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Date: | Wed, 23 Apr 1997 00:21:19 +0800 |
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I thought I ought to share about a mother's determination. I saw a mother
from Mainland China who came to the breastfeeding clinic with a month old
scrawny looking baby. The paediatrician was wondering about admitting this
baby who weighed less than the birth weight at one month. After observing
her feeding the baby it was obvious she wrapped the baby in too many layers
and her baby was nipple feeding. She said she had to give the baby one
bottle of formula a day to stop him crying. I replied to her that the baby
had been saved by that bottle as he was not getting enough from her because
of the poor latching and the distance of the baby's body from hers. I showed
her how to latch the baby on and explained that her supply would increase as
her breasts were being emptied properly by the baby. She was advised to
breastfeed 3 hourly and top up with formula using a cup for a week and then
to decrease the amount of formula when she felt the increase in her milk
supply. She was not very convinced that she would have enough milk, so I
showed her how to express and explained about the smaller quantity because
of the then poor emptying by the baby.
When she returned after the X'mas New Year break of three weeks, we couldn't
believe that we're seeing the same baby. He had a double chin and chunks of
thick folds in his thighs. He put on nearly 1 kg in that time and fully
breastfeeding. Then the mother announced that she was going back to work in
China and would be commuting from HK everyday but the baby would be cared by
her mother-in-law. I was waiting for her to say she'd be needing advice on
weaning.
But wait, instead she said her mother-in-law who is a doctor in China had
arranged three "wet nurses" for her to choose one! The wet nurse would
lodged at her in-laws and paid HK$500.00/month for the service(cheaper than
formula!). Food must be consumed by the wet nurse as provided to ensure
good quality milk.
She said she only wanted breastmilk for her baby even if she had to pay
someone to help her out during the week. She was going to express everyday
and take her EBM to her in-laws on her way in to work. She would breastfeed
at the weekends. I was overwhelmed by her detailed planning in order to
maintain her baby on human milk. A very rewarding experience in helping this
young and enthusiastic mother.
Chee Yuet-Oi, MEd.St,BAppSc,RN,RM,Fam.Plan.Cert.,FRCNA,IBCLC
Project Co-ordinator,BFHI HK Assoc.
Tel & Fax: (852) 2603 6137
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