Watch Your Language - Breast Isn't Best!

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jul 27, 2005

Deb, you rock :).

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 27, 2005

wow thank you.

gypsyatheart · Jul 27, 2005

Deb, Your post really moved me, you are awesome! You really are a nurse that goes "the extra mile" for her pt's. I used to be able to do stuff like that when I worked in Peds Triage....your post reminded me, and I do miss it. Thanks for being the kind of nurse all women should have PP. :)

mitchsmom · Jul 27, 2005

Before one more person says nurses don't try or care in helping moms breastfeed, I hope they read this.

I don't think anyone here has said that. I hope I didn't make you feel defensive because I didn't mean to imply at all that you don't do a good job - from all I can tell here you seem like an awesome nurse! My intention was mainly just to bounce around ideas on how to improve things in general.

I am sad that you felt like you had no suport when you were beginning breastfeeding. I am surprised you made it through it because that has got to be really hard and I know that a lot of people don't make it through without it.

Another way that hospital people staff can continue to help a lot (for any who may not already do this), is to really promote the after-discharge help that is available such as: WIC, LLL, hospital-based bf support groups, LC's, other non-hospital based groups, Healthy Start, & the internet has tons of great info that patients can use like (in case anyone just happens to feel like whipping up a resource guide LOL):

http://www.kellymom.com (my favorite site, evidence-based info & very thorough)

http://www.breastfeeding.com

http://www.gotmom.org

http://www.4woman.gov/Breastfeeding

http://www.lalecheleague.org & 1-800-La-Leche for 24-hour phone help

There are really so many resources available now that hopefully everyone can feel like they have support that meets their individual needs and goals.

The hospitals I have been around give discharge paperwork with breastfeeding info, but they don't provide a specific list of local/national help resources such as this. I think that would be helpful with a reminder *in spoken word* when possible that "here are people to help you if you have questions or need help" since so much gets lost in the ton of paperwork that goes home from the hospital you know?

PS- Jack Newman wrote "The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers : The Most Comprehensive Problem-Solution Guide to Breastfeeding from the Foremost Expert in North America" (the Canadian version has a different title)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0761529969/103-1493977-3639827?v=glance

On a website that features his handouts, his bio reads "JACK NEWMAN, MD, FRCPC, is a pediatrician and a graduate of the University of Toronto medical school. He started the first hospital-based breastfeeding clinic in Canada in 1984. He has been a consultant with UNICEF for the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in Africa. Dr. Newman has practiced as a physician in Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa."

The handouts and bio can be accessed here:

http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/newman.shtml

(I see they now have videos too, Using a Lactation Aid, breast compression, latching, etc.)

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 28, 2005

I don't think anyone here has said that. I hope I didn't make you feel defensive because I didn't mean to imply at all that you don't do a good job - from all I can tell here you seem like an awesome nurse! My intention was mainly just to bounce around ideas on how to improve things in general.
I am sad that you felt like you had no suport when you were beginning breastfeeding. I am surprised you made it through it because that has got to be really hard and I know that a lot of people don't make it through without it.
)

I did not say you said this. And I hope I don't come across as defensive---I do not mean to be.

But it has been said here before-----that nurses are pooly-equipped to help w/breastfeeding issues---or that we don't care. By many. I want to debunk any feeling that we are poorly-equipped or dont' care to help w/breastfeeding. Cause I can see this thread potentially and easily heading this way with a little help.

You are not a nurse....yet. There may be some things about my job you are yet unaware of that eat up my time, besides helping difficult nursing couplets. Being a volunteer lends you a lot more leeway and time to "zone in" on the issues of breastfeeding and helping people who are having trouble with it. I am glad there are people like you who care enough to do it. But being a nurse, I have so much to do...and I have no volunteers showing up where I work to take over this difficult task for me, when I am snowed under with a hundred things going on at once. I wish I had you around....really....you are a true blessing to the people you help.

Like I said, It's not easy doing staying on top of the myriad things we do. Breastfeeding help/teaching is but ONE responsibility among scores we have. It's how it is, sadly. If that sounds defensive to you, I am sorry. Because it's not; it's just the truth.

And please don't feel too badly for me regarding my firstime breastfeeding experience. I had enough moxie, guts, stubborness and wherewithall to overcome my difficulties----- and the sheer determination to make it work. I don't have red hair for nothin' rofl. :rotfl:

It was not easy, and having a son who had surgery to correct a birth defect at 3 months' age, (who was premature to boot)--- well let us just say, not too many had experience enough TO help me much breastfeeding under my conditions. I guess you can say, it helped me be the nurse I am today. Cause I know when someone is committed and when she is not. And if she is committed, then darnit, *so am I*---- and I will do all I can to help her and her baby succeed. Cause I have been through the fire on this one myself. Experience is one EXCELLENT teacher.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 28, 2005

those websites you provided are actually resources we have listed on our handouts to our breastfeeding moms. We also have the names/numbers of Local LLL leaders/contacts. We have a whole packet our LC makes up that goes home with each nursing mother, as well as an APA-published Breastfeeding book that is VERY good. We also have videos....believe me, we give them lots to go home with. Also, our LC calls them a couple days after delivery to see how it's going.

