This mother's statement that she "doesn't want her milk to kill her baby"
suggests she's currently in an emotional state that is likely to make
hearing and using information on thrush and prematurity very difficult. I
suspect she would benefit from the chance to talk *a lot* about how she is
feeling before she can take in new information.
While I wrote these words in regard to babies born with congenital
disorders (Good Mojab 2002), they are equally relevant to the vulnerable
premature baby and his/her mother:
"Having a child diagnosed with a life-threatening or fatal disorder is a
profoundly frightening experience....The mother who has reason to fear for
her child's life may feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility and
struggle between trying to create normalcy for her child and maintaining a
necessary protective vigilance. This is something quite different from
being 'overprotective' or 'overconcerned,' which are judgmental labels that
run the risk of discounting a mother's knowledge of her particular child
and life situation, as well as discounting differing cultural values."
"Fear and anxiety are common reactions....These emotions alert us that
protective action is needed....Unexpressed fear and anxiety can interfere
with a mother's ability to absorb new information and make decisions. When
a mother appears worried, the LC should give her the opportunity to express
her concerns before attempting to provide detailed information or compare
options."
"Breastfeeding and human milk are essential for normal human development
and health. Their deprivation poses serious risks during infancy and
throughout life. When cultural and/or medical obstacles to breastfeeding
arise in the complex contexts of congenital disorders, however, these risks
may not be fully appreciated. It may seem to health care providers--as well
as to parents, other family members, and friends--that breastfeeding, the
provision of the mother's expressed milk, or the use of banked donor milk
is overwhelmingly difficult, impossible, or contraindicated. To protect
breastfeeding in such challenging situations, the LC may need to provide
information to parents and health care providers regarding the specific
importance of human milk to a baby with a particular congenital disorder."
Good Mojab, C. Congenital disorders in the Nursling. Unit 5. Lactation
Consultant Series II. Schaumburg, IL: La Leche League International, 2002.
Best wishes to this mother and her baby,
Cynthia
Cynthia Good Mojab, MS Clinical Psychology
Ammawell; Research Associate, Publications Department, LLLI
Email: [log in to unmask]; Web site: http://home.attbi.com/~ammawell
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