Hello out there! Just needing others to be as astounded as I was when I
found the following in our e-mail to our entire unit (LDRP, PP, NICU,
over 200 employees), of course this person is talking about me:
<After reading two messages from our Lactation Director, I feel that
pressure placed on "bottle feeding" mothers is totally inappropriate. I
personally bottle fed two children (happily) and breastfed one child,
happily. We need to respect our patients choices and support them
equally, bottle or breastfed. We need to educate those on "proper
feeding" and the techniques that go with either one. Bottle: burping,
amounts fed, positioning, amount is 10cc per kg. Breast: as it has been
discussed in our classes. I am appalled that my patient today was
approached when asking for a baby blanket and was advised by the "
Lactation Director" that she should think about breast feeding and that
she was over feeding her baby. Her baby took under 30 cc and weighed
2735 gm. (appropriate per standards). Please, we need to respect
patients wishes because this puts unnecessary guilt on them... Thank
you.>
(BTW this same nurse had called me at home the night before to "chew me
out" about this. I couldn't get more than two words in as she was
screaming at how appalling I was to EVER approach a bottle feeding mom
about breastfeeding)
This was the scenario:
Mom comes to desk to ask for blankets as her baby has vomited, again. I
was the only one around and of course went to help her. On the way to
her room she stated her 1st baby had horrible problems with nearly all
formulas and cost her a fortune, I guess this baby is going to do the
same. I, gently, stated that I was the Lactation Consultant and had she
thought about breastfeeding? She said "no way". I told her I wasn't
there to instill guilt on her but that the baby would do better on her
milk and if she changed her mind I was there to help. I also noted OVER
30 cc of formula was taken from the bottle and suggested (since the baby
was almost 24hrs old) that she might try just 15cc at the next couple of
feeds. She stated "my Pediatrician said the same thing this AM, that
maybe I am overfeeding the baby, but the nurses insist this is what the
baby needs to take". (More likely an intolerance, I'm sure) End of
Scenario...
My Nurse Manager saw the email before me and called this LPN up at home
and "let her have it". Well, at least that was good.
Now I feel upset at not responding to her, in an educational manner.
NOT by unit email! Maybe an informative (private) letter with a *hint*
of the unprofessionalism she displayed? Any suggestions are welcomed.
Email me here or at [log in to unmask]
Thanks for listening, I feel calmer already!
Pam (Hendrix, RN, IBCLC, ICCE) in hot s. fla!
***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
