Dear Miriam
This NICU and its staff (or at least those you have encountered) seem to be so uninformed.
Where is the informed consent and respect for clients let alone updated research basis to practice.
I suggest your university should encourage this hospital to consider the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiatve accreditation process!!
Is a lactation consutlant on staff ?
Have any staff heard of all the research about skin to skin care and its benefits particualrly for premmies??
There was a book
"Skin to Skin care; The best you can do for your preterm baby" by Susan Gallant (?)
but I have given away my copy
Try Nils Bergman web site http://www.kangaroomothercare.com/
Andrea stocks Susan Langs book Breastfeeding special babies
perhaps the parents could take some information like a book or an article to support their requests and educate the staff!!
I would also recommend some gentle diplomatic assertion on the part of yourself, your supervisors and the parents because my expereince is that going along with the staff can undermine their self confidence and perpetuates this unprofessional situation for others as well as your client.
Is their a patient advocate in the hospital can you talk with them??
I realise this is difficult ask but find your supports before you attempt it and do what you can please.
If no-one challenges these situations to change they will stay there and continue to impact adinfnitum.
Denise Hynd
"Let us support one another, not just in philosophy but in action, for the sake of freedom for all women to choose exactly how and by whom, if by anyone, our bodies will be handled."
- Linda Hes
----- Original Message ----- From: "Miriam Hannay" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au>
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 7:04 PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Breastfeeding a premmie baby (very long)
Hi all, hope you can help me with advice for a follow through woman (i am a commencing 2nd yr Bmid student)who had her babe by emerg. LSCS at 35 weeks on 22nd December due to PROM + active labour, baby footling breech. Babe was 2490 grams at birth but had pretty bad RDS and spent a week in NICU requiring heaps of oxygen support. All's well now, and mum has marvellous milk supply which she would love to give her baby, BUT!!
The woman has been expressing 8 times in 24 hours and getting 60-100 mLs per session, babe is being gavage fed in nursery and is constantly sleepy and not keen to go on the breast. When the woman requested no dummy and bottle and to be called when her babe woke to start establishing demand feeding at breast, staff immediately became VERY negative, refusing to speak with her, ignoring requests for assistance etc. She was told she was 'doing it the hard way' and that if she refused to allow her baby to be given EBM by bottle she would end up stuck in hospital for weeks. She has allowed the baby to be given EBM by bottle and does feel that breastfeeding is improving but feels uncomfortable with staff and that she's not being given the chance to give breastfeeding a good shot. I have watched her feed and when alert the baby feeds well, the woman's attachment technique is great and they are a great unit. I have four of my own, all extended breastfed so I feel confident in supporting her breastfeeding but am lost with these nursery protocols. One midwife told her that nipple confusion was 'crap' and that without bottle feeding as transition her baby would take much longer 'graduating' to the breast. Every core of my being screams out that these people are WRONG but i'm not sure where the best evidence lies. My Maye's Midwifery supports the idea of demand feeding premmies and avoiding nipple confusion but the info is a little light for my liking. What do you all think? This woman has been told to expect her baby to be in hospital until she's term but she's desperate to get her home ASAP. Any advice would be wonderful, regards, miriam
Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! Movies. http://au.movies.yahoo.com -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
-- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
