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Subject:
From:
"Denise Stuart, RN,BSN,IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 5 Sep 1998 16:19:46 EDT
Content-Type:
text/plain
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text/plain (27 lines)
I am looking for community standards here.  A couple of weeks ago we had an
open adoption and it was mutually agreed that the adoptive mother would
breastfeed.  She had been preparing for a few weeks when she first found out
she was chosen. Because it is 48 hours before the birthmother can sign the
papers (she had that long to make her final decision to relinquish), the
hospital policy (which I never did see in writing) is that the adoptive mother
can not breastfeed until then.  Of course the baby was born in the evening on
a Wednesday which means that 48 hours would be Friday evening.  Of course they
could not go to court after hours so that delayed the whole process to Monday.
With that long, the adoptive parents met alot of staff all with differing
opinions spoken with nonverbal language if not with verbal and by Monday the
adoptive mother had stopped pumping until they could go home.
The birthmother had already signed papers before the birth but they were not
standing because she hadn't seen the baby yet and she offered to sign after
the birth but they would not be standing because of her pain meds. What's up
with that??
What we did was to let the adoptive parents finger feed the baby formula and
encouraged her to pump.  She did not get any breastmilk that I saw when she
pumped but the directions to the staff were to save whatever she might express
and she could take that home with her.  I was real careful to shut the curtain
and door when I left her and the baby.  "See no evil, speak no evil"!!
I realize and agree that we need to support the birthmother in this situation
and I also believe we need to be supportive of the adoptive parents.  I did
not feel torn in any way because I truly felt this is what both parties want.
I would appreciate any legal information (Liz?)  and also what other hospitals
do in these situations especially in Washington State.  TIA

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