Well I guess we will all at some time be lucky enough to feel the sting of LC
abuse from a Dr. and today was my turn.  I feel bruised, abused and p---d
off!  So naturally I turned to a few understanding friends.
Had a mom today that I've worked with in the past with her 8 month old in the
hospital for prolonged diarrhea, wt loss and rehydration.  Baby has been
mainly nursing at night. The Dr. had mom stop breastfeeding and the baby was
given Alimentum.  Baby improves.  Mom states Dr. wants her to wait a week or
two to rest the bowel.  She is pumping.  The baby was also previously on soy
ABM.  I told mom that this is not an uncommon thing and that the bowel needs
to rest.  I suggested that one thing she might do to help when baby can go
back to breast is to eliminate dairy from her diet.  Mom talked to Dr.  he
essentially said I was wacky and that this was not an issue with this baby.
 I saw him today and he was just short of furious at me.  Went on about my
giving mixed messages to his client who I had no business talking to and he
had consulted with top gastroenterologists on this baby and the child was
lactose intolerent, breast milk has twice as much lactose as cows milk and
eliminating dairy was crazy.  THEN, he got mad.....Should I go on, I'm sure
you've heard this before...WE (LC, breast feeding specialists)  make all the
moms feel guilty, show me the studies that say breast fed babies really are
healthier, when a mom asks for a bottle you should just give her a bottle,
 all the studies are biased.... some pediatriticians are even more fanatic
then you, I wish I could be as sure about this as you are but I really don't
believe breastfed babies are that much better off....but I do believe breast
is best. " Well this went on and on as I listened and tried to get a word in
here and there.  People who came by just backed off...said they thought I
handled it all pretty well.  One good thing he did say ...show me some good
studies.  I have given him a few in the past...One on immunizations and
breastfeeding. He thought the references were contradictory.

So, what do you think about the mom who's baby had diarrhea am I off on this?


I know this guy, he's fresh out of a big Texas center (pediatrics), blows off
the handle easily.  He doesn't seem to listen much.  We're having a
conference here next month.  Dr. Nancy Wight will be speaking all day.  He
said he plans to go.  Maybe he'll listen to her. I'll be VERY interseted in
his response.

I've got articles up the gazoo and I'm searching.  What would you give this
guy.

Personally I know what he needs....a baby to breastfeed for about a year.

THERE!!! that felt much better
thankyou.

Next on soap box/whipping post........
I think we need to make sure people know when they get into this job be
prepared for occasional abuse.

Linda Rosetti RN, IBCLC
Clarkston, Wa.