Karleen sends us a story of a mom in Pennsylvania who refused a
c-section and left the hospital, whereupon the hospital obtained a court
order for one saying the baby's life was in jeopardy if she proceeded
with a vaginal delivery.  She also says that something like this is
plausible with regard to breastfeeding.  I think it happens all the
time, only a court order isn't even needed!  Every time a mother is told
to wean her baby or some dire thing will happen, the same pressure is
applied.  Either the mother does it because she believes what she is
told, or not if she knows better.  Either way, the medical staff have
made a decision and basically, commandeered the mother's right to make
it based on informed consent.  Even worse, mothers of  NICU babies have
been told by the pediatrician that their milk can't be used because of
some med she is on or condition she has. That mother has no choice (at
least in her mind) because, in the hospital and especially in that type
of situation, the doctor has all the power.  The decision that doctor
makes is sometimes a dangerous one for the baby, but the mother often
has little knowledge or power to fight it.  This, unfortunately, happens
every day.  Some mothers fight it (and are labeled "troublemakers" for
it) and some do not because they don't know any better or don't want to
rock the boat.  It is coercion and should not happen!

Marsha, in cold Indiana

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Marsha Glass RN, BSN, IBCLC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of future
generations as all other earthly causes combined.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~John S. C. Abbot~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html