Just as I was getting my head above water again after taking a brief
holiday from lactation and its frustrations and just as I thought that the
family doctors were pretty good in our hospital I got an angry phone call
from a family Doctor.

She prefaced her call by saying "this is a very is a very angry doctor
calling"
(I held my breath until I realized it was a GP I had begged in the morning
for an order to do a Microbili for jaundice)
She stated that I had caused her well baby to get ill because she came to
see me in the clinic. If she had just followed her instructions to give
extra H2O between feeds she would have been fine. This is why she never
refers anyone to my clinic. The only way they come is if somehow I am asked
by staff or patients themselves, to see them while they are still in
hospital. And of course to add to this she had to say that I and all
breastfeeding support people are fanatics. The reason she called was that
the baby's Jaundice level was 338 and baby needed to be admitted and go
under lights.

I took another deep breath when she asked to speak to the patient who was
breastfeeding at the time. First she insisted that I still get her on the
phone  but I asked if she would speak to the patient's husband she finally
conceded.

After expelling the air, I actually went out to speak to the Pediatrician
who was on call and who the baby was referred to. He fulling supported all
my actions and asked what her problem was. He soon realized what was
happening when he also got an earful from her about what I had done.

After she left he asked me, in front of the parents what we should do next
with this feeding problem and if pumping was appropriate? I had already
started her on that. He was great but than he suggested that I should have
it out with these GPs.

I would like to respond in a very positive way and only by stating that I
only teach and support my breastfeeding patients by research based
guidelines and that I follow the recommendation of WHO, AAP and the
Canadian Pediatric Association. Would I be accurate in supposing that the
AAP and the Canadian Pediatric Association, when they recommend
breastfeeding for the first 4 to 6 months before adding solids and also
recommend it for the first year that they reccommend exclusive
breastfeeding as suggested by Labbok etc.

The reason I ask this is that this family Doctor is of East Indian
background and she states that in her old country they never had
breastfeeding problems. However although many East Indian ladies in this
country breastfeed for awhile the rates are not very high and often
breastfeeding is used only as comfort and many babies get lots and lots of
formula. They all generally give formula until the milk comes in.

Ironically, I had just had 2 East Indian ladies in the clinic (self
referrals) with major breastfeeding difficulties, not getting babies to
latch or know supply, ask me why many Indian mothers aren't able to really
breastfeed very long like in the old country. I had to explain why. They
really appreciated my response I think.

I will be preparing a package and will be including in it this years
Breastfeeding week info from Infact about the cost of not breastfeeding.
Any other suggestions? I don't want to overwhelm them but heh!

I really thanked God that it was friday after I got through with my day.
The couple who's baby had to be readmitted were really great!

Attie Sandink RN. IBCLC.