I keeping with our rather sad but all too familiar thread about BAD advice
from Doctors about nursing older children, I thought i would share a call i
got on Saturday,2/3. Mom called and asked me if I thought it was OK that
she was still nursing her 15 month old daughter. I began my usual talk
about all of the benefits of nursing during the second year of life and I
hadn't said much before the mom started crying. Mom went on to tell me that
she had been to her Family Practice Doctor a few days  ago and had been
prescribed an antibiotic for a strep throat infection. When she mentioned
that she was nursing her 15 month old and would need a compatible
antibiotic, not only did this Dr. give her some of the same nonsense that
we've heard from others about Breastmilk not having any nutritional value
past 6 months, but she also told her that she should wean soon or else
someone could take LEGAL ACTION against her! This Mom was genuinely fearful
that her child could be taken from her solely because she was
breastfeeding! Even with all I've experienced in several years of
counseling and all that I've read on Lactnet, this still just totally blew
my mind. Needless to say she is quickly changing Doctors, and I am helping
her to collect some  well referenced articles that she could include with a
short letter to this dangerously ignorant Doctor, telling of her decision
to leave her office.
Feeling like we're fighting an uphill battle!
Clara R. Marchese,IBCLC,LLLL

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