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I hear this stuff too, Barb and it
concerns me greatly. I did some research on BFHI though and you don't need much
to get accreditation! The attitidues you describe show very little
understanding of how bf works or how babies bf in the early days of their lives
but it horrifies the crap outta me that so many get forcefed and have their guts
permanently altered. I also hear of way too little support for women to bf in
SCN and "minimal handling" taken to mean the staff can do whatever they
like and the parents are limited! This has huge implications for those
kids' health for the rest of their lives and at some point someone in govt has
to notice how much it costs in the long run to ff.
: (
J
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2006 9:42
AM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] blood gasses and
other policies
HI,
Interesting conversation about blood
gasses. I frequently get reports from mothers and health professionals
that they gave birth in a Baby friendly hospital, or a hospital with clear
policies on breastfeeding, but that babies are given infant formula often
without their parents consent, or not with their parents INFORMED
consent. This always intrigues me greatly. There seem to be no
repercussions for staff who go against breastfeeding policies. Reasons I
have heard for staff giving babies formula when I've asked midwives why they
gave a baby formula include "the other midwife told me the baby was hungry",
we didn't want to disturb the mother etc. Mothers tell me they were told that
staff didn't want to wake/disturb the mother - they knew she was tired.
Told she had no milk. Told the baby was hungry and needed
something. And, my personal favourite, "it's OK, at this hospital we give
babies the formula that is closest to human milk" Rarely are they told
WHY the midwife thinks these things. These are babies who are well,
don't even start me on babies in the nursery where parent's rights seem to go
right out the window. Some parents I have spoken to are very upset and
angry. I wonder why breastfeeding policy is in a *different* category in
most hospitals? Do others find this?
Barb
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