As the originator of this current discussion about routine suctioning, "blue
bulb" aspiration,etc (which is getting a little hot, if you ask me!), I feel
like I have to jump in here again. I gotta say, Andrew, that your recent
string of posts on this matter seems to be striking a kind of condescending
note, starting with the "psychobabble" comment (was that you? If not, please
accept my apologies) and continuing through recent allusions to graveyards
full of dead babies.
My understanding is that this list is for fellow professionals concerned
with the well-being of babies and moms; I'm willing to bet that there isn't
a one of us out here who would endorse anything less than the absolute
"best" (i.e. high-tech) medical care available to modern medicine, in those
cases where it's necessary to save life and health of the babies we care
for. Are those of us expressing concern about some of the unneccessarily
intrusive procedures we've seen, and describing the sequelae that we've
noted in our professional work, saying that babies should be left to die in
their aspirated mec rather than be traumatized by necessary suction? I don't
think so!! Give us a break here! You know, I know, we all know that there
can be a wide spectrum of how, when, and by whom any of these potentially
intrusive/traumatic procedures can be carried out, that there are "good
ways" and "bad ways" to use any technology or intervention. We all are
well-served by hearing about others' experiences. I know that I'm not saying
"you should never suction a baby", and I don't think you're saying
"suctioning couldn't possibly cause breastfeeding problems" - at least, I
sure hope that's not what you're saying, because there are a whole lot of us
here telling you that we have seen it cause major problems and worked hard
to help overcome those problems (not always successfully, I have to admit).
Yup, a live formula-feeding baby is better than a dead would-be breastfed
one any day! No argument!
I learn a huge amount form the experience and knowledge of others on this
list; when one of you who has more knowledge than I do about a subject
speaks, I listen and learn. I wouldn't learn very much if I just dismissed
the professional experience of my colleagues; this is especially true of
those with different experience, training, backgrounds than my own. When a
ped describes her experience in a NICU or ER, or a doula talks about women
she works with after birth at home, or a LLLL shares from her 20+ years of
seeing all kinds of moms and babies, and when she shares her observations
and conclusions with us, it's of value to me. I might disagree with a
conclusion, or my experience with something may even be contradictory to
something described here, but it sure gives me a lot to think about.
Hopefully, my patients will benefit too! But I find it kind of off-putting
when "one of our own" dismisses someone's thoughful comment about oral
trauma as a form of rape as "psychobabble", and goes on to fling up the
spectre of cemeteries full of the dead babies of years gone by as a response
to a lively and informative discussion. Not intending to flame anyone here,
honest!
Just my (NSH) opinion!
Cathy Bargar
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