"My hospital has adopted a zero drug policy and if the mother tests 
postive for illegal drug use during the pregnancy or postpartum time we 
do not accept her milk for her baby or store her milk or encourage her 
to pump. She can pump at home and store her milk, but it is not fair to 
have nurse give a feeding that may possibly be questionable. We do not 
have the funds or staff to test the milk or to test the mother. Much 
easier to have a"zero tolerance" and once we speak with mothers they are
 fine with it. 

Laurie Beck"

~~~~~~~~~~~
What if the mother requested an additional blood test so she could give her baby her milk?  One bad blood test does not an addict make.  Many mothers will choose to stay sober to provide their milk for their babies when given the information and support for doing so.  And what if that positive drug test was 6 months prior, and she hasn't used since?  Her milk is still considered tainted?  It may not be fair for a nurse to give a feeding that may possibly be questionable, but it is also not fair to not use a mother's milk when the alternatives are pasteurized banked milk or formula.  What is the cost of drug testing the mother versus one case of NEC?  Life is not black and white; zero tolerance allows no grey area.  I don't mean to knock you or your hospital, but I do think the system needs a review.  

Julie Tardos
I have no idea why this is coming out in italics!  I can't make it stop!

 
~~~
Let's eat Grandma!
Let's eat, Grandma!
Commas save lives.

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