OB never mentioned nursing

[LotusBirthMama]

So, I'm 39.4 weeks pregnant and I just realized that not once has my OB mentioned feeding choices to me. W/ my DD I recall it being brought up a few times, especially near the end (different OB this time). Yesterday I was there and the APRN was asking if I'd had any signs of labor and I mentioned waking up every morning to a milk soaked shirt.

ME: Yeah, I'm a milk machine. I told the baby to come on out--there's lots for him to eat.

APRN: (blank stare) So anyway....


How can I address this tactfully? I find it really irresponsible for them to give out ZERO breastfeeding info..to not even ask me about it...

Or am I nuts for even trying to bring it to their attention?

[mom2snugbugs]

I feel this is so pervasive in today's mainstream OB culture. I told my OB that I wanted to breastfeed- and he told me that bf babies went to jail too. WTF? :

YOU know what's best. these people have no clue.

btw- nak natch

also- lots of obs out there are GREAT!! so the above is NOT a blanket statement

[whateverdidiwants]

Breastfeeding can fall into one of those weird "No Man's Lands", ime. When I had thrush, my OB (who I otherwise loved) took convincing that yes, it was his domain to treat me (I also had to give him all the info wrt to a 2 week Diflucan protocol). He really seemed to think that because the breasts fed the baby, that I should ask the ped for meds. In his mind, his job was to check the health of the breasts, but nothing to do with the actual function.

[Carma]

My ObGyn asked at the first prenatal appointment if I would breastfeed. Think they need to know, so they can help to accomodate nursing asap after birth.

Carma

[BunchaCrunch]

If I were in your shoes, I would either send a letter that expresses your concerns about breastfeeding education not being addressed in their office. I would highlight the numerous health benefits to both mom and baby and point out that any responsible health care provider would make a point to educate their patients on such an important health matter as breastfeeding. I would also be sure to point this doctor towards several beastfeeding resources.

In addition, I would probably consider meeting with either the doctor themself or a lead nurse and/or office manager to discuss my concerns about the lack of breastfeeding education they are offering. If I knew any other people who would be interested in supporting me in this endeavor or knew somebody more knowledgable than myself on these matters, I would invite them to come along as well.

It is highly irresponsible not to discuss breastfeeding with your patients and causes a great loss to many mothers, along with their children, who may have opted to breastfeed had they been supplied with the correct information. On both the mother and baby's ends, those in the medical field really need to be educating people and doing so beyond "breast is best", but formula is an okay substitute. They also need to make sure they are educating with the correct information AND not displaying a conflict of interests with formula samples dueling with breastfeeding information.

I was fortunate to have found a practice that was highly supportive of breastfeeding. From my first appointment, my CNM was praising the benefits of breastfeeding and went as far to tell me that is my baby's birth right. As I was already knew the importance of breastfeeding and would be doing it when my baby came, I was just thrilled to find such supportive medical professionals. The OB would even tell patients who were unsure about breastfeeding that nourishing their child was the purpose why they had breasts.

Despite all of their support of breastfeeding, I wound up being given a breastfeeding sabotage bag by my CNM herself before my baby was born and then again at the hospital while she was standing right by my bedside. In both cases, I immediatly threw out the bottles & formula inside, but I was still greatly angered that such bags would be given to me.

After getting my nursing relationship established and getting back into the grove postpartum, I wound up writing letters to both the CNM's practice and the hospital expressing my concern (and disgust!) at their suppossed breastfeeding support all while handing out bags of formula. This did not sit well with me and really upset me as I know such things can adversely affect breastfeeding, especially when/if problems arise during the early days. I am also planning a meeting with one of the CNMs at the practice in the near future. I have no idea if my efforts will help change their policies, but I am hoping that my letters and subsequent meeting will, at the very least, open their eyes to the issues created when handing out these bags.

[Caden's Mom]

My ob told me that after the first few weeks there's really no difference between bf and ff. Sigh. I really liked the man during my pregnancy, but I'm so finding a new ob for next time. Whenever that is...

[lissabob]

Honestly, I'm not sure which is worse- not educating, or giving out bad information. Maybe this is an office that recognizes that they DON'T know what they are talking about and are leaving it to the professionals?

[rambunctiouscurls]

My OB asked me like 20 minutes before she was born if I planned to breastfeed. I was literally pushing when he asked.

I'm going with a midwife next time.

[phathui5]

My midwives seemed to assume that I was going to breastfeed- which is how I think they should approach it.

[Benji'sMom]

Originally Posted by lissabob

Honestly, I'm not sure which is worse- not educating, or giving out bad information. Maybe this is an office that recognizes that they DON'T know what they are talking about and are leaving it to the professionals?

They are supposed to be the professionals.

[Clarinet]

Hmmmm. I wasn't asked with my second and I thought that it was because I was in Canada and breastfeeding was assumed (sorry . My first was born in the U.S. and all I ever got was drying up and formula feeding advice. I took the silence to be positive. I wasn't even on the fence about breastfeeding but if someone is and doesn't get the proper information, I could see where not even asking would be a problem.

