>     My question is when is a mother too sick to have her breasts pumped,
> even if it's only by the nurses?  Our hospital frequently makes the
> decision that "there is so much going on and this mom is so sick, etc.
> that breastfeeding just isn't a priority right now."  Their argument is
> that even the mere act of pumping will cause the mother additional
> stress that she doesn't need at this particular time.

What about the argument that *not* pumping a mother who wishes to breastfeed
will cause additional stress?

I do know of one case where a mother I was working with had brain tumor
surgery when her baby was 4-5 months old.  She made arrangements for her
breasts to be pumped by the ICU nurses and her husband while she was
recovering.  Not having her breasts pumped would have been detrimental to
her recovery as she was very upset over the possibility of not providing
breastmilk for her baby.

And what is it with all the brain tumors?  Not counting Kathy W., I
personally know 3 people (all LLL Leaders) who have had brain tumors removed
in the last 2-3 years.  If we follow some of the logic we have been seeing
lately, I guess we can then extrapolate that breastfeeding causes brain
tumors...(tongue firmly in cheek)

Kathy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kathy Koch, BSEd, IBCLC
Great Mills, MD
mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://www.bftopics.org

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