Breastfeeding: a win and a fail

heatherchelle

Yesterday, in one of the bathrooms at work I noticed a sign on the door telling students to contact Student Services if they need a private place to pump. WIN.

Also yesterday, my cousin (who is nursing her 2 month old) went to the ER because of her gall bladder.  She told them she was nursing, and needed meds that were safe for breastfeeding.  She had to argue with them over and over until they finally checked into it and found some safe meds.  They kept saying, "just give him a bottle."  Her husband finally got angry with them and said they they didn't have a bottle to give him because he's breastfed.  FAIL.

I don't work in the medical field, and I understand that ER staff may not be up to date on what is and is not safe for breastfeeding, but couldn't they just call the LC or the OB or pedi on-call and ask?

kelclay724

yeah, total fail on that part. I feel like that's a lawsuit waiting to happen. I mean seriously, even if they aren't OBs I feel like they should know a thing or two about breastfeeding.

jac*n*abe

Hooray for a proactive student services department!

I would absolutely be complaining about the nurses in the ER. That is insane! It isn't an unreasonable request nor should it be one that isn't often asked. Grrr.

blondbomber23

yay for student services!!!

I must say that it's generally not difficult to find a medication that is safe while breastfeeding. Sometimes it takes a little work but you can generally find something without a ton of effort. That said, if it was for something like a pain medication then there may not have been options that are 100% safe (meaning some might pass to the baby) especially if it's a narcotic...which is usually what's given in the ER. Just like a lot of meds are questionable in pregnancy (ie miralax)....it's the same with lactating. The standard book that is used to determine what to give a patient rates each drug with a + (safe), ? (unsure), or - (unsafe) symbol. There are a ton of drugs with the "?" symbol.
As a BF mother, I would be upset if someone told me to "give my baby a bottle" because they didn't have safe meds. I do realize that I might not have been guaranteed it's 100% safe, but I would have been comfortable with a med that is generally accepted as being safe.

aloveindy

When I went into the ER 5 weeks after having Leah w/ a kidney stone, I told them I was breastfeeding and what the Dr. had given me for my c-section for pain.  I was at the same hospital I delivered at so I think they probably just looked at my med records and gave me vicoden, which is what I had after the c/s.  They were accomodating though and never said anything about giving my baby a bottle. We were having to supplement some then so a bottle wouldn't have been out of the question, but I still would have been totally offended if a stranger, and of all things a medical professional, made that comment.

heatherchelle

I just couldn't believe that they weren't more supportive, especially considering all the health related benefits of breastfeeding.

blondbomber23

heatherchelle:

I just couldn't believe that they weren't more supportive, especially considering all the health related benefits of breastfeeding.

I'm often shocked at how little BF is supported by healthcare professionals, unfortunately.