Ok - I need some words of wisdom here and fast before I tear someone apart.

 

Mom - 2nd baby - homebirth - went well - no problems.  Baby is fine.  BUT -
nursing hurts.  Day 2 mom has little sores on tips of nipples.   Midwives
watch and say - hang in there - nurse through it - it will get better.  Day
4 mom has a small lump in left breast - it is red and sore, scabs on both
nipples - mom not feeling well.  Latch on pain is becoming excruciating on
left breast.  Midwives say keep nursing through it - it will get better -
use these homeopathics.  Day 7 Mom in agony, breast bright flaming red, red
streaks on breast, nipple has pus oozing, entire face of nipple is looking
like hamburger (moms description), baby screams on that breast (will only
nurse on right side).  Midwives say (and watch as mom cries while trying to
nurse) nurse through it - we've never had a mom go on antibiotics for
Mastitis - keep using these homeopathics.  Mom called Dr. anyway and got
antibiotic - did not see Dr. in person.  Midwives told mom that they tell
all moms to hang in there and nurse through the pain.

 

I see her today - day 9.  Breast looks like hell.  Nipple still infected -
entire areola is bright red, inflamed - at least 3-4 inches around areolar
complex is still bright red - streaks not as noticeable - nipple is the
worst I have ever seen (except mine from 12 yrs ago).  I said NO WAY to
putting baby on that breast.  Milk supply in that breast is 100% compromised
at this point in time - no milk but drops with pumping (not even sure it is
milk that nipple looks so bad - might be pus) mom is ILL.  

 

Mom says breast actually looks better after 48 hours on Antibiotics.  If it
looks better then I can only imagine what it looked like 48 hours ago!  I
have her using Polysporin and wound care protocols, soaking with Epsom
salts, breast shells to keep air on nipples, pumping, etc.  I also said -
Call the Dr. now!  Dr got her right in - gave her shot of antibiotics.  Said
keep and eye on it.  

 

I want to scream!!!  OK - I already vented loudly to my back-up LC - poor
thing.she's a great listener and she had some fabulous ideas on how to
handle this and suggested I get some other ideas as well.  So - what would
the best way be to handle this?  I am so beyond angry with these two people.
I know them - they know me - they know I am here to help - I have worked
with them before.  They have been told repeatedly by another BF supporter
(former LLL) they work with when to refer out and TO refer out - that they
are NOT IBCLC's and that it is OK to not know all about BF.  

 

So thoughts?  Their negligence put mother and baby at risk - their
negligence caused a situation to happen that was unnecessary and the
possibility of mom developing an abscess is strong.  Do I write them a
letter?  Do I talk to them (after calming down for a few weeks so I can get
the ticked off, "how could you?" tone out of my voice)?  How do you nicely
tell people who should know better, and clearly don't, that they blew it big
time?  Do I go to the midwives group here in my area and talk to the head
for input?  These two have already had issues within their community as it
is.

 

AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!  Well, Robin - I tried to not bang my head against a wall
- but it didn't work today.

 

Jaye - pissed off beyond belief and in shock that anyone could sit there and
watch a mom trying to breastfeed in agony on a breast with raging mastitis
and a severely traumatized & infected nipple, baby screaming at the affected
breast and telling her nurse through it!!!  How inhumane can one be????

 

 

 

 

 

 


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