Here to growl about my family doctor.
At my last visit, I noticed once again that the walls of the doc's waiting room and exam rooms are covered with posters and ads for formula, along with the usual posters for healthy diet and such. There was not a single item relating to breastfeeding. After my checkup, I asked about having BF materials placed in the office. Doc replied that of course BF was recommended, and said that, if I wanted to donate some BF posters or leaflets, she would make them available. I was hoping she would obtain some herself, but okay. I ordered some lovely posters from INFACT and had them laminated. I ordered a couple hundred or so pamphlets from INFACT and some others from LaLeche League. I bundled them together and brought them to the office. The receptionist thanked me and said she was sure the doctor would appreciate them.
A month later, my DD has an appointment with the same doc for a well-baby check for her four month old, and asks me to go along. There are some new formula posters on the wall, but no sign of the items I had brought in.
In the exam room, baby was weighed and checked, and in the course of a five to ten minute visit DD was asked five times if she had concerns about lack of milk and wanted to switch to formula. She was told twice that breast milk starts to "dry up" after four months or so and babies start to lose weight at that point. The doc commented that with formula you can see how much the baby is getting, but the problem with breast milk is you can never be sure the baby is getting enough. (Incidentally, my grandchild is in the 95th percentile for weight and looks like a sumo wrestler.) Doc concluded the visit by recommending that DD bring baby back in a few weeks to make sure she is adequately nourished and does not need supplementation. DD declined.
Well, that explains why the nursing posters are not in evidence!
I went to the receptionist on the way out, and asked if I could have my BF materials back. I thought they may as well go where they will be used. She said if the doctor had not thrown them out, she will look for them and get back to me.
Just wanted to share the joy.
At my last visit, I noticed once again that the walls of the doc's waiting room and exam rooms are covered with posters and ads for formula, along with the usual posters for healthy diet and such. There was not a single item relating to breastfeeding. After my checkup, I asked about having BF materials placed in the office. Doc replied that of course BF was recommended, and said that, if I wanted to donate some BF posters or leaflets, she would make them available. I was hoping she would obtain some herself, but okay. I ordered some lovely posters from INFACT and had them laminated. I ordered a couple hundred or so pamphlets from INFACT and some others from LaLeche League. I bundled them together and brought them to the office. The receptionist thanked me and said she was sure the doctor would appreciate them.
A month later, my DD has an appointment with the same doc for a well-baby check for her four month old, and asks me to go along. There are some new formula posters on the wall, but no sign of the items I had brought in.
In the exam room, baby was weighed and checked, and in the course of a five to ten minute visit DD was asked five times if she had concerns about lack of milk and wanted to switch to formula. She was told twice that breast milk starts to "dry up" after four months or so and babies start to lose weight at that point. The doc commented that with formula you can see how much the baby is getting, but the problem with breast milk is you can never be sure the baby is getting enough. (Incidentally, my grandchild is in the 95th percentile for weight and looks like a sumo wrestler.) Doc concluded the visit by recommending that DD bring baby back in a few weeks to make sure she is adequately nourished and does not need supplementation. DD declined.
Well, that explains why the nursing posters are not in evidence!
I went to the receptionist on the way out, and asked if I could have my BF materials back. I thought they may as well go where they will be used. She said if the doctor had not thrown them out, she will look for them and get back to me.
Just wanted to share the joy.
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