Watch Your Language - Breast Isn't Best!

Published

And because I love to stir up the winds of controversy, I'll share this article with everyone and see what they think.

http://www.bobrow.net/kimberly/birth/BFLanguage.html

What do you all think of this article?

Alison

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Sorry to hear that.

I do feel the hospital failed you though. We won't discharge a baby home until they have been able to latch and feed well at the breast if the mother wants to breastfeed. At my old hospital we even had a care by parent room so the mother could spend 24 hours there before going home and during that time the baby would ONLY breastfeed. It was a great confidence booster for the moms who were worried about it.

right on fergus. I am sorry that any breastfeeding mom is let down by nursing/hospitals. I realize it does happen, way too often and regret it.
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Specializes in MICU, neuro, orthotrauma.
right on fergus. I am sorry that any breastfeeding mom is let down by nursing/hospitals. I realize it does happen, way too often and regret it.

You're right. They did fail me, which is why I think it is vitally important to change the way we speak about breastfeeding, not only to eduate the public, but to educate staff as well.

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

You are right. We all as OB nurses, have a responsibility to our patients to educate ourselves and stay up on changes in breastfeeding assistance/special situations. I personally have given serious thought to getting my LC (not to be exclusively an LC, but to better help the patients I do care for---esp at night, when our amazingly adept LC is not available to do so).

I hope I did not come off earlier as saying I don't consider it an important part of my job---I DO. I just feel sometimes overwhelmed and over taxed ---with so many things as an OB nurse that I admit, I do not always have time to address severe breastfeeding problems properly. I regret that a lot.

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I was well educated about the benefits of breastfeeding, but still strongly felt that it was not for me. I never felt uncomfortable around other people doing it, but felt extremely anxious contemplating myself doing it. It drove me crazy when all of my friends kept trying to convince me to try it, and I swore I never would (I *really* don't like being told what to do, LOL!). Then I ended up on hospitalized bedrest and one day the LC came in to my room by accident, and I was bored and lonely so I engaged her in conversation and even admitted that I didn't plan on nursing--fully prepared for a big lecture from a woman who was surely a breastfeeding Nazi. I was floored when she said, "Well, you just have to do what is right for your family." I couldn't believe it--and I swear at that moment, I thought "hmmm...maybe I will try it after all!" Of course, I had also been reading about how good breastmilk is for preemies and since I felt guilty enough that she would probably be born early due to incompetent cervix, I figured that trying it was the least I could do. But I can't help wondering if the LC had tried to convince me to nurse, how much of my stubborn side would have emerged.

My daughter was born at 32 weeks and was able to nurse right away. We never had any problems with latching or engorgement, and once we got home from the hospital she refused all bottles and nursed until she was 16 months. At first I only nursed in private, but that got old and I quickly became comfortable nursing discretely in public and most of the time no one even realized what I was doing. We went through several rounds of excruciating thrush and a period of biting, but overall didn't face too many difficulties. It was extremely healing to me to see her grow and thrive and overcome her prematurity as a result of breastfeeding, and I cherish those times.

My son was born at 33 weeks, and I wasn't able to even attempt to nurse him until he was almost 2 weeks old due to Hirshprung's disease. He also was diagnosed at birth with Trisomy 21 which made nursing difficult for him. We tried during his NICU stay, and eventually I just wanted him home and gave up on nursing but continued pumping because I felt he would be home sooner if we focused on bottles. I pumped for 4 months (my goal was to pump for 6 months...I greatly admire those who exclusively pump for longer than that--it was the hardest thing I have ever done, and I absolutely hated it) and finally he got the hang of nursing, refused bottles, and also nursed until 16 months. (BTW--this is pretty typical of babies with Down syndrome...so many of them have trouble at first but if moms keep up their milk supply are able to nurse a few months later.)

I knew the benefits of breastmilk would be huge for him...but I also did it for selfish reasons. I wanted to feel like I had absolutely done everything in my power to make breastfeeding work...and then if it didn't at least I could say I truly gave it my best shot. And I also knew that having that relationship would greatly strengthen our bond and help me better deal with his diagnosis...which it did. I am so thankful for the friend who pumped for a year because her baby had a cleft palate who encouraged me to not give up. I would not have felt guilty if it didn't work knowing that I tried my best.

I received great support from the nurses and LCs in the hospital during both stays, but I am all too familiar with friends who got incorrect information, bad advice, no support etc. from nurses and drs.

