I had an email from a mom today whose doctor stated that she may need to
wean her 15-month old prior to a procedure because a drug would be used
and he was "not sure if it was ok for a nursing mother to take." To the
MDs credit, he did admit that he was not sure if the medication was safe,
and when she said she'd contact her local La Leche League Leader, he was
supportive.
I looked it up in Hale, and it is listed as an L2. It is approved for use
in breastfeeding mothers by the AAP. It took me all of 2 minutes to gather
this information (while nursing a toddler and helping a preschooler get a
snack).
Breastfeeding is part of the normal reproductive cycle for women. A
physician who treats women of childbearing years will certainly encounter
nursing mothers, even the MD is not an OB/Gyn. How is it acceptable
practice for a physician to reccomed weaning when it carries significant
risks to the infant, not to mention discomfort and heartbreak for the
mother? Especially when Hale's book is easy to use, well-researched, and
costs just over $30 (U.S.)! I know that physician's take-home pay is lower
these days due to increasing overhead costs, etc., but come on! $30 is
less than a tank of gas.
I suppose this post is more of a rant than a question, but I am stunned at
not only the ignorance of some medical professionals, but also their
seemingly high level of COMFORT with said ignorance. When I was pregnant
with my second child, my OB knew little about tandem nursing. He took it
as an opportunity to educate himself. He advocated strongly for my son
after delivery after the L&D nurse stated that "We don't do that anymore"
when my toddler nursed while his new sister was getting cleaned up and
weighed (after her first nursing session, of course!). Before becoming an
LLLL, I assumed that most doctors were like that, and I am increasingly
saddened to find that I may have been mistaken.
What can we do to impress upon physicians the importance of taking a
minute or two to check something out before reccomending the drastic
action of weaning an infant or toddler? Most mothers would probably have
just followed the doctor's orders instead of digging deeper.
The mother mentioned at the start of my rant plans to bring the
information to her MD, as well as a listing from an online bookstore for
Medications and Mothers Milk.
--Kellie Whitney, LLLL
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