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Date: | Tue, 24 Feb 1998 18:32:31 -0800 |
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I taught this kind of class for a hospital I worked for a few years ago.
I knew I wanted to cover the basics, but I also wanted to incorporate
topics that would address the 'problems' I saw coming from that hospital.
One of those was medicated deliveries - mothers were routinely told that
the labor meds would not affect their baby (whether narcotic or
epidural). So I talked about ways we could avoid problems with bf, and
referred to studies about medicated deliveries.
I covered the basics that have been mentioned, as well as alternative
methods of feeding besides bottles if there were a problem getting a baby
latched on (cup feeding/finger feeding), the fact that it was not
necessary to wean with most routinely prescribed meds postnatally, etc.
I also made a point of sharing various resources to get information about
bf (I set up a table with various books, brochures, etc) and
opportunities in the area to upgrade breastfeeding skills, and community
resources they could refer mothers to (LLL & LC's, etc). These classes
were mandatory, and so we had some who zoned out, some who were eager to
learn and some who were openly hostile. The L&D staff were the most
antagonistic - they were very angry at the suggestion that labor meds had
negative affects.
Which reminds me of a question - have the recent 'studies' showing that
epidurals are 'safe' causing any body out there a hassle? I know if I
were at this same hospital that it would be flaunted in my face, even
tho, from what I understand (I haven't read the study just heard it
reported, and read abstracts) it dosen't specifically cover an epidurals
affect of breastfeeding.
Kathe Catone
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