Anne Clements <While it might go against the grain for those of us that would prefer that they breastfeed with the accompanying benefits for both mother & baby, it is part of my position discription to ensure these clients are able to competently make up their baby's feed if they are not buying pre-mixed.> It is also a condition of the WHO code (of which Australia is a signatory)that adequate information is given to those mothers who choose to formula feed. Mothers need to make and informed decision and information outlining the benefits of breastfeeding should be given them. Group formula demonstrations are out (can't quote the clause because I haven't got it in front of me--but it is outlined with interpretations in the NHMRC Breastfeeding guidelines for Healthcare Workers) and demonstrations are preferably given on an individual basis. It states the risks ie. too concentrated formula, too dilute formula, increased risk of gastro. etc. need to be clearly explained to the parents. I also work in an Australian hospital and in the postnatal wards where the mothers are caring for their babies, if they choose formula, they have to bring in their formula and make it up themselves. It then is not the "easy" option. They bring in the same tin of formula they will be feeding their baby at home and therefore gain skill in mixing formula under the nurses supervision prior to doing it herself at home. The Special Care Nursery where I work is different because we are responsible for caring for their sick babies and if formula is required it is provided by the hospital (ready to feed bottles--purchased, not donated, stock). However all mothers are excouraged to express and breastfeed when their baby is able to. Sometimes this takes a little more effort. Only last week a mother who had a general anaesetic an hour and a half before and couldn't get out of bed and a baby in oxygen with transient tachypnoea (whose resps were only in the 60s) still managed to successfully (and exclusively) breastfeed. He was HUNGRY and demanding a feed. The mother was wheeled (bed and all) into the nursery, the baby fed beautifully with funnelled oxygen near his face and the doctors cheerfully stepped around the bed during their morning rounds. I believe the tide is turning and medical and nursing staff are getting better educated on the benefits of breastfeeding. Again last week I had one of the registrars bring me in an interesting breastfeeding article he had read. This was the same doctor, when reviewing a baby's chart, wanted to know WHY the mother had decided not to breastfeed and who also proudly brought in the photo of his 11 month old still breastfeeding daughter to show me. Marian Rigney RN and IBCLC2B (hopefully) _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html