Nikki took the words out of my mouth when she wrote:  "Mothers who are
lactating can  have concomitant medical or surgical conditions that have
NOTHING to do with breastfeeding. "Weakened all her body tissues" indeed!!
Some healthcare professionals will ascribe any medical or surgical
condition to lactation. This makes  me furious."

For two weeks I have been supporting a mother who is in ICU following a
motor vehicle accident.  (Pneumothorax, fractured pelvis and arm).  Her baby
is now four weeks old.  Initially the doctors and nurses were quite sure
that the best and easiest solution would be to stop breastfeeding!  The
mother did not want to do this so - to cut a long a story short -  mother
has been breastfeeding  3 or 4 times per day and pumping 3 hourly.  Baby,
husband and grandmother are welcome in the ICU.  The staff have come to
respect the breastfeeding relationship and have been very helpful and
supportive.

She had surgery to her pelvis on Saturday and now the anaesthetist says she
must stop breastfeeding because her serum protein is low and will delay the
healing process and her wound will become septic!  I have spoken to a
dietician at the university and she has agreed that continuing to breastfeed
is not an issue here!  The mother can be given albumen etc and in time her
protein will increase.  The decision of course is the mother's, but the
anaesthetist's word will carry more weight.  Sigh - I will have to see what
she has decided tomorrow.

Jean Ridler  RN  RM  IBCLC
Cape Town  [log in to unmask]





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