Just checked my answering machine to find a message from one of the bfeeding
moms I had counseled  on the phone. Her 10 day old baby was rushed back to
the hospital for surgery and will be in the ICU for at least 1 week.

This was a real mess---when I talked to mom 3 days post-partum, she reported
a delivery involving multiple attempts at vacuum extraction followed by
foreceps delivery. Baby was bruised, lethargic and jaundiced, not feeding
well , nonetheless discharged home with bili-blanket.  Bili-blanket was
discontinued day 3 or 4, and baby was to be seen for the regular(in the US) 2
week follow-up by the Pediatrician.

Mom described a sleepy baby who did not open mouth wide for latching, despite
numerous attempts  and techniques.  wets and poops were marginally
acceptable.  Mom, of course, c/o sore nipples. Suggestions for improving
positioning and latch did not result in improved feeding.

By the end of day 4 I recommended that mom see an IBCLC. Mom made an
appointment for day 6. I spoke with her briefly on day 8, and she indicated
that  things were marginally better, and we were to speak in more depth on
day 9.

Well, that must have been when the you-know-what hit the fan, because I
called her several times on day 9 and 10, and got no answer.

Mom's message tonight said that baby had a bleed in the brain, probably
2ndary to the trauma of delivery.

But what in the world is going on with our health-care system that a baby
with this many red flags is sent home with a safety net consisting of a
visiting nurse to draw blood for 2 days, and a telephone counselor?

Normal, healthy babies nurse like normal, healthy babies. Babies who nurse
poorly are having other problems, and some of them, sadly, are very serious.

I'm just feeling sad, and frustrated, and my heart goes out to this mom and
her baby.

Any feedback as to what I could have done differently?  Bear in mind that my
"scope of practice" limits me to telephone contact only---anything needing
hand-on or eyes-on intervention gets referred.

Karen Kavesh
Breastfeeding counselor, Speech-Language Pathologist, mom of 2

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