[Miss 1928]

I just found out from Ela's Pediatrician that here in Italy it is illegal for doctors to pass out free samples of artificial milk to mammas of babies less than 4 months old!!!

He said that if samples are passed out then it doesn't encourage breastfeeding. (duh!) Then he said; --I love this-- He wants all his mammas to breastfeed because then children are healthier and he works less!

--There are some things you gotta love about the socialist system.

He was very surprised to find out that in The States fake milk samples are sent home with mammas of newborns.

---Sorry, this gets long now. I didn't mean for it to. Really.

---

This whole experience made me so happy because I just had a really unpleasant disucssion with Ela's daycare teacher, "Etta". She was concerned about Ela's poop being diarrhea and I explained that because she'd been sick with the stomach flu she hadn't eaten much but had nursed a lot more than usual, and so the poop was more like newborn breastmilk poop, but no longer diarrhea. Etta said; "Maybe you need to stop breastfeeding because, obviously if her poop is not normal then that is bad for the baby."

I could not believe my ears!!! AAarrrrrrggghhhh!!! What ignorance! I then tried to explain as calmly as I could (when actually my blood was boiling and I wanted to throttle the woman) that there is nothing better for my baby than my milk and I had absolutely no intention of stopping anytime soon. But, unfortuately Etta was unwilling to be convinced, she said she knew about breastmilk poop because she breastfed 'til her son was 8 months (

). She said she still wanted me to have Ela checked by the Ped. because she only had Ela's best intrest in mind. --Making it sound as if she thinks that I dont! Grrrr! So that is why I went to Ela's Ped this morning right after leaving Ela at daycare. After I recounted what Etta said to the Ped., he just laughed at her ignorance and commended me for still breastfeeding my 21 month old.

: I love Ela's Ped!

The whole experience at daycare this morning was very frustrating because Etta is actually really good with Ela, and Ela's favorite teacher there.

So, here is this morning's tally:

• One strike aginst extended breastfeeding by daycare teacher

• One strike for encouraging breastfeeding in infancy
  :

• One strike for extended breastfeeding by Pediatrician
  :

 

[SwanMom]

Interesting! My in-laws are Italian (live near Milan), so I'm interested in all things Italian. I like the fact that the doctor does not sound driven by work. Maybe he has a life outside of being a doctor? I guess if doctors didn't have to worry about paying loans back, they could enjoy life a little more.

Hopefully everything heals over at daycare and the teacher comes away from the experience more informed than ever. Nursing toddlers while they're sick is one of the benefits of extended nursing, after all!

 

[RomanGoddess]

Great that they don't give free samples to moms of newborns. We're in Rome and every mom I have met breastfed for the first four months or so. By four months, they all stopped though. Their pediatricians tell them that their baby is not gaining enough weight.

I guess it is not surprising that the breastfeeding rate here is almost 100% at birth and goes down to 20% by 4 months.

 

[RomanGoddess]

By the way, Miss 1928, if you are in central Rome, I would love to know who your pediatrician is and his position on delayed vaccinations. I have to find someone for number 2 arriving in May.

 

[pear-shaped]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RomanGoddess Great that they don't give free samples to moms of newborns. We're in Rome and everyone mom I have met breastfed for at least the first four months or so. By four months, they all stopped though. Their pediatricians tell them that their baby is not gaining enough weight. I guess it is not surprise that the breastfeeding rate here is almost 100% at birth and goes down to 20% by 4 months.

I've noticed the same thing about weaning early here in Campania. It's such a shame because so many do start out breastfeeding.

Anyway, I love my daughter's ped's attitude toward breastfeeding too: "As much mother's milk as you can give for as long as you can." She says it at the end of every visit.