I was thinking about a recent post related to asking moms to relactate. Just
wanted to share that I have several times approached a mother of a sick
infant in nicu about expressing milk for her infant.
These are mothers who indicated on the chart that they were going to formula
feed. These mothers are simply asked in the delivery arena or immediately
after the birth, "Are you going to breast or bottle feed?"

The responses from the mothers have been predictably favorable towards
expressing for their infants. The first one I approached was a mother and
father whose infant was born w/ cleft lip and palate and was being
transferred to a level 3 hospital. Once I shared info about the better
outcomes expected w/ human milk and how mom would be helped and supported,
the family was eager to do it. They seemed happy pumping milk for the baby.

This week I approached a mom who had a term sick baby who was NPO (not being
orally fed yet). The baby was under oxygen and had severe resp. symptoms. I
asked her if anyone had given her information or offered to discuss the
option of expressing for her infant. We met later in her room and she shared
that she wanted to express for her infant (even before knowing he would be
sick) but was told by the WIC program that 'it was mandatory that she suckle
the infant for several days first.' She said this "deterred" her from
expressing becoz she did not want to directly bf. Of course I let her know
that I would help and support her to express even if she did not want to
directly bf. Four or five days later mom is pumping and sharing w/ me that
baby "turned around 200%" on her milk and if she can't get a decent pump
from WIC or afford one, then she "will just breastfeed him." I think I might
have a convert here.

Laurie Wheeler, IBCLC, MN, RN
New Orleans Louisiana, s.e. USA

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