Hello everyone,
I am an RN,IBCLC for many years. I have been advocating breastfeeding until
I got tired of the brick walls.. Over the last 6 months, I have rejunated and
refocused my direction and goals. Advocacy and change is my motivation once
again. I have an interesting situation that I would love some input.
The NICU in my areas has been moving toward the Paula Mier protocols for
breastmilk and premie babies.. we all know about that concept so I won't
detail it. Here is the situation. A wonderful nurse, breastfeeding advocate
and soon to be IBCLC, working and spear heading this change needs all the
moms to have a breastpump. Seems like a no brainer if the hospital is going
to this policy. The dilema, the dept renting the pumps is not willing to
provide pumps unless the moms pay full rental price. As we know, many NICU
babies are from families that cannot afford pumps, let alone rent, food, or
phone, but this is really irrelevant to this argument!! I pose this concern,
If the hospital buys formula, which costs money, how can the hospital refuse
to provide a pump, also costing money? In other words, is it ethical or
discriminatory for the hospital to spend money on formula and "give" it,"for
free", to a baby, but refuse to "give" a pump to a mom so she or they can
provide free food to the baby?
I know this can be expanded on, but my ethics, conscience, or whatever you
want to label it, say if a hospital buys something and gives it to a patient
like formula, then the hospital can "buy" (which means rent) a pump and give
it to the patient, like breastmilk!!! Give us ideas to present and argue!!!
I have to think that this has been argued before, i just can't be the first
to think of it!! This is discriminatory, there is no difference b/w buying
ABM from a company or renting a pump
from a company. Anyone know how much ABM a premie takes on average and what
it costs a hospital to buy it? COntinue on with the side effects of that
formula that adds to the babies stay!!! and so on, and so on, and so on.
I better stop because the more I write, the more I am getting upset. I
anxiously await the suggestions and debate!!!
Wendy Thomson, RN,BSN,IBCLC
<A HREF="http://www.naturalbeginningsinc.com/">NaturalBeginningsInc.com Breastfeeding Supplies, consultation and information</A>
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