This is a great letter to help explain your wishes at a hospital. Remember that even in the hospital YOU HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL over what happens to your baby and you.

I personally would change a couple things if I were using this letter (like nursing the baby every 90 minutes, not every 1 1/2 to 3 hours). The website is for Dr. Jack Newman who is also a LLL advisor. He has some really good video clips of nursing babies, using breast compressions, and using an SNS.

This is a link with 101 reasons to breastfeed and some free clipart. (Some of the clipart that is included are ones for no pacifier and no bottle, like the traffic signs).

http://www.promom.org/101/index.html


Dear Nurse,

If I am a healthy full-term baby, please don't give me any water bottles, formula, or pacifiers.

I eat "on cue" or every 1 - 3 hours, whichever comes first, daytime and nighttime.

I may be allowed to sleep one 4 - 5 hour period at night if I have already had 8 feedings that day.

My mom allows bunching (frequent feedings) whenever I want.

My mom feeds me from both breasts at each feeding for as long as I want. If my latch-on and positioning are correct, my mom won't become sore.

My mom understands that I need to eat 8 - 12 times in 24 hours.

Please don't separate me from my mom for long periods of time unless it is medically necessary. I have been with my mom a long time and want to stay with her.



___________________________________________________ Mother's Signature

___________________________________________________ Baby's Name

A huge debate currently exists between supporters of sustainable, local agriculture, such as Slow Food International, and those that are working toward a sustainable source of fuel. Vandana Shiva, a Vice-President of Slow Food International, published an article titled 'Food, Forests, and Fuel,' outlining not only Slow Food's side of the biofuel debate, but also an update on proceedings dealing with the decentraliztion of food production and overall local sustainability.

You can read the article at:

http://sloweb.slowfood.com/sloweb/eng/dettaglio.lasso?cod=D4ABF2071df53222E5lILp591810

An example of Vandana Shiva's fight for de-centralized economy can be seen in Kentucky through such examples as the new construction of Interstate 69. The interstate is proposed to cut straight through the Ohio River Valley, from "Indianapolis to southern Texas. In fact, construction has begun on I-69 in northern Mississippi. This proposed extension would enter Kentucky near Henderson and leave the state near Murray and Fulton."

What better example of the destruction caused by food and fuel centralization than a highway that (through government support) steals away more family land and prospect of local economy, only to truck food grown thousands of miles away to a "local" Wal-Mart where one can shop for less?