The mom of the baby who had to have cardiac surgery 10 weeks ago in
Pennsylvania called tonight. The surgery went well, Barbara Shocker did a
great job of supporting the family and helping them to pump and then nurse
there at the hospital. They are back home and doing well. The baby is gaining
slowly-an average of 2 oz a week ( remember she had cardica surgery and oral
feeds were delayed for over a week). Pediatrician told Mom she had to
supplement with ( he named a specific artificial milk) diluted 13 oz of
concentrate to 9 oz of water to get enough calories in the baby. He told mom
apparently her milk doesn't have enough calories in it, and besides " she has
breastfeed for 2 months now and the immunities have all been used up".  This
is at the Medical School clinic so this guy is teaching!! And yes, there was
a resident and a medical student with him and so they probably are believing
this garbage! The baby was referred to the Mental Health Center Social Worker
( don't know why-the social worker doesn't even know why! I have already
talked with her) so the mom is afraid that if she doesn't follow doctor's
orders, she will be referred to Social Services.
So tomorrow AM I have to try to get in touch with this MD and ask him to show
his references for these orders. Not really-- I will try to be nice but I am
supposed to go to Raleigh to pick up the wedding dress ( a 2 hr drive each
way) in the morning  and I don't want to have to be battling with some
ignorant doctor first thing in the morning! I have heard other stupid things
from this doctor so I am tired of it. But then I have to be nice because
don't want him to refer her for failing to follow his orders. I recommended
Fenugreek, extra pumping, nursing on one side at a time, and something I have
tried before which is having the mom put the pumped milk in the refrigerator
and when it gets cold, scoop off the fat on the top and let the baby lick it
off a spoon.
This mom is a Peer Counselor and has nursed 4 other children. By the way, the
baby has gained 2 inches in length at 10 weeks. I couldn't remember if that's
a lot but  it sounds like it to me but I had height challenged children who
never gained 2 inches at a time! Can some babies grow more in length then
weight? Are babies with cardiac problems who under go surgery slower gaining
usually? I have worked with only one other baby who had a heart condition
requiring immediate surgery and he gained slower then most babies but he did
better then most of the other babies at the cardiac clinic.

Barbara Whitehead, IBCLC
Eastern NC
( wedding is now one month away and the panic attack tally is me with 3 this
week,  Stacy none. She says she is mellowing this week and Absolutely nothing
is going to bother her from now on! Somehow that doesn't seem fair!)

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