I just got a call yesterday from a Public Health Nurse - she saw a mom
whose baby has a "raging case of thrush" who was diagnosed by phone - and
told to use Nystatin on the baby's mouth and stop breastfeeding "so you
don't give it back to him"...

The nurse wanted to know how to address this issue in an appropriate way so
that she supported the mom who wants to continue breastfeeding, but at the
same time didn't close the doors to communication with the MD, who often
gives her excellent referrals. 

It is a fine line we walk, as we don't have diagnosing or prescriptive
rights - we practiced what to say (I could hear her writing it,
word-for-word), HOW to say it, what information to offer by fax, etc....

Making sure MD's know that NOT breastfeeding is a RISK - and that helping a
mother THROUGH medical/breastfeeding problems so that breastfeeding can
continue should, in the most part, be the goal.

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
California

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