I agree with Cindi regarding the liability issues of "letting" a patient
use a used breastpump and refusing to feed that milk to her baby.  The
risk of using infant formula is much greater than the risks implied with
using a "used" breastpump.  Once again, we have to remember who the baby
belongs to.  We're here to give parents the information they need to
make decisions and then support those decisions.

Patti Gardner, CNM, IBCLC
Cheyenne, WY

Date:    Thu, 20 May 2004 13:07:19 -0600
From:    "Cynthia Swisher, RN, IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: breastpumps in the NICU

<<regarding the use of breast pumps brought in from outside the
hospital:
When
I worked at a hospital as an IBCLC, we encouraged the use of our own
hospital
grade pumps or a rental pump.  Pumps such as the Pump In Style could
only be
used if they had not been used by anyone else.  One mother  of a NICU
baby
had
purchased a pump and allowed someone else to use it, and we told her
we
could
not use milk for her baby from that pump, because of the liability
issue.
I'm not even sure that we would have used it if the mom had used it for
a
different child.>>

What liability issue are you talking about?  I would be very upset with
a
hospital which refused to use my milk and required that I rent a pump
or buy
a brand new one.  Especially if that hospital sold or rented pumps!!

If we are talking about liability, how much more liability would the
hospital have if they gave my (hypothetical) baby formula (which has
known,
documented risks) and my baby subsequently developed NEC or even a
simple
allergy -- when I had milk available that they *refused* to use because
of a
theoretical risk.  Maybe we should be discussing *relative risk*.  If
a
mother is given the correct info about risks, we should let her make
that
decision.

just my 2 cents.

Regards,

Cindi Swisher, RN, IBCLC
Colorado Springs, CO



Patti Gardner, CNM, MSN, IBCLC
Lactation Consultant
Maternal Child Services
United Medical Center
214 E. 23rd St.
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Email: [log in to unmask]
Phone: 307-633-7896
Fax: 307-633-7887

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
disguised as impossible situations."


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