A nurse who doesn't breastfeed

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2014

Be proud and honored you can provide for your baby what nature intended, and not some freaking artificial crap that's made with corn syrup. (That's the second ingredient btw)

Not all formulas use corn syrup.

Do you find your communication tactics are effective in encouraging breastfeeding? Because I find your language especially judgmental and inflammatory as well.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2014

It's not judge mental, it's the truth, go ahead and just google it. Formula is horrible. I formula fed my first, and yes there are reasons out there to do it, but in most cases it shouldn't be used. To not give your child what nature made for it is sad. Have you done any research to see all the risks for formula feeding before you made that choice? If so then that's your decision. But to do so, I say, is woefully ignorant. I'm not saying if you formula fed your kid you are a bad mom. I'm saying to formula fees your child without knowing the risks of it, as well as the overwhelming benefits to nursing, makes you a dumb mom.

Calling anyone who does not wish to breast feed a "dumb Mom" and "woefully ignorant" is judgmental as is assumption that someone a "bad Mom" because they choose not to breast feed.

While breast feeding is the natural way to go and has health benefits.... I feel it is unecessary for people to judge, and bully, those who choose NOT to breast feed. Women have the "right equipment" but that in NO WAY means that breast feeding is easy nor is it everyone's cup of tea.

I watched a brilliant competent nurse almost starve her baby do death becasue she refused to give the baby a bottle. Even as her baby was being admitted to the hospital for Failure to thrive, she refused to allow the baby to have a bottle because if she waited long enough" her milk production would kick in" as she was assured by a particular group that feels you should breast feed as "long as the child desires". We held an intervention with her and we were thankfully able to convince her that

1) There are no separate gates in heaven for breast feeding and non breast feeding Moms.

2) That not being able to breast feed is NOT a failure and a Mom or a human being.

3) Her baby was being harmed with the lack of nutrition.

I find these passive aggressive tactics by medical/nursing/lactation staff and some of these "Baby Friendly" facilities not so very "friendly" to the new Mom.

I got pregnant while full time breast feeding and found out because my 8 week old daughter refused to eat. I was convinced there was something horribly wrong that a hungry baby refused to eat and actually refused to latch on...he suggested I get a pregnancy test because some babies will refuse the milk because the taste changes from the hormones. My son arrived 3 weeks before my daughters first birthday.

My daughter is intelligent, beautiful and graceful.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2014

You obviously have some guilt harbored or you wouldn't be taking this so much to heart. I'm truly sorry for that. If you could only really see how crappy it is. But you really have an issue with it, so go on and preach how it's all the same.

I have not seen where anyone has stated that it is all the same. I do see however someone who is making a personal choice.

As nurses we are obligated to educate our patients about what is best in an informative non-judgmental way.

like feeding your kid McDonald's

find it woefully ignorant

freaking artificial crap

To not give your child what nature made for it is sad.

is woefully ignorant

makes you a dumb mom.

As nurses we should never let our personal biases intrude upon our professional life.

j0yegan · Jun 2, 2014

Thanks for sharing your stories. It seems very unrealistic to spend a lot of time pumping at work while you have someone else who has just as much work as you do take care of your patients while you're gone pumping. And you have to pump or your body won't be making as much milk. I feel like all the stress would just decrease my milk supply anyways.

Benefits of breast-feeding 'overstated,' says sibling study

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/273236.php

"World Health Organization: no long term benefits to breastfeeding"

http://www.skepticalob.com/2013/05/world-health-organization-no-long-term-benefits-to-breastfeeding.html

mamabearof3boys · Jun 2, 2014

I am quoting OP: Are you a nurse who doesn't breastfeed or know a nurse who doesn't breastfeed?

"Feeding formula is NOT POISON and these lactation consultants need to stop acting like it is. I was given formula when I was a baby and I turned out just fine. Nobody even knows the long-term benefits of breast milk. Working as a postpartum nurse, I feel like I'm going to be judged beyond belief for not choosing breastfeeding when I become a patient someday. It's always in the back of my mind."

These comments are woefully ignorant. Should I use another word? Maybe. Like misinformed. Not knowledgeable, etc. But this a is a forum, and I was trying to get my point across. Do I talk to patients like that? NO. Do I bash a mom who makes the decision to formula feed their child? NO. But you can bet I don't think to highly of it, IF they have not made an informed decision. I was responding to OP, not a patient.

When you have a child, do you research what car seat to get them? Do you research what hospital you are giving birth at, or what pediatrician you will use? OF COURSE.

So why wouldn't you research what FOOD YOU ARE GIVING YOUR CHILD. That's all I'm saying. make your own decision, but to blindly just give your baby something without knowing risks and benefits is...............well you come to your own conclusion.

j0yegan · Jun 2, 2014

I am quoting OP: Are you a nurse who doesn't breastfeed or know a nurse who doesn't breastfeed?
"Feeding formula is NOT POISON and these lactation consultants need to stop acting like it is. I was given formula when I was a baby and I turned out just fine."
These comments are woefully ignorant. Should I use another word? Maybe. Like misinformed. Not knowledgeable, etc.

