Following Joanne's thread on policies for Moms who return for surgery
and what to do with their babies, in the good old US of A, hospital
liability is the big issue. I don't believe our hospital has a formal
policy, but I know one or more family members are expected to be present
to care for the infant all the time. I think we have provided cribs
before and know we have provided pumps.

Regarding the C-section patients being "left alone" to care for their
babies, as Kristen added, that is considered acceptable because the
infant is still a patient until discharged from the hospital. Once
discharged, the infant becomes someone else's responsibility, not the
hospital's. And in fact, we encourage family members to remain with the
new Mom and baby anyway after a C-section to help in whatever way is
appropriate. That way the Mom who has undergone major surgery doesn't
have to worry about whether she'll have the strength to lift and carry
the baby; she can focus on feeding and loving her newborn. Likewise, she
doesn't have to worry about doing the entertaining of visitors, etc and
can let others handle those tasks. Shouldn't any surgical patient be
afforded that courtesy? As a recent surgical patient myself, I can tell
you, it's exhausting and taxing in the most physical way! A new Mom can
rest/recuperate more easily if she has help, and that includes help with
her baby, hopefully from her family and friends who will be her ongoing
support system when she leaves the hospital anyway.

Jean Macomber, RN, IBCLC
Jacksonville, Florida, USA

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