Birth drugs and practices DO affect the baby. However, often the mother (1)
didn't know, (2) needed the intervention anyway, or (3) the baby has a
problem despite every thing "going right." The research is only now
surfacing that will tease out the specific risks of drugs and procedures,
the specific nature of the consequences, and specific strategies to minimize
the impact of any compromises to the mother and baby on long-term outcomes.

 

Part of our professional role is to share research on these practices with
providers and parents. To withhold information on potential risks is
unethical and violates the principle of informed decision-making. Providers
have a responsibility to "first, do no harm." 

 

So, yes - sometimes even the best-laid plans go awry. Some babies are
compromised because of an odd intra-uterine lie that may not have been
preventable. Some mothers take or are given narcotic pain-relief drugs via
IM, IV or epidural route for their own reasons, even if they are informed of
the potential risks to the baby. And some births don't go the way everyone
hopes and plans. That being said, providers still have a legal and ethical
responsibility to obtain informed consent from the mother regarding risks of
drugs and procedures. 

 

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC

Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre Ltd

6540 Cedarview Ct, Dayton OH 45459

937-438-9458 / fax 937-438-3229

www.BFLRC.com  

-----Original Message-----
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