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Subject:
From:
Natalie Wilson <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 9 Jun 2003 00:28:06 -0400
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I am sharing this story with permission from the mother who is going through this ordeal.  The mother is concerned about the social service record and the report that was filed.  She is afraid it may affect them somehow at a later date.

A Russian mother expressed her concern about a slow-gaining baby on a Russian parenting board.  Her baby was born at 37 weeks.  Birth weight 2900 gr, 2nd day weight 2660 gr.  Frequent feeds, plenty of wet diapers and enough dirty ones.  At 1-month check-up the baby was 3000 gr.  A doctor said the baby was very strong for his age.  Nevertheless,  formula was prescribed.  The mother wanted to continue breastfeeding and was very upset at this scenario.  She had attended LLL meetings when she was pregnant.  At this point I suggested the mother questions the reasons for supplementation as well as make inquiries into doctors qualifications for work with BF mothers.  I also mentioned contacting LLL, LC and offered some things that may improve weight gain.  

At this point we will go back to the time the baby was born.  The family was discharged on day 2.  It was around Easter, so the family was unable to make an appointment with their family doctor for a weight check.  However they visited a walk-in clinic to check baby's weight.  A doctor at the walk-in clinic said the weight-gain was fine and told the mother to check baby's weight at 1 month at the family doctor's office.  When the baby was three weeks a public health care nurse visited the baby at home.  The mother wondered if the baby was too thin, but the nurse assured her that it was "a healthy-looking baby".  The nurse observed bf and pronounced it to be fine.  The mother was relieved and calmed down.  At 1 month check up it was determined that the baby gained 330 gr.  The family doctor recommended formula supplementation and no bf counseling.  At this point the mother became very concerned and contacted the BF clinic of Dr. Newman as well as local LLL leader.  Both sources said not to supplement and hang in there till the appointment with Dr. Newman in a week.  But the mother was still worried, so they went to St. Joseph's pediatric walk-in clinic.  The baby was pronounced to be in a critical condition and was hospitalized for 48 hours.  They performed some tests, the results were fine.  The doctor who was taking care of the baby never spoke to the parents or never paid any attention to them when she came to weigh the baby.  The parents communicated with the nurses to find out the test results.  The baby was put on concentrated formula.  In 48 hours the family wanted to go home, so they called a nurse to be properly discharged.  They were willing to come every day for weight checks to the hospital.  However, the doctor decided to leave the baby in the hospital for another week with no explanation of any reason.  In the meantime an LC from the BF clinic evaluated the baby and diagnosed him with disorganized suck.  LC didn't see any reason to stay in the hospital, because it would only make sense to be referred to a BF clinic.  On day 3 everybody, including the doctor, gathered in the ward to discuss the situation.  The family was threatened to be reported to social serviced if they go against the doctor.  So mother and baby stayed in the hospital for a week.  The minute they got home, social workers were knocking on their door.  The hospital doctor reported them as "irresponsible parents".  On examining the house, the nursery and filling out tons of papers, the social workers said they saw no reason to visit the family any more, because what they saw didn't match what they were told by the hospital doctor.  The family was told (don't know by who) to weigh the baby at 4 different places every week.  The mother was also told to feed 600 grams of concentrated formula and freeze BM for later, because they (whoever they were) wanted to know how many calories the baby was getting.  

A few more details.  LC helped the mother learn to nurse with SNS as well as went through the usual routine in a case like this.  The discharge form from the hospital says "breastfeeding failure" (it sounds like saying "ears have fallen off", this is my comment :-).  More a statement of an obvious fact than a helpful diagnosis of a cause.  

A few days ago the mother visited Dr. Newman and her spirits were lifted.  Dr. Newman corrected precious recommendation.  The mother is supplementing with regular formula and taking domperidone.  She is working hard to bring her milk supply up and fix bf problems.  She also plans to attend the next LLL meeting.  An amazingly persistent and attentive mother!

I would also like to personally thank LLL Toronto for their work supporting BF mothers and LC from the BF clinic in Toronto and Dr. Jack Newman.  There is something comforting in knowing there are people out there who care.

Natalie Wilson
Russian BF support

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