[boobybunny]

I am going to chime in here and say that maybe instead of a Ped, maybe we should be taking our kiddos to a family med doc.... One that has a chart on both of us.

My oldest friend is a family med doc. He has actually called me to ask if it was okay to give my number out to a patient. (breastfeeding, insurance would not pay for a LC, problems... he was willing to write the script that I recommended)

So here is my question,

Why don't we go to family med docs with our kiddos???? Even with my youngest failure to thrive... I went back an forth between my family med doc, the OB, the PED and the LC. The last think a babymooning mommy and baby need is to go to separate Docs for treatment.

(my friend was still doing residency and too far to go)

[pixiepunk]

did you see the other thread re: the new ACOG policy statements on bf'ing? i'd print out a copy to send along w/the letter you write them. they need to wake up!

when pg w/dd my m/w's assumed i would nurse, i'm sure, but it didn't stop them from talking to me about it, referring me to a bf'ing class, sending me home with the card of an IBCLC, telling me to call them if i had any problems, and calling me several times during the first 2 weeks of dd's life to see how we were doing & specifically asking how bf'ing was going.

and the m/w's i had w/ds talked to me a lot about finding tandem nursing support.

i think it is their responsibility not just to ask, but to direct you to info and support. the bith center we used w/dd even offered a half-day bf'ing seminar (for mom and dad) that was only like $15. i was sent home w/tons of information, a book list, and #'s of people to call if i needed help. they truly wanted me to succeed. i don't hear that about too many ob's, and it's a real shame.

[lolar2]

Originally Posted by boobybunny

I am going to chime in here and say that maybe instead of a Ped, maybe we should be taking our kiddos to a family med doc.... One that has a chart on both of us.

My oldest friend is a family med doc. He has actually called me to ask if it was okay to give my number out to a patient. (breastfeeding, insurance would not pay for a LC, problems... he was willing to write the script that I recommended)

So here is my question,

Why don't we go to family med docs with our kiddos???? Even with my youngest failure to thrive... I went back an forth between my family med doc, the OB, the PED and the LC. The last think a babymooning mommy and baby need is to go to separate Docs for treatment.

(my friend was still doing residency and too far to go)

None of the family med docs in this area do OB. However, I definitely would like to find a family med doc for after the baby is born. That's mostly what I've always gone to anyway.

[melikahiwa]

No one asked me either time.
I had a CNM (who couldn't deliver me at the local hospital because of an unofficial ban) who assumed I would and we discussed it but the rest of her ob group didn't mention it.
It was in my birthplan that I planned on BF immediately, perhaps thats why it was never brought up.

I agree they should just act like "why of course you'll BF" and ditch the goody bags and the combination would work wonders.

[lasciate]

Maybe your OB assumes that since you have several other children, you know what feeding choices you plan to make without his input.

[MonP'titBoudain]

You know, my OB never mentioned nursing, but it didn't occur to me to ask. I kinda assumed I'd be fighting for the things I wanted and just told him what I expected from him. (This did in fact mean that I saw three OB's while pregnant before settling on mine). Looking back, though it does seem like a big void. If I hadn't been educated going in, where would I have found that information? However, I don't remeber seeing any formula advertisements anywhere in the practice and no one handed me any sabatoge bags in the hospital! And my OB did ask if I was still nursing when I sent for my post-partum.

[AuntNi]

Gosh, I'm so glad I didn't have that kind of experience. My OB just assumed I'd nurse, but wasn't pushy about it. However, when I had round after round of mastitis, she was one of only two professionals (the other was my LLL leader) who was supportive of my desire to keep nursing. And when I went to her, in tears, about the horrible way the "breast specialist" had treated me, she came up with a brilliant (totally simple) plan that cured my mastitis for good! She was very cool with me nursing for 3+ years. All this makes me even madder that she was since forced out of the OB business by greedy insurance companies. :

[~Nikki~]

Now that I think about it, nothing was mentioned to me by the OB about feeding choices with either pregnancy. There were breastfeeding posters up all over the room, and I wasn't even offered formula....but still, nothing was mentioned.

After my c-section, I flagged down a nurse and asked her if I was "allowed" to breastfeed yet. She sat down with me and showed me how to do it. After my second baby was born, I just latched him on a few minutes after the birth, so nobody bothered asking me about it. I wasn't given a "goodie bag" after either birth.

Oh wait! I just had clear brain moment! My OB did give me a folder full of breastfeeding information, and a calendar with feeding recommendations (ie: not starting artificial milk or solids until 6+ months, nurse on demand, etc.) So while we didn't sit and chat about it, the information was provided.

[lml41981]

My OB and all her partners asked regularly throughout prenatal care what our feeding plans were.

Also, my OB skipped her year's supply of free formula from the formula companies and scheduled in time for herself to pump. Of course, I heard her in her office pumping as I went to pick up my formula anti-gift bag. :

I'm still switching from her for next time, despite how breastfeeding friendly she was.