Sharon says,


> .  Today I received a call from a teary mom of 6 weeks
> that was asking to wean...due to her frustration with breastfeeding.  After
> being treated for mastitis her OB prescribed diflucan...but her Ped refused
> to approve her nursing the infant while on it.  Her Ped is of the same
>

I sighed with great frustration as I read Sharon's post.  Where is the mother
in all this?  Why does she have to have the ped's "permission" to nurse her
baby?  After all, it is HER baby.  The drug has been approved for use in
breastfeeding mothers -- we have the literature to back it up.  I mean we
aren't talking about something questionable here....of course, I'd like to
know why the OB prescribed diflucan for a mom w/ mastitis -- but that's not
the point.  The point is, "Who's baby IS this?"

The problem is, most mothers are really intimidated by their physicians, and
take to heart any and everything they say.  It's hard for these moms to be
empowered and to stand up to them and say "no."  How do we as lactation
consultants get the info to the physician -- the one who wields the power --
to say no, you are incorrect in your information -- in time for them to
backpedal, save face, and tell the mom she can breastfeed?  Which all goes
back to -- why does she need permission anyway?

Along the same lines, I just had a mother call who has a dreadful cough.
Apparently she gets these occasionally -- and when she does, they last for 5
weeks.  Her internist told her he would not prescribe anything for her until
she weaned the baby.  So, she was reading in Sears' book this morning about
how to wean, when she noticed he said something about it being OK to take
meds and continue to nurse in most cases.  So she had a ray of hope -- and
called me.  I told her yes, it was OK to take cough medicine and continue to
breastfeed -- yes, even codeine.  What did physicians think mothers who were
breastfeeding after a C/Section were using for pain?

Part of the problem is, we can give people all the literature in the world,
but if they don't "believe" it (as in, "I don't really believe breastfeeding
is all that good" or, better yet, "I don't allow MY patients to breastfeed
while on xyz") it won't change them.

Suggestions?

Jan B. in Wheaton

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