Hi, I'm posting my response here because several of you wonderful ladies
have responded already. Thank you! Many of your concerns are shared, so I
figured I would reply here.
I know of her through another breastfeeding community (comprised of parents
only - as I am a breastfeeding mother as well). I do not have all the facts,
all I have is her side of the story. That being said, I told her that I
could not and would not vouch for her, that all I would do is see if I could
find a reference to someone who could at least consult with her in person.
She understands and appreciates even that much assistance.
She has shared that she has given her child formula and solids in an effort
to comply with the health visitor. She has also shared that she does not
trust the medical establishment. She is afraid she is going to lose her
children (she has two older children), and she seems to feel that no matter
what she says or does to comply that she's going to lose them.
I have remained largely silent other than to encourage her to work with the
medical establishment. I am worried about her and her baby, though again,
all I know is her side of the story.
> >She is worried that without someone "qualified", that she will have no
> >chance against SS, her health visitor, doctors, etc. She feels that
> >the only people on her side are her psychiatrist, and her midwife.
> >Neither of whom, she has been told, are considered "qualified" in the
> >matter of breastmilk.
>
>
> This makes me concerned, Liz. Does she have mental health issues? Why
> is she still in touch with a midwife? This is virtually unknown in
> the UK - midwives have no duty of care beyond 6 weeks, and very few
> are in touch with mothers *at all* after 10 days post partum.
I don' t know why her midwife is still involved other than that she may have
tried to get lactation information from her.
There is more to this than meets the eye. Health visitors, generally,
> are not well-trained in breastfeeding support, but they can spot
> genuine failure to thrive, and I would not discount the HV's
> judgement in this case at all. This baby may well need more than
> breastmilk at this point, and a mother insisting on withholding
> solids at 10 months with no apparent clinical reason for doing so may
> need professional help, as may her baby.
I agree that there very well may be more to this than meets the eye, which
is why I specifically told her that I would not/could not vouch for her,
only that I would try to help her find someone (qualified in her opinion
would be an IBCLC) that could at least consult with her to find out more
about what is going on and whether or not her concerns were valid. And from
an outsiders point of view, I would very much be concerned about the
daughter - and have stated as much to the mother. They have reportedly taken
blood, but the mother did not share the results of the blood tests, other
than that the baby is anemic.
While the mother has said that she does not believe that her daughter needs
solids and formula, she has said that she's complying with the health
visitor by giving her daughter formula and attempting solids. She also
shared that she feels the interventions are not helping her daughter, and
perhaps are harming her daughter.
Someone asked where she had her milk tested. I don't know. She told us that
she had to send it away.
Lastly, I do have to apologize. I posted this last night when I was tired,
and did not go back through her writings to get all of the details.
Thank you,
Liz
--
Imagination is intelligence having fun...
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