Phyllis asks, in response to my post about the "olden" days:
<<Do we know what their experience was with jaundice and hypoglycemia and
weight loss at that time?>>
No, we really don't. Prior to the advent of bililights (circa late 60's),
no one worried too much about jaundice that wasn't caused by Rh
incompatibility. The only method of treating it was sunlight and exchange transfusion. My
sister, born in 1957 (ABO incompatibility) was sent home nicknamed "Little
Buttercup." She's the most intelligent of the four of us. I did my OB
rotation in 1966, and I don't remember concerns about weight loss, jaundice, or
hypoglycemia that didn't result in symptoms. If there were symptoms, the baby
was treated. If not, he wasn't. And of course, we didn't have instant adult
glucometers then, so it meant a lab draw.....And they were treated with
glucose water, not formula at that point in time.
Of course, not very many women were breastfeeding, so that may have been
part of the lack of concern. Just stuff the babies with a bit more formula.
But the ones that were nursing weren't always topped off.
Just seems to me that people didn't get nearly as concerned about those
"diseases" back then.
Good? Bad? I don't know.
I for one am certainly glad for the advent of RhoGam -- being Rh negative
with an Rh positive husband and three Rh positive children. But I refused,
with Timothy, to get a RhoGam injection at 28 weeks of pregnancy (which they
were doing 21 years ago, but not 27 years ago) just because it was the new thing
to do. If I had been kicked in the abdomen or fallen down the stairs or had
some bleeding that might have indicated a need, I would have done it. I see
the same thing with doing so many glucometers -- we have the technology, so
we use it -- thus creating more of a need, and more of an incidence of
hypoglycemia that probably isn't.
And are we treating jaundice too quickly? There is no denying kernicterus
is a problem -- but you didn't used to be able to diagnose it until the baby
was dead -- yellow staining of the brain tissue -- but now -- ???
OTOH, women didn't leave the hospital for at least 4 to 7 days back then.
Perhaps we were more able to monitor babies and see if there were problems
before they were sent home.
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(") Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC
_Lactation Education Consultants_
(http://www.lactationeducationconsultants.com/)
_My Mother of the Bride Blog_ (http://www.motherofbridebyjan.blogspot.com/)
_Torrey's Wedding Webpage_
(http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/view/co_main.aspx?coupleid=3216252686617334)
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