? About not breastfeeding

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Hello,

I am not looking for a big debate or anything. I just want to know if nurses, in general, look down on moms who choose not to breastfeed. Not because of a medical reason, just because mom chooses not too.

My friend had a negative experience and feels so guilty for not breast feeding now. In my opinion, I think she is more guilty about not even trying , but she keeps mentioning a comment one of the nurses made.

Just a general question

Thanks!

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

5 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is ridiculous and inappropriate.

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I agree! % years old is way out there! But I think tha employers have a duty to see that amployees get thier breaks and lunches period. (Whether they use them to breastfeed or not. I worked at a hospital that said you had to give employees a 30 min lunch and 2 fifteen minute breaks. My suprevisor told me I wasn't allowed to pump during my breaks, because it would be like me going to the parking lot and changing my oil. (nOt and appropraite break time activity) SO I told her that was fine and I would find a job elsewhere:madface: . SHe quickly recanted...she was just uncomfortable with the idea of someone pumping at work. BTW she has never had children

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I think breastfeeding school age children is about fulfilling a need for mom, not the child. JMO.

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Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.

Deb says: "I think breastfeeding school age children is about fulfilling a need for mom, not the child. JMO"

And if you knew this person, you'd know you are 100% right.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Ok, well I have a bachelors degree and needed a c/s and was not able to breastfeed. Explain that one. Where did you get your statistics on this, because I have never heard this one?

I made an educated choice on having the c/s since the baby's placenta was a grade 3, his heart rate was in the 90s, and his amniotic fluid was very low, and I had CPD, also he was 2 weeks late. Another educated choice about breastfeeding...I had to give up that or give up my life...I was having severe ppd and I was contemplating suicide. I luckily got help, but something had to give and it was the breastfeeding.

When I was a student, my OB clinical instructor said that hospitals that serve upper middle-class clients tend to encourage breastfeeding and have up to 90 percent of new moms breastfeeding upon discharge. Also, the vast majority of these upper middle-class women deliver lady partslly if possible.

My OB clinical instructor also said that hospitals in lower socioeconomic areas with high numbers of Medicaid recipients tend to have almost zero moms who breastfeed at discharge. Also, 70 percent of the women deliver by cesarean.

If you had read my post carefully, you would have noticed that I was relaying statements made by my former OB clinical instructor.
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If you had read my post carefully, you would have noticed that I was relaying statements made by my former OB clinical instructor.

I did note that. Wondering where she got her stats. In lecture, our instructors would usually share their source of statistics...thought maybe your instructor did too.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I did note that. Wondering where she got her stats. In lecture, our instructors would usually share their source of statistics...thought maybe your instructor did too.
Nope. My OB instructor is an old-school nurse practitioner who specializes in postpartum and peds. She was just sharing some of her biased observations with the students. Also, she works full time as a healthcare provider at a clinic that serves primarily low-income patients, which may influence her thinking on this issue.
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Nope. My OB instructor is an old-school nurse practitioner who specializes in postpartum and peds. She was just sharing some of her biased observations with the students. Also, she works full time as a healthcare provider at a clinic that serves primarily low-income patients, which may influence her thinking on this issue.

Oh I see!:D

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I don't know why people get defensive when someone tells them about the benefits of breastfeeding ("Well, I wasn't breastfed and I'm just fine!"). There are benefits to it over formula. That's just a fact. That doesn't mean it will work for everyone or your a bad mother if you don't breastfeed, but being non-judgemental doesn't mean you have to ignore the research out there showing the benefits of breastmilk.

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I have heard the same from a host of L&D and LC RNs. But ironically, one of the major risk factors for NEC is early enteral feeding (Wong et al., 2002). In light of that, I wonder if it is possible that the preemie's gut at a certain point simply may not be mature enough to tolerate anything, including mother's milk? I could be wrong on that, and I am open to correction. But again, evidence of the certainly supports the benefits of the practice of providing preemies with mother's milk when and if at all possible. [/size]

Almost all of the research I've read supports early enteral feeding (trophic feeding). Certain babies will get NEC regardless thanks to other issues (poor gut perfusion, infection, indocin, etc) but formula is simply harder to digest for them.

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I don't know why people get defensive when someone tells them about the benefits of breastfeeding ("Well, I wasn't breastfed and I'm just fine!"). There are benefits to it over formula. That's just a fact. That doesn't mean it will work for everyone or your a bad mother if you don't breastfeed, but being non-judgemental doesn't mean you have to ignore the research out there showing the benefits of breastmilk.

Thankyou fergus51:bow: :bow:

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Specializes in ER.
Thankyou fergus51:bow: :bow:

I also thank you fergus!!!!

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