I'm ignorant because I say that formula is not poison? Okay, I'm not even insulted. This is just funny...

babyNP., APRN · Jun 2, 2014

I plan to breastfeed/pump breast milk for my kids, but to each their own, and demonizing women for choosing formula is wrong. It's hard enough to be a mother and if we ever want to encourage mothers to breastfeed, we need to come at it from a supportive point of view and making it as easy as possible for women to choose it.

The only thing I would have a hard time not "judging" are for moms who have milk but won't pump it for their very premature babies. The risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (an inflammatory bowel disease that is often life threatening, if not bowel threatening as many cases require surgical resections of large portions of the bowel) is much higher with formula versus breastmilk; in fact using breast milk has a six fold decrease risk (source: Early human milk feeding is associated with a lo... [J Perinatol. 2007] - PubMed - NCBI). It's so wonderful for our preemies that we consider it a medication for them. Some hospitals are able to use donor milk, but there is a shortage and not all hospitals are able to have their own milk bank.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2014

Thanks for sharing your stories. It seems very unrealistic to spend a lot of time pumping at work while you have someone else who has just as much work as you do take care of your patients while you're gone pumping. And you have to pump or your body won't be making as much milk. I feel like all the stress would just decrease my milk supply anyways.

For every subject you can find supporting and opposing views.

Sadly I found nurses not very supportive with Mom's who breast feed. The staff at the ED I worked were resentful of "all the tie" I spent "milking" my breasts...which by the way I did only on my break. They were very intolerant of breast milk in the fridge and made snide comments. I kept it in my bag with ice.

With choices there are always pros and cons. I enjoyed breast feeding. I think I could have done it longer with my son...but work in a busy ER and critical transport I soon could not keep up with supply.

I say try it you might like it...it sure beats carrying around formula...however if it isn't for you it isn't for you.

I wouldn't exclude any options for you really don't know how you are going to feel until you are actually in that position. I never thought I would breast feed...the thought was just not my thing...however upon seeing that little baby I was changed in an instant and I wondered why I ever thought I didn't want to do it.

mamabearof3boys · Jun 2, 2014

I'm ignorant because I say that formula is not poison? Okay, I'm not even insulted. This is just funny...

Sigh. Again..maybe people aren't used to using that word. Misinformed is a better choice. Sorry to offend.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2014

I plan to breastfeed/pump breast milk for my kids, but to each their own, and demonizing women for choosing formula is wrong. It's hard enough to be a mother and if we ever want to encourage mothers to breastfeed, we need to come at it from a supportive point of view and making it as easy as possible for women to choose it.
The only thing I would have a hard time not "judging" are for moms who have milk but won't pump it for their very premature babies. The risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (an inflammatory bowel disease that is often life threatening, if not bowel threatening as many cases require surgical resections of large portions of the bowel) is much higher with formula versus breastmilk; in fact using breast milk has a six fold decrease risk (source: Early human milk feeding is associated with a lo... [J Perinatol. 2007] - PubMed - NCBI). It's so wonderful for our preemies that we consider it a medication for them. Some hospitals are able to use donor milk, but there is a shortage and not all hospitals are able to have their own milk bank.

See.... the thought to me of using another woman's breast milk makes my hair stand on end....LOL

klone, MSN, RN · Jun 2, 2014

OP, I urge you to read the actual meta-analysis that WHO published. They absolutely did NOT say that there are no long-term benefits to breastfeeding. They said that the longterm benefits fade as the child reaches adulthood. And some of the longterm benefits are less beneficial than others.

Here's a link to the paper:

http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/documents/breastfeeding_long_term_effects/en/

And as far as the sibling studies go, I analyzed that study in a different thread. Let me grab the link to it, hang on.

https://allnurses.com/ob-gyn-nursing/breastfeeding-benefits-overstated-924385.html

I'm not here to convince YOU to breastfeed. I honestly don't care. I don't know you. But as a healthcare provider, and as a lactation consultant, and as a frontline public health advocate who works directly with women of child-bearing age, I DO care if other healthcare providers, especially ones who work with pregnant women and new moms, are giving out incorrect information. And saying that there are no longterm benefits to breastfeeding is absolutely incorrect.

At the VERY least, there are longterm benefits in delayed fertility, and the cost savings and reduction in ovarian and uterine cancers that go along with that. At the VERY least.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2014

Sigh. Again..maybe people aren't used to using that word. Misinformed is a better choice. Sorry to offend.

Misinformed is perfect...it is not the message itself that can cause people to become defensive...it's how it is delivered that counts.