<<How long until we start hearing doctors telling
moms that they need the Prolina formula because their babies are
breastmilk-protein intolerant?>>

Hey, in the community where I work I hear all the time (like several times a
day, on a busy WIC clinic day!) that "The doctor" (and it is always the
doctor, BTW - I've never heard this attributed to any other HCP) "said that
my baby is allergic to my breastmilk, so I should switch to formula." When I
talk with them about that concept (like how do you think the human race
would still be here if we were allergic to our mothers' milk? Do you ever
see other mammals that are allergic to their own mothers' milk? - This is
big dairy country here, so lots of folks know a lot about cows, which I
think actually really helps our BF rates.), often the moms can see how much
sense that idea makes. But when the words carry the authority of coming from
"the doctor" (or even more sacred "my baby's doctor"), it takes a skillful
touch to suggest that there might be other ways around "the problem" (which,
BTW, is usually not what you'd call a problem - most often seems to be young
new moms who don't really know what life with a baby can be like, & who
think that a "good" baby is one who sleeps through the night immediately on
return home from the hospital.)

Well, I didn't mean to work into a full-blown rant here, but I might get
there...What really makes me blow my top when I hear this is that I only
hear it from the most vulnerable women - women who are young, poorly
educated, not well-supported for breastfeeding, parenting, or anything else.
I know these docs who say this to these poor young girls, and I can no more
imagine them saying such a thing to one of our Cornell faculty or their own
colleagues' wives than I can sprout wings and fly to the moon! Now, if what
the doctor means is "Sometimes foods in your diet can cause your baby to
feel a little upset - let's look at how much dairy, caffeine, or whatever
you're taking in", why doesn't he (or she, but I've never heard it from a
she) say so?

Concievably, in some cases the doc could be thinking that this woman doesn't
look like a prime candidate for breastfeeding to him (teenaged, maybe has
some funny body piercings or tatoos, or less-than-excellent grammar, or
funny hair colors, or her fingernails are dirty and she smells of kerosene
and smoke, or whatever...)When he sees this unpromising soul before him, I
think the train of thought goes like this: poor-young-funky-looking mom -
maybe she does drugs or alcohol, certainly she smokes - shouldn't
breastfeed - unsafe for baby for her to even try - formula's easier (and she
can get it at WIC). To attribute the best of all possible motives, I'm sure
that the doctor is concerned for the baby's well-being, and in his mind
formula will just be simpler and more reliable; because, after all:
you know what's in it (well, we know what the formula company puts in it,
which doesn't necessarily translate to the concentration the baby gets it
at, and it certainly doesn't speak to the conditions of dubious water
supply, or to the storage conditions or what else has been in that bottle,
but he thinks he knows what's in it)
you can measure it (well, if you can read the instructions, and do the
calculations, and figure the fractions, and read the markings on the bottle,
and have a good enough grasp of time & temp.that the stuff hasn't been
sitting on the dashboard of the car in hot weather for long enough to spoil)
"other people can feed the baby" (that is, of course, if this poor soul has
anyone around who's responsible and concerned enough to be willing to do so,
although if she were surrounded by so many well-meaning caretakers would she
be in this "dangerous" situation at all? And is relieveing her of her
obligation to care for her baby really the most effective way to help her
develop the bond she'll need to help her turn into a good mother?)

Oh, please stop me, now I'm ranting for sure...

My point is, if these are the worries behind the doctor's telling her that
her baby is allergic to her breastmilk, EVEN IF all these concerns are legit
in a given situation, this is absolutely not the way to deal with the
concerns. An MD, or RN, or IBCLC, or social worker, or a nutritionist, or
any other HCP has an obligation to follow up if s/he is concerned for the
baby's welfare. We also have the obligation to share accurate and
appropriate info with our patients/clients, in terms they can understand.
And if a physician truly believes that the baby is allergic to its mom's
milk, we REALLY have a problem! But just because a woman doesn't present
herself like Martha Stewart in a nursing bra and Madeline Albright all
wrapped into one does not excuse saying such a goofy thing to a patient!

Now see what that article about the soy proteins made me do! And now my back
hurts from sitting at this damned computer too long - and it's all THEIR
fault, I just know it is!

Cathy Bargar