Anti breastfeeding NICU - Page 2

[elanorh]

My SIL had fabulous bf help with her preemie (6 weeks early) - they never gave anything but her breastmilk/colostrum, and she saw the LC before the Ped even saw her baby (!!).

I do wonder whether the "only feed every three hours" was the way to go or not, maybe someone here knows that. It disturbed me since I know full-term newborns aren't limited like that and instead the AAP recommendation is "on demand" (although not all HCPs will follow that recommendation).

But they did no kangaroo care at all, and there was real emphasis on how babe needed to be in her box, by herself and not being tired out by her parents. I don't think they did kangaroo care at all.

OP - If I were you I'd find as many cited articles as you can (medical ones) and write a follow-up complaint. Demand a meeting with supervisors etc. and see what you can get done. If you sensed any support at all from any staff members there, see if they have advice about tone/approach. It's worth fighting for, on behalf of all the mothers who are too afraid and overwhelmed to question the staff at all.

[mommyddeville]

Did you deliver at the same hospital I did? I have had 2 kids who were both in the NICU. Both times, the doctor (same doctor) told me that he wouldn't let them leave until I gave them formula. I was so exhausted and brokenhearted about having babies in the NICU that I gave in both times. I still regret it.

I'm so sorry, mama. I know what it's like to look back on your child's hospital experience with heartbreak. I don't know what to do, but hugs to you.

[napua]

double post.

[annettemarie]

I think it's great that you're speaking out and standing up for mamas and babies. I've never had a preemie, but I've helped mamas with preemies nurse. Our hospital was very reluctant to try things like kangaroo care or even having covers on the isolettes to block out the harsh nursery lights (they were concerned they couldn't see the baby) but the mama I worked with kept advocating for her little baby, and ended up making a lasting change in how they dealt with premature babies. You're doing a great thing!

[napua]

Stories like this make me so upset. Both of my children were born early. My dd spent 3 months in a NICU in Virginia and my son spent 17 days in a NICU in North Carolina. With my dd the nurses tried everything they could to help me BF her. Everytime I brought in more milk, they praised me. This meant so much to me especially since I was only 21 at the time. When my DS was born almost 5 years later at another hospital, I found that they had different ways of handling things. The Drs seemed more concerned with allowing me time to hold and BF him than the nurses did. One of his Drs in particular was extremely helpful on getting him to the breast. By the time Miles had been home for one week, he was completely off the bottle (EBM) and totally on the breast. I am so happy to say that almost 10 months later and he is still EBF and has never had any formula.

Moms of NICU babies need so much support. Crap like the OP mentioned cannot be tolerated! I am disgusted at the way that so many medical professionals lack knowledge of the importance of breastfeeding.

Thank you for speaking up to your hospital!

[intorainbowz]

My NICU was very pumped milk friendly, but very direct breast feeding unfriendly. Over time, I learned which nurses were more BF friendly, and even on of the doctors was BF friendly.

I'm not in an emotional place right now to go there on all the examples :, but there were many.

There was formula on DD's cart, then they put it away because I was bringing in milk. Once I got there and there was formula on the cart. I asked why, and the nurse said, like silly mamma, well we have to feed her something. I said I brought 45 ounces the night before, there is plenty here. They had been place in the wrong spot and the nurse thought I had stopped pumping. GRRRR She got snippy when I made her throw out the formula she was about to feed DD and get my milk. I also got the doctor to remove all orders authorizing formula, as I basically said I no longer consent to formula feeding.

It seems that either the NICU is very good as to breast feeding or very bad.

[goldfinch]

My preemie twins were in the NICU for almost 2 weeks and the entire staff was very supportive of my desire to BF. The kids were so early that my milk hadn't yet come in, but I pumped around the clock and brought in whatever I had. They did have some formula via NG tube but by the time they left the hospital we were exclusive BF'ers. The NICU had nursing rockers, lactation consultants, the works -- and the staff was thrilled with my commitment to BFing.


