thank you mandy for giving the midirs references on hypoglycaemia, these
are useful to read alongside the WHO review of hypoglycaemia.

 If you would like to read women's experiences of the devastating effects
that hypoglycaemia testing can have on healthy term babies read
Hypoglycemia: a cause for concern, New Generation Digest September 1996,
p2-9. 

This project started when, alarmed by the number of women suddenly phoning
me with horrific
stories, I wrote in local newsletters asking for these experiences to be
put in writing. This was then written up by the NCT (I was part of the
research and information group then) and led to
Hypoglycaemia of the Newborn: Guidelines for the appropriate blood glucose
screening and treatment of breastfed and bottle fed babies in the United
Kingdom.  We had a joint meeting 
with many organisations whose members care for newborn babies and was
hosted and supported
by the Dept of Health. The success of these guidelines were largely due to
Tony Williams for
applying his findings from the WHO review.
 
We were encouraged by messages from midwives saying that changing practice
in this area was easier for us as lay people to do. Some of the midwives
knew the frequent blood sugar testing with accompaning formula feeds was
wrong but to protest might risk their jobs.

It seems to have helped, at least locally, very few women have similar
experiences now.

Phyll Buchanan
breastfeeding supporter
the breastfeeding network, nr Reading UK


From:    Mandy O'Reilly RN Rm <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Hypoglycemia and breastfeeding

In response to the request for references regarding hypoglycemia and
breastfeeding: Midrs Midwifery digest June, 1996 Vol 6, no 2 page 220 to
222
and also in Midrs December 1996 6:2 page 382 -386. These articles are a
good
starting point and have additional references.

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