Hi all

I'm sure this has been discussed before.  I just needed a moment to clear my
thoughts.  Had to suck my teeth after getting this latest gem from one of my
pediatrician partners at the local Community Health Center.

I am currently caring for a 5 week old with group B Strep sepsis (late
onset).  He big question to me was, "Was the Child being breastfed?"  Based
upon a sample size of one case in his pediatric training he felt it was
important that infants with group B Strep sepsis not be breast fed as breast
milk was a significant source of Group B strep (per his experience).
Needless to say he is not a breastfeeding ally, takes kids off of breastmilk
all the time for "allergy," failure to thrive.  In this practice there is
another partner who tells mothers of jaundiced infants less than 5 days old
to "stop breastfeeding as it is the cause of the jaundice."  Last week I had
a "conversation" with one of the triage personnel who stated that she didn't
believe in breastfeeding because all of her bottlefed children were healthier
(less infections) than her nieces and nephews who were breastfed.   She even
told her sister to stop breastfeeding for that reason

These days, I am doing very limited clinical work (8 hours a week at the
community health center, precepting family practice residents two half days a
month).  The bulk of my time is being spent as the County California
Children's Services Medical Consultant (program for children with chronic
medical problems, special needs).  I need life for a while without night and
weekend call (I'm a single mom of a 2 1/2 year old).

Sometimes I feel there is SO much to do to encourage my physician colleagues
to update their breastfeeding knowledge.  Just felt like I went 6 steps
backward today to make 1/2 step forward.

Arrgh!  Just needed to vent.

Mimi Poinsett, MD, FAAP
Modesto CA

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