Hi Friends,

I have been going over my calls for the month and reviewing them.  Have a
situation I would LOVE someone to educate me about.  This helping situation
is over but I would like to increase my knowledge.  I had posted an initial
question a couple of weeks ago and now am looking for further clarification.

Baby born, aspirated meconium, mom told baby too sick to go to breast.  Mom
is asked to pump so breastmilk can be given.  Mom was pumping every 3 hours
during the day with a hospital grade pump.  Mom calls me at 2.5 days after
birth and says in a panic.  "I am only getting 3-4 drops of yellowish stuff,
the staff told me that since I have FAILED at pumping that baby will receive
formula.  But they gave baby some yesterday and it just sat in stomach."
Mom was told that the 3-4 drops were "worthless" and it was NOT given to the
baby.

Okay, any of you need smelling salts after reading that?

So I would like to know what sick babies should receive?  I would like to
know what is the protocol is (in places that practice EVIDENCE BASED
MEDICINE-yes I am shouting) for sick babies whose mother wants to provide
breastmilk.

My main concern is that I know that the baby needed the colostrum, but in
particular cases of a really sick child with something like meconium
aspiration...did this baby NEED formula while we were waiting for the milk
to come in?  Since we know colostrum comes in teaspoons over a day, for a
really sick baby what is the protocol? I sincerely hope and my gut tells me
this is NOT a case where a child would need formula.

I am surprised at how frustrated I still am over this situation.  I hardly
had a chance to talk to mom about pumping strategies because she was
convinced she had failed to lactate and hence failed as a mother.  Which is
a whole 'nother story.

I would appreciate any thoughts so I can be better prepared next time I have
a mom calling with a sick baby that cannot go to the breast.

Confused and frustrated about this BUT is so energized and pumped up after
attending the Missouri Department of Health's Breastfeeding Strategic
Planning Training from Best Start, haven't been able to sleep since!  Looks
like Missourians might get motivated to breastfeed some babies.
Nikki Simmons LLLL
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