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Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
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Thu, 6 Oct 2005 14:17:07 -0400
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<<  It is terribly sad that I will graduate with a class of nurses where I
am the only one out of 40 who put a baby to the breast, and there are 35
parents in the class.

I completely agree that it is terribly sad, but truly it should be moot in
their provision of evidence-based, whole-person nursing care! >>

Ahh, but Karen, what about the nurse who tells the mother, "I didn't
breastfeed my children and they turned out fine!" I had one at a birth a few
weeks ago, and a different nurse who told my client, this summer, that she
preferred mother have an epidural, because the mother "isn't such a bother."
When I asked about the difficulties many mothers find with breastfeeding
after labor meds, she said she hadn't had a baby, yet, and didn't really see
any point to breastfeeding. I had the opportunity to present a b/f
information session to a group of residents in a local teaching hospital,
and one doc squirmed the whole time. When the head doc finally confronted
him, he said he wouldn't recommend b/f, because his wife wasn't able to b/f.
We have the same situation with the head of the only ob practice in town.

<<And, let's talk Plans of Care?? I can now understand why that nurse would
want a flow chart! But, the LLLL side of me says we need to look at the
baby, who is unpredictable, and make our decisions accordingly.>

These two concepts are NOT mutually exclusive. The discipline of Nursing is
founded on the concepts of looking at the WHOLE person and response to
illness or condition that affects all aspects of health (physical, mental,
spiritual). One does not have to lose a person's wholeness to the chart or
the chart to consider wholeness. >>

I agree, Karen. However, I can imagine it would be easier to document
exactly how many ounces a baby took, or something that was specific. And
it's from watching nurses like you that us new or student nurses learn how
to manage breastfeeding in an industry that wants numbers!

<<I'm proud of my RN (35 years and holding) and my LLLL (30 years and
holding). That many RNs forget or ignore or never fully "get" the basic
concepts of a beautiful discipline is also terribly sad for themselves as
well as their clients.>>

Breastfeeding is so personal. It's not like an appendectomy or transfusion:
there is no substitute. Unfortunately, our culture has insisted that
breastmilk is easily replaced. It's not easy being the only voice in the
wilderness, and I applaud the people who stand up for the baby.

Best wishes from still sunny Ohio!
Heather "Sam" Doak

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