Patricia you asked about forming such a committee. This past week we made our 2nd effort to get a BF committee established. Several years ago we formed one with interested nurses, managers and the director of women's services. We even had an interested neonatologist meeting with us. We started working on the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. After a few months we had major changes in management, and it all fell apart because the remaining members had no "decision" making authority. This past week, with new managers and a new director in place, we started up a BF committee again. This time we have a volunteer nurse from each department, Well Baby Nursery, Post-Partum, NICU, Labor & Delivery, Peds, PICU, the OT that specializes in the infant feeding issues in NICU, the Lamaze instructor, Nurse practitioner for NICU and another nurse who wants to become an LC. This time we agreed to have a "simple" goal - to improve our BF success. We are breaking down "assignments" for each member to go back to their department and to first look at identifying "barriers" - from the staff, physicians, patients that are in any way interfering with BF. We exposed the committee to what Baby Friendly means, what BF as the "Gold Standard" means - however we plan to move very slowly. We want every department to be "on board" - Sometimes I think we scare staff when we say "baby friendly" - I am hopeful that as we work on one obstacle at a time in each department, and continue to educate the staff we will make changes. Each year we hold a program open to the community where we invite a panel of parents/celebrities/physicians etc. to speak about breastfeeding. This year one of the committee members suggested that in addition to holding that program, we devote an entire day all over the hospital focusing on breastfeeding. I am really hopeful this time that we will continue, especially with a new director who is presently nursing her own 1st baby. I know the key is going to be more education for the staff, but on a level they are comfortable with - from their peers. As we can get one more nurse here and there fired up about BF, it is making a difference. One of the most vocal nurses at the meeting had recently attended one of Paula Meier's programs for the NICU - that has really opened her eyes, and now it is not just the LC talking about BF! Management has to be involved - as we continue to define our goals, I hope to include the physicians and administrators. Hope this helps - I will also be waiting to see any other suggestions and comments to your request. Evelyn Landry, RN, IBCLC, RLC Lafayette General Medical Center Lafayette, Louisiana <[log in to unmask]> *********************************************** 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(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html