I am glad someone brought this up again, becuase I wanted to comment a few days ago when I was 'catching up.' (I hate to get behind). I am definitley hands on when I think I need to be. If a mom appears to be not getting my verbal instruction or the baby is frantic etc I will put my hands over hers and basically do it, saying something like "let me show you the first time so you see what I mean". I have heard Dr. Newman say the same thing that moms having problems can be shown and then they see the baby can do it and they (mom and baby) finally get it. It is often nice to help in a hands on way and then to have the mother do it herself on the second side, or at next feeding if baby only takes one breast. I also find it is not so simple to say one will 'meet the mother where she is.' Very very often I am told by the mother that she wants to do both breast and bottle. She then leaves the baby to be fed by the nurses most feeds and gets in an occasional bf. I also am told by the mom that she will start bf when she gets home (she is shy, too uncomfortable, worried about pain meds, feels has no milk yet). How can you just meet her where she is???? So I have an agenda to educate and really try to (gently, respectfully) convince the mother to initiate bf early, exclusively bf, room in etc. Of course I will not force the mother to do this. It is a fine line sometimes, I will concede. Laurie Wheeler, IBCLC, MN, RN New Orleans Louisiana, s.e. USA _________________________________________________________________ Unlimited Internet access -- and 2 months free! Try MSN. http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/2monthsfree.asp *********************************************** 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