Jaye, 

 

I would be skeptical too.  Bag Balm in the green can contains
8-Hydroxyquinoline Sulphate, petroleum jelly, and lanolin.  It is produced
for animal use, so the standards for use in humans are not the same.  I have
questions like - is the lanolin purified? could it still contain pesticides?
What does 8-Hydroxyquinoline sulphate do in the human body when absorbed
through mucous membranes?  Is this an evidence based practice here?

 

My concern with this product is contamination with harmful
chemicals/substances that should not be applied to this area.  If this were
my baby, I would be asking if they feel this is safe for the rectal
fissures, would they feel it was safe to use for some problem sublingually
(on the other end of the GI tract)?  I doubt they would agree to that
application.  Couldn't they use something more natural with less chance of
being contaminated?  Seems like there would be evidence based
recommendations in the NICU.  

 

Caroline H Boudreau, RN, IBCLC, RLC

Lafayette, LA

 

 

Date:    Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:56:52 -0700

From:    "Jaye Simpson, IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>

Subject: Bag balm in the NICU??

 

Hi All, 

 

You gotta tell me if I am nuts or they are.  I just talked to a mom with a
baby (born 7-5 at 34.5 wks gest) in NICU - he has anal fissures.  He has had
streaking of blood in his stools as a result of the fissures.  He is ONLY
breastmilk fed - sometimes at breast, sometimes on bottle.  To help the
fissures the NICU is putting Bag Balm (yes, Bag Balm in the square green tin
can - the stuff they use on cow udders.) on his bottom.  I was FLOORED.   

 

Am I nuts in thinking this is totally inappropriate or not?  Bag Balm is for
cow udders.not premie baby rectums.  I told mom that I was surprised and
that I did not agree with such use and why.  I also told her I would ask my
colleagues to make sure I am not out of line. 

 

Thoughts?

 

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM

 

Breastfeeding Network

 

Sacramento, CA

 

www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

 

 


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