Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

...thank you so much for the call last week. You sent me into a tailspin worrying that my daughter was malnourished. She was born at 6lbs 3 oz, gained 8 ounces in the NICU through a combination of IV fluids, formula and then finally breast milk when I was able to pump and attempt feeding from the breast. Once we got home, it was a true test of my strength and Abigail's desire to eat that got her into a true rhythm and now 95% of the time, she is on the boob - YEAH KUDOS TO ME.

So when you called me and asked her weight afterher first peds visit and I told you she gained another 2 ounces in 5 days as she made the transition from breast milk in the bottle to the boob, you said "well she should be gaining more weight - 4 to 6 ounces in a week." So I am thinking, "Gee, my well-trained pediatrician did not take issue with her weight, so get off my case soldier!" It hadn't even been a week. The visiting nurse came two days later and VOILA 2 more ounces - she met the requirement.

But no, you had to take it ONE step further and say "You better get her to the pediatrician's office for a weight check. Shoot, I am no medical professional, but Abby's cheeks look like someone stuck her with a needle and pumped her clear with air - the kid is gaining weight!!! Lo and behold, she is now 7 pounds and 6 ounces after her unnecessary weight check.

So there ya go milk lady... thats 9 ounces in 9 days from her peds visit. Now can you leave me alone, give my kid a break and let me love her without worry? For G-d's sake, we don't starve our kids in my family!

Kisses,
Leslie

PS - BTW, your idea of breastfeeding solely from the breast for a year will NEVER work for me until and unless you quit your job and take my place with my employer as DH and have YET to win MegaMillions

Re: Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

LOL!!! She's the Breast Milk General!

Seriously, I'm so happy to hear Abby is gaining so beautifully.

Re: Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

Seriously, I want to take her cheeks and have them for lunch. Poor kid gets attacked with kisses.

Re: Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

While I take full credit and responsibility for stopping breast feeding, I believe my LC made me so nuts about DS not gaining enough weight that I finally gave up after 5 weeks. I was a lunatic about his weight.


Hang in there

Re: Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

Some of these people really cannot think outside their boxes. Not every method applys or can apply to every child. I appreciate their expertise but you cannot give the same schpiel to every parent.

Re: Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

Leslie, I'm sure you're doing a great job. Do not let some whacko send you running for the peds office when in your gut you know better.

Message edited 9/17/2008 11:53:38 AM.

Re: Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

Yeah, they're very "passionate" about this I gave birth in Beth Israel where they're ALL like that! Even the nurses! So finally the nurse's assistant told me "Go ahead honey, give him some formula, its ok, this can cost me my job, but its OK to give them both breast milk AND formula...it helps in preventing from them from going under the light (uv for jaundice) and in general is good to supplement." I will never forget this...she made me feel so much better after all those maniacs would not even offer me some formula!

Re: Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

oh those lacatiation consultants they get on my nerves. In the hospital I had the LC in my room for 1 hour and I wanted to toss her out the window. She was practically forcing his head on my boob and he was clearly uncomfortable which of course was making me uncomfortable and fustrated. I finally told the lady ok enough I'll just give him formula. But oh no she comes up with this other idea to try and trick my son. She gets the formula and puts this skinny tube from the formula and tapes it to me leading to my breast. It was suppose to trick him into latching on. My little guy is a genius and realized she was trying to trick him so he would only take from the tube.

They are quite passionate about their jobs and sometimes they need to understand mother does know best

Re: Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

Do not take future calls from her. You have plenty of medical professionals to consult with and I am sure you can find a different LC if the need arises.

Re: Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

OMG I am having deja vu! This was seriously the first few months of my DD's life and I was so clueless I believed everything and I honestly believe the stress they caused me led to all the troubles I had breastfeeding.

Good for your for knowing your baby is thriving

Re: Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

Thanks ladies. Even the docs thought they were nuts.

Re: Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

Some of the LCs are nuts! Why don't they understand that different options will work for different children and families?! Luckily I had a good one in the hospital that was open to all sorts of options. We know our children best and will do what is best for them.

Re: Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

Who do these women think they are???? I swear these consultants and nurses feel they know better than the own parent!!!!

At she didn't sneak your DD bottles in the nursery. After I distinctly told our nurse under NO circumstances she should that my DH caught her in the act. Then she got angry at US when we confronted her by telling me I was staving my baby by only giving her colustrum. Ummmm.... I don't think so moron!

Re: Dear Overly Militant Hospital Lactation Consultant...

I had a crazy lactation women at the hospital too. She made the entire experience just awful for me. When my Mom came to visit she would take her aside and tell her what I should and should not be doing

Then she got my phone number and called me at home several times when I never even gave her my number.

I told my OB and he filed a complaint about her for me with the hospital.