Hi to all;

I am  just now playing catch-up in my reading after a week in bed with
bronchitis and wanted to comment and ask a question on a couple of threads
that were going on a few days back.  The subject was "Human Milk Fortifier"
and " Kangaroo Care".

I currently work in a level 3 NICE, an RN and recently certified IBCLC.  Now
maybe my nursing back ground or the fact that I am still recovering from my
cold, colors my reading of these articles but I must ask the question - What
would happen without all our technology?  I firmly agree that sometimes
technology goes too far and it steps into areas that are sometimes best left
to mother nature.   Then again look at the fact that if mother nature was
allowed full decision of all infants birth and nutrition not only would I be
out of a job but many woman would not have the opportunity to provide their
milk or nurse because many of these infants would not be here to take
advantage of it.  Our hospital is one of several across the USA,currently
participating in a double blind study in regards to HMF.  I have seen the
enormous benefits to extremely pretem infants, some weighting less than one
pound  and being 22-24 weeks gestation.  I remember that 20 years ago MCT
oil and Polycose power were commonly used and that was a new area of
nutrition along with modular formulas and that very few mom's provided EBM
for their infants even with support and encouragement.  I believe that there
must be a balance in the care that is given to special need infants.
Although research may  provide warnings to an item like HMF should we not
also look at the benefits?  Ask the mother of a 24 week gestational infant
on their day of discharge if she objected to the use of HMF?

I also have used or encouraged  Kangaroo Care to be used, but I must admit
I can not picture (nor would it be allowed in our unit) a micronate on a
ventilator participating.  Some infants are just too unstable even off the
vent.  I would suspect the guidelines for KC varies from hospital to
hospital so this may or may not be the case in other hospitals.  I agree
there is great benefit to KC both to mom and infant but again there must be
balance to all aspects of care.

We as breastfeeding supporters must look, listen and continue to learn all
we can to support our mothers and their infants.  But I feel it is just as
important to look at the whole picture and not just one small part of it.

Thanks for letting me be an active part of this discussion.

Ann Slaughter

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