CDC Breastfeeding Report!
Here’s where my next series is comin’ from:
Breastfeeding-Related Maternity Practices at Hospitals and Birth Centers — United States, 2007(thanks Lori!) and I wish I could say more, but I have family visiting and we’re off to bike on the beach…lots of comics on the way (though I’m planning my baby’s 4th birthday party so I’m pretty busy!)
xox,
Heather
wiffersnapper said,
June 26, 2008 @ 3:56 pm
I’ll admit- I had to chuckle at the “breastfeeding support bag” I was given at the hospital! First of all, it had a tag on the outside advertising Similac. Then, it was full of coupons for, and samples of, formula! The only thing in it that was even related to breastfeeding was a pair of nursing pads. And this was at a hospital that actively supports breastfeeding- they even had posters up on the walls about how good breastfeeding is. (And a lactation consultant came to visit me twice after I came home to see how things were going, which was cool.)
Here’s an interesting point- the hospital that did all this was a small-ish hospital. When I had my first baby at the BIG hospital’s “birth center”, they did none of these things. In fact, a nurse in that hospital told me that she knew nothing about breastfeeding and couldn’t help me! My advice- if you’re going to go to a hospital and have a choice, take the little one!
Julinda said,
June 27, 2008 @ 4:47 am
What struck me about the CDC report is that the data was self-reported by the hospitals. The truth might be even worse!
Wiffersnapper - I had my kids at a small hospital and the support wasn’t great there either!
morganmcf said,
June 27, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
I had my oldest at a huge hospital and it was exactly as described in the comic — the “lactation consultant” actually brought a bottle of formula to the room when I asked for help.
janaki said,
June 28, 2008 @ 11:45 am
Yup, that was my hospital! Advertised as being JUST LIKE HOME! Yeah, and I had a birth plan too, telling them exactly what I wanted! A NATURAL birth! Pitocin… epidural… electronic fetal monitoring… soo homey! *DONK* Could’a had a home birth!
I actually did email you about my birth one time, and how to convince my hubby I wanted a home birth next time. Well, I think he’s convinced now! Because I just put my foot down and told him there’s no way I’m stepping outside of my house when I’m in labor! Plus midwife homebirths are covered by insurance in Florida (I lived in OH at the time, I think the only legal midwives there are CNMs, DEs are illegal). Here in FL, LMs are just as legal as CNMs.
Hathor said,
June 29, 2008 @ 6:27 am
Hi Janaki, I’m so glad for you!!!!!!! yay!!!!!! My second baby was born in Florida, midwife attended homebirth paid for by medicaid. Brilliant! absolutely brilliant! I wish my midwife Karen was still attending births, I’d make her drive to you, but she quit because of liability insurance, a sad state of affairs. She says now that there’s only 50 midwives left in the state. which is spine tingling. I think I should do a comic huh?I can’t wait to read your birth story!
xox,
Heather