RE: The pacifier taping... I didn't see what you saw, of course, but do you remember last month the international outrage over a Russian orphanage taping pacifiers over babies' mouths? I can only hope that what you saw was not, in fact, a pacifier taped onto a baby's mouth but instead maybe a breathing or feeding device secured with tape. Some of the assistive devices used to help my twins did look very violent and frightening, and did involve tape over their noses and sometimes mouths. I hope this is what you saw!

It sounds like you, and some others here, have had terrible NICU experiences, and I'm sorry about that! I feel lucky that the local NICU staff -- nurses and doctors alike -- was so pro-BF!

Edited to add: I would absolutely write letters to the NICU, the hospital head, board of trustees, etc., as other writers have suggested.

[Little Bear's Mama]

Oh wow. It's sad how common these NICU horror stories are.

Please write the head for the NICU, the hospital admin, any accrediting bodies, ect. And DO include articles from peer reviewed journals. There is LOTS of information out there about the benefits of breastmilk for all babies (including specific info for preemies), how bem helps prevent necrotizing entercolitis, the benefits of kangroo care, ect.

In the case of the OP, maybe ask someone at the hospital why newborns had pacifiers taped to their faces (you're sure it was a pacifier like a soothie or nuk, yes?). And, perhaps even consider mentioning the push for formula (including the bags!).


Thanks for doing this! You may very well help a lot of mothers and babies somewhere down the line.

[kawa kamuri]

I'm very proud of you.

[cahwilson]

It is nice to hear some of these good stories and very sad that others have had similar experiences. I am feeling overwhelmed at putting together a letter and finding the right place to get it too, but I feel strongly that I need to make a point here. I want to talk to someone and I really hope I can get through to them. I never realized that a negative birth experience would affect me for so long. I know I would feel much better if I knew others would not have to go through the same things I did.

About the paci's- I asked my mom (who was with me) because I was thinking maybe it could have been something else and she said they were soothies. I would really like to think they were something else, but I know the same thing has happened at a local hospital here before. I am going to think postive though and assume medical equiment and when I speak with someone at the hospital we can talk about it and what it could have been. Also I was thinking maybe I would talk to the LC group at the hospital as a start...they would surely have some good info and are very familiar with the hospital.

[intorainbowz]

Soothies are a brand of pacifier... used in hospitals. There is NO reason to tape a paci in. There is ONE paci used in positioning and protecting a vent tube, and that one could I guess be taped in place but that is part of the vent then.

I'm apalled at the thought of taping pacis IN babies mouths. For me as a former child welfare worker, that would be a situation for child welfare to be called against the staff doing that. I would have HIT THE ROOF if someone did that to DD. I'd be sueing.

I was thinking that maybe what you saw was the tape for the vent or feeding tubes or O2 UNDER the paci, not over. I sure hope so.

[kdabbler]

Originally Posted by homewithtwinsmama

http://mothering.com/articles/pregna...mama-nicu.html

If you go to the above link on mothering.com under birth stories you can read my NICU story. I find that your experience is common. The epilogue to my story is that I did an exit interview with the nurse manager and wrote a letter and hand carried it to the president of the hospital where I told my story and cited all the studies showing how fundamentally they were practicing non-evidence based care. The hosp. formed a committee to review the policies and the LC who helped me so much tells me that she is getting many more calls from the NICU and they are making some changes. I encourage you to be the squeaky wheel! I just reread and I think you should call and ask to speak to the person you sent the letter to or the NICU nurse manager or an administrator. Offer to fax or email your letter to that person if they didn't see it. Insist that you get some response. Tell them you will call JAACO and any other state hospital accreditation or oversight organizations if they do not respond. It can't hurt for them to know you are willing to push it further!

Lorrie

The epilogue to Lorrie's nightmare is a success story IMHO. A committee was formed, reviews were made and policy and practices were changed for the better!

Cahwilson, I work in medical administration. I deal with higher ups in the hospital all the time. I'm PM'g you to offer my help navigating your hospital's bureaucracy.