But SOMETIMES, they still call US at 3 a.m. It's an awful hour for them, particularly when the baby is screaming and can't be consoled. Somehow they dont' feel too comfy calling a LLL leader at that hour. They know us, not yet know them (the leaders). So, I do what I can to help them at that ungodly hour when no one else is up but these poor moms and us nurses.

That was all I was saying. I do try very hard to give all the support I can. I believe most nurses here can say exactly the same thing. I am not special or unique. Just an OB nurse. :)

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 28, 2005

Deb, Your post really moved me, you are awesome! You really are a nurse that goes "the extra mile" for her pt's. I used to be able to do stuff like that when I worked in Peds Triage....your post reminded me, and I do miss it. Thanks for being the kind of nurse all women should have PP. :)

thank you for saying this. I really sometimes can use a vote of confidence like this. I am glad to see you don't see me being defensive or mean. Cause I don't mean to. :)

fergus51 · Jul 28, 2005

I have never heard of Jack Newman. Mark me as ignorant, who is he? A prominent pediatrician or something?

http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/drjack/aboutdrjack.htm

He's a pediatrician in Toronto who is a well known breastfeeding advocate. I've heard his books called the ultimate guides to breastfeeding. He is by all accounts very good with patients and will do anything to help a woman who wants to breastfeed succeed. He also will answer questions if nurses or other docs call him up. BUT, he does go overboard in some instances IMO.

This article is an example of his writing:

http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/drjack/starting.htm

Health professionals want to control you, that's why they are trying to separate you from your baby (as though we need more work in the NICU!!! :angryfire RIGHT!!!), the health professionals don't allow your premie to breastfeed because they just don't know better (it couldn't possibly have to do with the fact that your baby's mouth can't even fit around your nipple yet), there doesn't need to be any restriction on the amount of time a baby can breastfeed (never mind the fact that he needs to be under triple phototherapy, you can take him out for a few hours to breastfeed...). Unfortunately many of the women who read his articles actually get these messages from them. He sometimes sets up this confrontational attitude between patients and staff, when in reality they are allies with the same goal in mind. JMHO, you can google him and find tons of articles.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 28, 2005

I should have known...we have the Ultimate Breastfeeding Answer Book on our unit. Frankly, I must have been "asleep at the wheel " on that one...I never read anywhere he was pro-IV use rather than formula to control hypoglycemia in newborns. I will have to give that one a 2nd look. I can't say I agree an IV is ever a better choice than a teaspoon or two of formula from a cup to head off severe hypoglycemia. I would never start an IV if I did not have to. I guess I just read the parts that discussed overcoming obstacles. I really do need to pick that one up and read it cover to cover. grrrr

fergus51 · Jul 28, 2005

Oh, believe you me... I had a nurse in that old unit PHOTOCOPY AND HIGHLIGHT THAT SECTION AND POST IT ON THE WALL!!! I just about took it down and shoved it up her ...... well you know.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 28, 2005

http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/drjack/aboutdrjack.htm
This article is an example of his writing:
http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/drjack/starting.htm
Health professionals want to control you, that's why they are trying to separate you from your baby (as though we need more work in the NICU!!! :angryfire RIGHT!!!), the health professionals don't allow your premie to breastfeed because they just don't know better (it couldn't possibly have to do with the fact that your baby's mouth can't even fit around your nipple yet), there doesn't need to be any restriction on the amount of time a baby can breastfeed (never mind the fact that he needs to be under triple phototherapy, you can take him out for a few hours to breastfeed...). Unfortunately many of the women who read his articles actually get these messages from them. He sometimes sets up this confrontational attitude between patients and staff, when in reality they are allies with the same goal in mind. JMHO, you can google him and find tons of articles.

Generalizations like this do NOTHING to foster trust between families and the medical community that serves them. I have a real contempt for people who tear assunder the trust we try so hard to build with stupid and unfounded statements like this! :angryfire Idiot.

"try to separate them"???

Hmm that is why we put them up in boarder rooms and set up loungers in the nursery so they can sit anytime and hold/bond/nurse their babies??? Yes, this is the ultimate way to ruin their bonding experience and deliberately separate them. Our evil plans have been discovered! :uhoh3: :rolleyes:

Grrr nothing makes us happier than to see these babies go HOME with their parents when their course/stay in our SCN is OVER!!!! :balloons:

fergus51 · Jul 28, 2005

The oddest thing was that we didn't even HAVE a well baby nursery in my hospital in Toronto, so I don't know why parents thought we were trying to separate them from their infant. They couldn't pawn off a healthy baby onto the staff if they wanted to! Even here, in the NICU we are almost always short staffed and running around like chickens with their heads cut off. We really don't want any unnecessary admissions just to ruin parents bonding experience.