Those suggestions are great for working with parents of *any* baby with
any medical problem.  Just substitute DS, Heart Defect, etc for CF.

Becky Saenz, MD
Assistant Professor
University of MS Medical Center
Department of Family Medicine
[log in to unmask]


> She suggested the following as ways an LC can support a mother of a baby
> w/cf:
> --recognize stages of maternal grief
> --clarify nutritional goals
> --run interference w/ other members of the health care team who may
> discourage bf   (mothers are unwilling to antagonize HCPs b/c they view
> them as their baby's   lifeline)
> --share written materials; put in touch w/other mothers with children
> w/cf
> --test weigh as indicated; supplementation with donor human milk or
> manufactured      baby milk; bottom limit of weight gain; once HCPs see
> how much the baby is taking,
>    HCP support for bf often rises
> --reflect issues unrelated to cf:  growth spurts, night waking, sheltered
> feeding     sessions, etc:  normal bf management
> --encourage self-care for the mom:  her focus is (understandably) on the
> baby
> --recognize financial constraints/insurance issues
> --refer to "baby with cf" rather than "cf baby"  (he is a baby first, not
> a disease);
>   NEVER call them cystics <shudder>
> --listen.....listen.....listen
>
> Karen Zeretzke, MEd, IBCLC
> Baton Rouge, Louisiana
> [log in to unmask]
>