"Baby Friendly"

Specialties NICU

Published

Is anyone else going through the Baby Friendly designation at their hospital right now? We have done all of our training and are now waiting for the visit. I'm having some issues with it though.

Not much has changed in our unit as far as our practices, which I'm thankful for. What I am noticing is an increase in admissions from NBN of babies who are dehydrated because the nurses and/or practitioners are refusing to give breastfed babies formula when needed.

I'm really concerned that with this training, people are learing to become very inflexible and not giving formula when really medically necessary.

I can understand not wanting to give formula for the majority of breastfed normal newborns but sometimes the mother's milk supply isn't sufficient enough and the baby suffers for it.

We have seen an major increase of babies being admitted because of low blood sugars and lethargy and/or seizures. When we do our lab work, we are finding that these babies are dehydrated but before we get that diagnosis these babies are getting full septic workups including urine caths and lumbar punctures.

I am really feeling that the designation of "Baby Friendly" is being misapplied or some education is missing.

I want to talk to someone about this. I'm probably going to start with my unit director becuase this really bothers me.

Has anyone else experienced this? What are your thoughts?

How would you present this as a concern? Ideally I'd like to bring this up with the unit directors and the medical directors to find out what exactly is going on.

Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
I have no problems admitting when I'm wrong and I admitted my own ignorance for pumping in the immediate postpartum period. All I do know is that the majority of our premature infants can't breastfeed and pumping is the only way to go. I'd rather that the moms try to pump than not pump at all. I don't understand the "nasty weed" comment? I didn't talk about marijuana??

You came onto this thread with an intent to incite its posters based on the language that you've used thus far. This gets us nowhere except two exasperated people who are no closer to reaching the goal that we both have: supporting what is best for baby and mom based on their unique circumstances.

So you know my intent? Really? Fabulous. My language? Oh that I don't agree with inaccurate information? That's a language issue? It is tiring watching RNs spew information that is completely wrong about breastfeeding. It is tiring the lack of education yet the thought that some opinion matters even though that opinion isn't based on anything.

So you can ASSume my intent all you want. My guess...you don't like to be questioned.

There was a comment earlier relating IBCLCs to weed users.

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Specializes in NICU.

I think it's pretty clear from your use of inflammatory language that you did not wish to engage in open discourse.

I get it that you're tired of myths about breastfeeding. I agree, there are a lot of them out there in the world. But the first rule of breaking into a culture is not to be rude to them while responding to what you believe to be untrue. We all need to remember that we are all working together for the baby's best interest. The original author of this thread posed her concerns over baby friendly hospitals because she saw an increase in potentially unnecessary painful procedures and increased length of stays, not to mention emotional anxiety in parents in her facility. She didn't want to see infants and parents go through this and asked others of their own experiences.

I admit that not all of us NICU posters have been completely respectful (I have toed the line here as well), but we're better than what's going on right now. We're professionals, working for mom and baby. We should be helping each other, not fighting. But the way language is used is critical to miscommunication to others, especially on an online forum. I have not been the most sensitive and I apologize for that. It's easy to get caught up in passions.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
I think it's pretty clear from your use of inflammatory language that you did not wish to engage in open discourse.

I get it that you're tired of myths about breastfeeding. I agree, there are a lot of them out there in the world. But the first rule of breaking into a culture is not to be rude to them while responding to what you believe to be untrue. We all need to remember that we are all working together for the baby's best interest. The original author of this thread posed her concerns over baby friendly hospitals because she saw an increase in potentially unnecessary painful procedures and increased length of stays, not to mention emotional anxiety in parents in her facility. She didn't want to see infants and parents go through this and asked others of their own experiences.

I admit that not all of us NICU posters have been completely respectful (I have toed the line here as well), but we're better than what's going on right now. We're professionals, working for mom and baby. We should be helping each other, not fighting. But the way language is used is critical to miscommunication to others, especially on an online forum. I have not been the most sensitive and I apologize for that. It's easy to get caught up in passions.

My inflammatory language? Seriously?

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Specializes in NICU.

I can see now that there is nothing I can say that will change your mind, not even offering the olive branch. I won't be returning to this thread and I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors...

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Personally, my kid breast fed and has formula and is a top honor student, healthy as a horse and doesn't have a tail or a third eye. I am pro breast feeding but I am not going to brow beat someone over it.

As for "only an IV"....how many times would you be willing to have your baby stuck for only an IV. If they are dehydrated they are going to suck. Then your kid gets a staph aureus infection from being stuck a lot and then you are on the route of IV antibiotics for 10 days with a PICC line. It just doesn't make sense to put a baby thru that...and our nursery will not take IV fluids so then you are trucked over to the NICU where you can't room with your baby and can't sleep at the bedside or have food or drink besides water. You are on our schedule now and that really stinks going to this from having sweet pea in the room with you.

Formula is not the devil's potion, sure it isn't as fab as MBM but sometimes it comes into lay for a very short time.

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I can't agree with you more NicuGal. I myself was entirely formula fed due to being adopted. I've done well in life, currently working on my MSN and no health issues. I completely believe in breastfeeding too, and wish there were more opportunities to educate parents to the benefits. However, I'm not ever going to make a mother feel negative about her choice to offer her child formula. Parenting is hard enough! I'll do my best to assist them and hopefully educate them, but if in the end they choose formula...that's their choice.

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

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It is obvious that there are at least 2 sides to this "discussion". This disrespectful ongoing back and forth dialogue tends to derail the thread.

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Specializes in Pain, critical care, administration, med.

As a nurse for 30yrs and a mother of 3, it's really ashame on the division of this thread and the governments decision to interfere with the way a parent chooses to care for her baby. While there may be plenty of evidence that supports the benefits but its still about choice. This no different then parents that choose not to immunize, mothers that terminate pregnancies or those that choose not to discipline all are choices people make. I am concerned about the Medicaid population as many of those mothers have so many issues to begin with.

I did not breast feed because of seizure medication that I took. My sister who had 4 kids and breast fed them all said that only good mothers breast feed and how good it is for the babies. I found that insulting because for me it was a medical issue. My kids all grew up healthy and are of normal weight. As for my sister her kids are constantly battling resp and GI illness and all are overweight.

While we can present facts the parent must make the final decision and what is best for her and her baby.

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Looks like someone works for Dr. Jay Gordon...LOL.

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Specializes in Psych, Case Management, Care Coordination.

You need to research the effects of formula. They are life long and can be severe.

http://drjaygordon.com/pediatricks/startingout/supplement.html

I'd prefer an iv over formula. That maintenance of the virgin guy is so important.

Yeah, my three formula babies have grown into healthy, active, intelligent kids with whom I share a very strong bond with. Imagine that.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

This thread has sooo much that gets people 'going'. Baby Friendly starts all sorts of fights in MCH departments everywhere, so no reason it wouldn't here. Ditto for breast feeding vs formula. It's even hard when staff is pro-lactation, and some grandmother manages to feed a 2 hr old 2 oz of Enfamil/whatever, and wonders why mom can't get the tyke to latch.

Please be respectful in this discussion. Please read the OP. If you have any constructive advice about how to implement a very difficult change, help out. Our philosophical differences and ensuing discussion--not so helpful. jmo.

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm so glad to see the board so active!!! I breastfed, I worked in a baby friendly hospital.

I just want to share that I don't agree with the IV thing and I agree a bit of supplementation will not harm a baby or breast feeding.

My problem is moms who are breast feeding and send the baby back to the nursery. It should be forbidden. Why do I have to listen to a crying miserable baby and the mom does not? I won't work PP anymore and would rather listen to

NICU alarms then a screaming, miserable hungry infant.

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