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Subject:
From:
Nikki Lee <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 26 May 2002 09:45:41 EDT
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Dear Friends:
     Jeanette describes a situation where a mother is basically being blown
off by her obstetrician, when an evaluation (and ultrasound) are indicated
for insufficient milk supply and too much bleeding.
     What about switching doctors? And complaining to the local medical
society? This seems like malpractice to me, where a mother is having a
problem and the physician doesn't even have the courtesy to return a phone
call.
     I would like to rant for a minute. In the past 5 years, I have
encountered an increasing incidence of neglectful or poor care on the part of
physicians once the baby has been born. The latest was a mother of a 3-week
old baby who called her OB describing symptoms of depression. The physician
immediately prescibed Prozac. No visit, no evaluation and no checking her
history. This mother called me as the medical liaison for our local nursing
mothers' groups, to ask about Prozac and breastfeeding. In the course of our
conversation, she revealed that she did have a history of thyroid problems.
At the end of our conversation she was going to call her MD back and request
a physical examination, including a thyroid check and a check for anemia.
     I don't know what it is: are the docs are too busy, too poorly trained,
too under pressure to perform for the HMOs? What is going on? Mothers can't
even get a weight check at some pediatric practices without scheduling an
appointment and paying some money.
      As a woman concerned about any mother that calls me with a problem, I
have no compunction about saying to a mother, "What you are telling me has me
concerned. I recommend you get medical follow-up. If your practitioner won't
do that, then go somewhere else because what you are describing doesn't sound
right." I have said this to mothers who are still having bright red lochia at
2 weeks postpartum; that is not normal. So what if it isn't "1 pad an hour".
The mother can still be anemic, can still get an infection, and may not have
enough milk.....so check it out!
     Off the soapbox now. Thanks for listening.
     Warmly,

Nikki Lee RN, MSN, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CIMI, CCE, craniosacral therapy
Adjunct faculty, Union Institute and University, Maternal and Child Health:
Lactation Consulting
Supporting the WHO Code and the Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative

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