This is unethical, and may be illegal.  It is certainly not in the  best 
interests of the babies. I would suggest your hospital seek legal  counsel and 
that mothers be encouraged to challenge this "rule".
 
Nancy
Nancy E. Wight MD, IBCLC, FABM,  FAAP
Neonatologist
Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and  Newborns
Medical Director, Sharp HealthCare Lactation Services
San Diego,  CA 
[log in to unmask]  

 
In a message dated 7/13/2010 9:01:33 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

AAP  recommendations in 2008 are for all mothers to receive HIV testing. 
However  some mothers decline. To those of you working in NICU's or in newborn 
 nurseries, do you withhold breastfeeding/breastmilk to babies until there 
is a  negative HIV status? Currently in our NICU if we do not have a 
negative HIV  status we do not allow babies to receive breastmilk from their 
mothers. Since  we do not provide donor milk babies are receiving formula. I'm 
looking to see  if this is a prevalent practice.  



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