
in active labor.  At the same time, I have been noting a worsening case of
delayed suck, sleepy babies, non-sucking half-zoned-out babies, clamping,
chomping and in general frustrating situations in the maternity ward.  We are
trying to gather our data to present a united front in order to try to reduce
these inductions. (The hospital prides itself on "only" having 35% c/s compared
to the PR rate of 65% - but now we wonder where we are going - Planned
Inductions are replacing Planned C-Births???)
Again - please E-mail me privately if you can provide me with references of the
risks and complications caused to the baby or the mother of all these (pitocin,
prostaglandin, etc.) interventions.  I remember reading lately of the delayed in
clearance for the infants of mom's delivery medications - and with induction, of
course moms are also treated to more anesthesia and analgesia - but what about
the actual induction meds?  References would be greatly appreciated.
I think if the Head Nurse feels I'm willing to go to bat for her, she'll be more
likely to help me make changes in L& D in the future...
Thanks a lot!
Jeanette F. Panchula INTERNET:[log in to unmask]

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC (testing again next year!!!)