The Risks of Not Breastfeeding for Mothers and Infants

Marymoomoo · Feb 24, 2010

Am I a bad mom/nurse? Are you going to judge me like others have?

Jessy, I'm not judging you OR anyone else. I'm sorry to hear that you feel you were/are being judged for the decision to switch to formula. It sounds like you expressed for as long as you felt you could and stopped because it didn't work for you in your unique situation. There's nothing there to judge. You made an informed decision, choosing to do what was best for YOUR family.

This entire discussion is all about giving parents accurate information and support to make informed decisions (ideally, that would mean support beyond the initial feeding choice!). This is not about judging individuals for their choices, or trying to choose for parents what is best for them.

Should I feel guilty and pound my head on the nearest wall because my 7 month old is in a hopital bed with bronchiolitis as I type this? Or perhaps feel guilty because she goes to daycare as I have NO family or can afford an in-home provider at this time? I don't know.....

Not at all, Jessy! Nobody has the right to judge you for your personal choices.

I'm sorry to hear that your son is sick and wish him well soon. :hug:

You could educate me until pigs fly but ultimately I have to do what I have to do for MY sanity and MY child.

Right!

The point simply is that parents should be given enough accurate information to assure they are able to make an informed decision. This doesn't mean to beat parents over the head with the information, either. This should be information stated in the most matter of fact way, the same way one would assure a patient is informed about the benefits, risks, and risks of not being treated in any other situation.

I have come across some LC's that have said something to the effect of "if you are not going to breastfeed, then you should not have a baby".

That's not me. I strongly disagree with that POV.

I know there are a few LCs that feel that way, but thankfully it's the minority. The fact is that many mothers face barriers to breastfeeding that aren't easily overcome. Until we as a society recognize the importance of breastfeeding (and mothering in general), mothers will face these issues. In a perfect world, every mother would be able to nurse her baby as she chooses, but we don't live in a perfect world. We need to support mothers and help them overcome the barriers they face, find ways to reach their breastfeeding goals despite the barriers, or even find peace in feeding formula instead.

I went into this with all the heart and intention of BFing but life took a twist and here I am today.

I encourage you to give yourself credit for providing your baby with breastmilk, especially at the time she needed it most. No regrets. :hug:

As a mother and nurse, I have learned to see things is such a different light. It has made me a more understanding and compassionate person. I do what is best and support those mothers who's kid I take care of in the NICU whether I prime the gut with EBM or not.

Of course you do! I would hope all of us would.

I think every mother/baby dyad deserves the same kind of support no matter the feeding choice. That being said, in NICU, breastmilk is medicine. More and more neonatologists are prescribing breastmilk for their patients. Every mother should be informed about the unique benefits that breastmilk provides to preterm babies (whether it be MOM or donor). Mothers of preterm babies in NICU need a lot of information and support to be successful at expressing (especially long term!). It sounds like you're in a unique position to offer support to families in that situation, Jessy.

NICHOLERN · Feb 24, 2010

It is a very personal choice and we as nurses should support our patients regardless how they choose to feed their newborns. I know plenty of breastfed kids who have just as many colds runny noses and other normal childhood illnesses. What happened to nurses being non judgemental?

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 24, 2010

I don't see MaryMoomoo being judgmental, and I do get and agree with much of what she's saying.

If I had unlimited hours in the day, I would love to have the luxury of talking to every single woman who comes in to deliver her baby, and do a mini "breastfeeding class" for each mom (in which we DO discuss the risks of not breastfeeding). The reality of the matter is, I often have 3 moms in triage, or two moms in labor, or 3 couplets, one of whom is having a PPH, another of whom is having psych-social issues. The sad fact is, I do not have time to do what should have been done six months ago. All I have time to do is help the moms who KNOW they want to breastfeed, who have the motivation to breastfeed, and need help NOW.

I would venture to guess that that is the situation for most nurses.

Marymoomoo · Feb 28, 2010

That's a real issue in maternity care, Klone. To take it a little further, lack of time for patient education is a real issue in healthcare period. Unfortunately, I don't have any good suggestions for overcoming that. I think it is truly in the hands of hospital admins. If only the work of IBCLCs (RN and not) were valued enough to make it a 24/7 staffed position. *sigh*

Going back to the original topic, another paper was released this week:

What are the Risks Associated with Formula Feeding? A Re-Analysis and Review

The charts in this paper are very helpful for understanding the research.