Baby supplemented without moms consent - and died as a result

[Carita]

http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=+51...bm.dayport.com

I am stunned!! shocked!! mortified. I don't even know what to say.

[cocoabean8]

Shocking, sad and unbelievable....

[RoseRedHoofbeats]

Oh my Gosh I am so mad!!! SO MAD!

The spokesperson for the hospital said that they were following standards of care for infants in the US.

Yeah? Are you a Baby-friendly hospital? Do you support Kangaroo Care for infants? Do you encourage mothers of premies to breastfeed? Do you have lactaction consultants on staff who know how to help a mother bring her in milk supply when the baby is in the NICU? Do your nurses know about breastfeeding and offer support once they go home?

I am SHAKING I am so mad right now. I was watching this with my toddler in my lap and she kept reaching out to touch the screen when the babies were shown.... she was almost a premie, I had to be on bedrest for six weeks. The idea that that could happen to her just shakes me to my core.

~Rose

[craft_media_hero]

Did you catch how hospitals are still giving it to preemies? Why is this happening in a world where we have breastmilk banks?

They didn't even tell the mom that they were giving the baby formula!!!

[jgracefrank]

So sad. )=

[syn_ack89]

I posted the video link on my FB page - I want to make sure my friends know about this. Too terrible.

[NewDirections]

I am appaled! That is so, so sad. My heart goes out to those families

[kiara7]

Absolutely horrific! The cans say not to give to ANY (preemie or not) infant under 8 weeks because of the possibility of this infection. Some healthcare we have! People can't even read the labels......Oh, but it's formula, it's safer than breastmilk, didn't you know you can't eat or drink anything if you're breastfeeding! Your baby will get all the poisons from you! :

[CrunchyChristianMama]

It scares me too because I'm from Des Moines and know mamas who have delivered there and had their babies in the NICU.

[lovebug]

WOW... i have no words this just makes me ill! and this is the reason ALL mamas should look into FF and BF to way all the risks!

how sad for that mama that, i am sure busted her butt to get BM to the babies and still had this happen!

SO SAD!

[leavemealone]

I didn't know hospitals used powdered formula. I assumed they all use the pre-made bottles for convenience b/c that's all that's ever been offered to me when I gave birth. However, I have never had a preemie so I don't really know what goes on in the NICU. By using powder, not only does it introduce the possibility this story mentioned, but it also introduces the possibility of it being mixed incorrectly.

[Carita]

I hope I didn't make anyone too upset - i just had to show it to you guys. I thought it was sad, and then when they mentioned the BFing, pumping mom who didn't even know her child was being supplemented - I just about screamed I was so upset. Thank you for letting me vent - and to get out the word that these hospitals need to step up!

[Skippy918]

How awful for those families. I can't believe they gave the baby formula without the mother's consent. That's just horrible.

I had no idea powdered formula was bad for newborns in general. I wonder how many people don't know that.

[PatioGardener]

This makes me so angry. Health care providers, parents and the general public need to know that there are risks with formula feeding! At least the risk from this bacterial contamination can be minimized by heating the water before mixing when powdered formula must be used. The WHO have guidelines for the safer preparation of powdered formula (http://www.who.int/foodsafety/public..._Bottle_en.pdf) I'd like to see all babies who can be breastfed, but until then I don't want to see any more babies die from contaminated formula.

[minkajane]

Originally Posted by Skippy918

How awful for those families. I can't believe they gave the baby formula without the mother's consent. That's just horrible.

DS was given Similac from the day he was born in addition to my pumped colostrum. I had no idea till I got his medical records a year later. I definitely didn't consent.

I had no idea powdered formula was bad for newborns in general. I wonder how many people don't know that

I didn't either. I know of many people who FF and they always used the powdered stuff except in the hospital when they got free pre-made bottles.

[homewithtwinsmama]

I had to fight hard, bring in a girlfriend's frozen pumped milk and sign a really scary stupid waiver, but my preemie was able to avoid formula BUT, I now have a question. Even preemie's getting BM in the NICU are usually having breastmilk fortifier added to the breastmilk to pump up the caloric content. And as far as I know ALL fortifier is powdered. Now I am wondering about that as well.

[RomanCarmelMom]

I wish they would just let mothers pump extra, then scrape the cream off the top and add that into the BM for extra calories.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by RomanCarmelMom

I wish they would just let mothers pump extra, then scrape the cream off the top and add that into the BM for extra calories.

:

Then vitamins minerals etc if needed could be given as medicine, not in the form of formula.

[1littlebit]

i didn't even know hospitals had powdered formula. this is horrifying.

[bandgeek]

Originally Posted by RomanCarmelMom

I wish they would just let mothers pump extra, then scrape the cream off the top and add that into the BM for extra calories.

I did this to avoid fortifiers with DD. They didn't bring it up as an option, I had to "convince" them it would be fine.

DD was given formula in the NICU without my consent as her FIRST feed. I was soooo pissed. I'm not sure if it was powder or canned. I threw a fit and we avoided formula until she was discharged and she didn't have another drop until she was 9 months old.