Well, I thought I would update you on my consult with the mom who was breastfeeding a baby that was conceived through a rape for here in MOMAIL land. This was such a great experience! Mom was very guarded about her body, but since I was there for basic breastfeeding instruction and reassurrance, breast assessment was not necessary. Mom was wonderful! I was so amazed by her attachment and comittment to her baby it was breath taking! I was prepared for a mom who would be passive and a little baby shy; boy was I wrong! She was very well educated (by her sister and reading she had done) about breastfeeding and the info was very accurrate which is rare to see in this area. Baby did her job with breastfeeding like she had done it three trillion times before. Mom keeps baby with her constantly and can't wait to get home to be alone with her. She nurses on demand which at this time is about every 1 1/2 hour. Both mom and baby are comforted by breastfeeding. It was just great to see! About the issue of hospitals discharging patients with breastpumps: I am in favor of at least offering this service to moms and I don't really care who pays for it. In the case of this patient, money is a factor (she doesn't even have a phone) as it is with most women in this area. This mom would have never been able to buy the breastpump she got (Spring Express) on her own. She did know enough to ask if the hospital would be able to provide her with one and now she has a good pump to use as she sees fit. I think that pumps on discharge, at least in this area with this population, keep moms breastfeeding just a little longer and keep them from buying those "junk or disposable" breastpumps that we all know rip them up and don't work well. I think each hospital must decide based on its community how to handle this issue. If this was a community with a higher average income and better opportunity for breastfeeding education and support I may think differently about it. Every mom that I have worked with in a hospital setting is instructed on the use of that pump before I hand it over to her. I think that this is a vital responsibility included in giving out such equipment that should not be excluded from patient education. I will add that not every mother who is breastfeeding gets a breastpump, some prefer to keep breastfeeding "natural" and that is just fine with me, I then teach hand expression as a "just incase you need to" thing. I think ever mother should learn this just incase but not every mother is interested or comfortable with this method of expression. It can be hard for some to master. Back to work, Melissa Brancho