Some excellent points have been made about giving pts. accurate, up-to-date information in a non-judgemental way. And I think that nurses can make a huge difference, even when a mom seems to have already made up her mind against it...I know of many cases where the right words of encouragement from a sensitve and compassionate nurse helped a mom be committed to breastfeeding.

Shannon

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Wow Shannon - thank you for posting your experiences. You had me in tears my dear.

As a L&D nurse, I try very hard not to be judgmental and force anything on anyone and my philosophy is that you must do what is right for you and your family, but hey, how about a little bit of accurate information first? :)

Best wishes - steph

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

I think we make ALL the difference in a new mom's breastfeeding experience. It's so important we impart up-to-date, helpful and non-judgemental education and support. Our attitudes make ALL the difference in all facets of a person's labor/delivery and postpartum experience; I really believe this.

Thanks for the excellent and honest post, Shannon!

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I have a nine month old baby boy. I know the benefits of breastfeeding and I really wanted my baby to be 100% breastfed as long as possible. Well, it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. First off, I had an emergency C-section, it was hard for me to get the baby in and out of his tram due to pain.(didn't have that much help from the nurses, but that is another story)

Next, I have one inverted nipple, and a baby that had a hard time latching. So, I started having him nurse on one breast and pumping the other. He never really caught on, and truthfully I believe I was at fault for that too. I started pumping for every feed, Baby would be up every hour and a half to 2 hours and then I would have to pump for 20-30minutes. I was basically getting an hours sleep. He always seemed hungry even though I seemed to be giving adequate milk. It was a lot of self doubt. Eventually, I turned to formula and let me tell you...I felt so guilty. I mean really guilty. Most nurses in the hospital were helpful, but some made me feel like a failure because I couldn't get the baby to latch on and my inverted nipple. I am due with my second child next March and truthfully, I am not sure wether I will try breast feeding again. I want to see if this baby and I can get are act together this time, but I look back on those first weeks with my son, and I just feel guilty and like a bad mom.

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I think we make ALL the difference in a new mom's breastfeeding experience. It's so important we impart up-to-date, helpful and non-judgemental education and support. Our attitudes make ALL the difference in all facets of a person's labor/delivery and postpartum experience; I really believe this.

Thanks for the excellent and honest post, Shannon!

Beatifully said, Deb!

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It's a wonder anyone survived bottlefeeding, to read this thread.

I think mothers should do what feels best for themselves and their babies. If it's breast, great. If it's formula, great. I have no patience for nurses who browbeat, guilt trip, or otherwise try to terrorize new moms into breastfeeding. They're not the ones who have to take the babies home and live the moms' lives.

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Specializes in ICU.
It's a wonder anyone survived bottlefeeding, to read this thread.

I agree! Between this thread, the circumcision threads and the anti-immunization thread I should be concerned that my son is nothing but a mutilated (circumcised), possibly autistic (immunized) child of inferior intelligence (bottle fed).

For some reason though, I am really not that worried.........

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Very good point. When I work with teen moms, many of them dont want to breastfeed and I stress the importance of the colostrum to them. Liquid Gold!

If nothing else, get that colostrum in those babies.

(I have been noticing that more and more teen moms ARE choosing to breastfeed, or at least try it. Does anyone else notice this?)

Perhaps, WIC should not give vouchers for formula, thereby, allowing us to teach these young moms that they already have a full milk supply built right in...at NO COST! And, I always tell them, it is lesss "stuff" you have to carry around in the diaper bag. Cheap, easly, no bottles to wash, buy.. etc. Sometimes, it is easier to appeal to the economics of the situation, especially, for those where money is an issue.

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It's a wonder anyone survived bottlefeeding, to read this thread.

I think mothers should do what feels best for themselves and their babies. If it's breast, great. If it's formula, great. I have no patience for nurses who browbeat, guilt trip, or otherwise try to terrorize new moms into breastfeeding. They're not the ones who have to take the babies home and live the moms' lives.

Just for the record, I brestfed all my kids. For me, it was a matter of cheap,health, and ease.

I do not advocate guilt trips. Serve NO purpose, otherwise, we would have no booze,no tobacco, no sexually transmitted disease, etc.

There were breatfeeding advocates protesting in front of our hospital yesterday, decrying how our policies "Damage" babies. These Moms and a couple dads, had their infants and toddlers with them in 95degree humid weather. some allowed them selves to be arrested, going limp, being handcuffed...in front of their CHILDREN, who were too young to comprehend the whole scene...and they are that worried about the hospital "damaging" their babies for a couple hours away from them??? What in God's name were they thinking?!? I, personally, thought a well written editorial citing reasearch would have been the wiser way to handle their concerns.

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