In a message dated 4/15/03 2:03:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

> But sometimes, when I read Lactnet posts, it sounds like those of you who
> are in the health care system are constantly battling outdated information
> and attitudes.  I don't think I would be up for those kind of battles on a
> regular basis.
>
> Or is it just that I'm hearing the vents?
>

Jeanne,
Yes you are hearing the vents--thank goodness we have Lactnet to do that! But
it is a  constant "battle" of sorts. I prefer to think of it as chipping away
at that brick wall instead of banging my head against it. There are lots of
times that we get "rewarded" when a mom & baby who do persist & are
breastfeeding successfully. On a daily basis, my partners & I talk with moms &
 dads, their freinds & families, the nurses & sometimes physicians. We cover
7 days a week, 4-6 hrs a day, at a hospital with 80% breastfeeding initiation
rate. We are able to give correct & current information about breastfeeding
to all willing to listen.

I was so pleased last week when a doctor called to ask me if a particular
drug was compatible with breastfeeding--it was! I told a mom last week that
seeing her baby nursing at her breast for the first time at 24 hrs of age was
one of my biggest rewards & one of the reasons that I keep doing what I am
doing. Recently I soothed a mom who was crying because a pediatrician told
her she was not a very good mom for NOT giving her baby a bottle.  (this ped
has done this many times to many moms) I reviewed the baby's chart with her &
her nurse, feedings, voids, stools & wt loss were all within normal limits at
2 days of age. Then her nurse called the pediatrician to tell him that he
should not have talked to the mom like that--I was so proud of her for doing
that! When we continue giving this good information day-after-day, some of
them acturally "get it."

Laura Hart
Winter Park, FL

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