Bravo Maureen!! Continued pumping and donation is an option we shouldn't
forget about. A pamphlet we use talks about breast milk being white blood
and can benefit so many sick babies. For some moms this is what they need
to help go through their grieving process. Most don't know that it is an
option. It can be painful to talk about those first days after the delivery
but once milk production increases, it can't be ignored and they may give it
some thought. If it's a mom whose baby died at any time post partum, what a
wonderful gift to another mom/baby than her milk. Like organ donation.
Others wouldn't consider it. The important thing is that they know what
their options are and it isn't "weird" or morbid to consider such an idea.
It's a shame that people have to be so judgemental. It gets in the way of a
lot of things, closes a lot of doors and can be hurtful.
Laura Walker, RNC,IBCLC
----- Original Message -----
From: Maureen Allen <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 6:57 PM
Subject: Re: drying up milk meds
> Ann Marie, One of things you might mention in your talk is that the mother
> may wish to continue pumping. It has been my experience that mothers may
NOT
> want to stop. Recently, I cared for a mother who had lost her 24 week son
at
> about a week or so of age. Due to the fact that this was her fourth
child,
> and that, according to her, she makes a copious supply, each time she
> breastfeeds, she had been interested in milk donation. I had spoken to
her
> soon after she delivered, and we agreed to see how her supply was with a
> pump, since pumping may be different or her in regard to milk supply. She
> was readmitted to the floor with a postpartum infection, requiring heavy
duty
> antibiotics. She still was pumping and really was not ready to stop. She
> told me that one of the nurses told her, "Your baby is dead. You have to
> stop pumping." and another said, "I've had 18 and 20 weeks losses, too.
You
> need to accept that your baby is dead." (Don't worry, I took care of
those
> issues with the appropriate people, including the director of OB nursing.)
> These statements, of course, are absolutely awful. I am ashamed to work
at
> an institution where these people practice. I comforted the mother and
gave
> her the information she needs to donate and told her the milk bank will be
> THRILLED to get her milk, since it's perfect for 24 week babies--and that
> many babies could be fed with her milk and so on. I left several articles
> about bereavement and lactation, along with an email to the nurse manager
and
> those further up. This mom was readmitted with yet another fever to the
same
> floor, and so far, so good. The nurses have supported her wishes to keep
> pumping. She is well aware that her baby is dead--she held him as he died
> when support was withdrawn. She just wants to keep pumping so her baby's
> life has meaning and value. It is her wish to pump until she feels like
> stopping, whenever that might be. She's not the first mother who has
told
> me that--she won't be the last. My hope is that mothers who deliver where
I
> work will be supported, not judged.
> A little "educating" is a good thing.
> Maureen Allen
RN,
> BSN, IBCLC
> Lactation
> Consultant-NICU
> Brigham and
> Women's Hospital
> Boston, MA
>
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