I am writing about the thread on policies in the NICU re: using breast milk 
from mothers testing positive for Marijuana.
The NICU I work in has a few mothers that test positive only for Marijuana  
and it is reported to the Department of Families and Children as our state 
law mandates. The babies are almost never removed from the mother and most 
of the time the mother only has to attend a class on substance abouse 
assuming everything else is ok in the household/family.
We do not allow mothers to give breast milk until they test negative. We do 
encourage mothers to begin to pump to stimulate a supply if she wants to 
breast feed. 
The reason we don't give the milk while mother is positive has to do with 
the Statement from the American Academy of Pediactrics that Marijuana is 
contraindicated with breast feeding. Also the fact that there can be an 
eight fold accumulation in breast milk as compared to plasma levels(Hale). 
Our NICU has very compromised babies and the chance that they could recieve 
even minimal Marijuana leaves us to be cautious and wait to feed infants 
breast milk. 
I agree there is a tricky balance here as I suspect that formula may be 
more dangerous to our sick littles ones but I don't have any studies to 
prove that. Also, I believe our legal department does not want us to go 
against the AAP without substantial research.

Peggy Penovich RN,IBCLC

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