I hear things every day that make me curious about why the medical community
at large is so lacking in understanding of the female body and the normal
breastfed infant. Usually it is something I can understand---research is
there, but old ways die hard or it is more 'mothering' related than feeding
related. I consider those issues to be a difference of opinion and moms can choose
to take the advice or not. Two time this week I have had statements reported
to me that were beyond the usual misunderstanding of current research. One
doctor told a mom that by 4 weeks her baby's stool should be formed, not soft
and of course, when said baby was 5 weeks old and still having those lovely
breastmilk stools, mom is concerned something is seriously wrong with her
baby. I told her to go to a local support group and share poop stories.
Another mom was told to wean immediately to lactose free formula because her 2 week
old baby was stooling while nursing! Weight gain fabulous, happy healthy
wonderful baby. Just there for the 2 week check up and mom asked about normal
poop patterns and doctor informed her baby was allergic to her milk because
it stooled with feedings and it was yellow and seedy. Yep. That's right.
Normal breastfed stool is now a concern for infant health. Apologies to the
IBLCE, but I did not concur and let the mothers assume their babies were in
dire danger from being breastfed and they should indeed wean to formula so they
could stool less often and with more firmness! Sheeze.
This level of a lack of knowledge frightens me. I gave them both numbers
for several pediatricians in our area who are breastfeeding supportive and
knowledgeable too. The reality is that there are many in my area who always
give the right information, who support and protect breastfeeding, who are
really just the kind of doctor we all want for a breastfed baby. When I hear
their names, I know that whatever they told the mom is right and working with the
mom and within the doctor's orders is always easy. Why are some so
knowledgeable and some so clueless? This gap in knowledge is proof that regardless of
degrees, regardless of education levels, regardless of method or standard of
education there is zero guarantee to the level of knowledge attained. So,
while we all argue about the best way to become an LC, or how to standardize
our education and make the methods of entry to the field more universal,
please remember that education does not always equal knowledge. Also, if we see
within the doctor community such a wide range of knowledge, why do we expect
to see any different in our field? Of course there will be those LCs who are
up to date and practice with skill and those that passed the test, have the
letters and are clueless. I don't think this can be fixed for LCs any more
than it can be fixed for other health care professionals. No profession is
perfect.
I have to wonder why those who practice medicine that is about infant health
don't know what a normal stool looks like. It seems to me that somewhere in
their training and education this would have been learned. I am also
concerned for the number of breastfeeding mommas weaning their babies because
normal stool is being diagnosed as a problem to fix. If I agreed with the doctor,
this baby would be on formula! I serve only my clients and no one else. No
S.o.P., should put the people we serve at risk while we be careful to not
contradict.
Take care,
Pam MazzellaDiBosco, IBCLC, RLC
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