Curious - what would you have done? - Page 2

[thepeach80]

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disor...n-15434?page=3

This breaks down the #s a little. 11 is not bad at all. AJ topped out at 20 at 3.5 days old and they never did any treatments. They didn't push formula, but they snuck him some in the nursery (things I learned recently by rereading his medical records) so maybe that's why. I had a friend whose son was admitted to the NICU for his levels (which again was totally unnecessary based on everything I've read) and they were trying to force her to give it to him too. She finally found a pump and started pumping instead of using formula.

[RootSnort]

I don't know what my son's levels were, but he was visibly yellow for a week after he was born. But no one tried to push formula on us. I believe that we were saved by having a WONDERFUL LC at my hospital who is very involved in policy, and has inspired me to want to get my LC certs as well.

So, I think a lot of it has to do with who works there. Mother-baby care seems to be a very political thing, and I noticed this just being in the hospital for 5 days.

I believe that we CAN effect change by getting the hospital LCs to get involved in the policies.

[phreedom]

Originally Posted by mclisa

I was even willing to consider transferring to the NICU to have an IV placed if it came to that.

That reasoning kind of bothers me. Did you mean have an IV placed rather than just giving formula...if the baby truely needed it at that time? (I'm talking about a few ounces...) I think the risks of an IV outweigh the risks of a few ounces of formula. I think if for some freak reason my milk wasn't in by 4-5 days and it was determined my baby needed fromula I would rather her just get the formula then be subjected to a painful procedure such as an IV or an OGT/NGT insertion. That being said...

I don't think in the OP's situation formula was really that necessary especially if the baby was BF well. And I do think too often hospital staff/family members/doctors are way to quick to push formula on a new BFing mom for whatever reason, when it's not really necessary. I remember my family trying to coax me to give a bottle because the baby seemed to be nursing all the time (ya think?). Nurses coaxing me because she was losing weight and looked yellow (her bili peaked at 8...never went above that). I think the only one who wasn't pushing it was DD's doctor.

[DigitalSuze]

Honestly, if I'd been in your position...I probably would've given the formula under that kind of pressure. It's so hard to think straight after you've just had a baby...and when you've got doctors ganging up on you, it's no good.

My ds had elevated bilirubin in the hospital, too. I think he went up to 12. Now, my ped. described that as low -- said he wouldn't worry unless it started creeping up near 20. They sent me home and told me to nurse him as often as possible and give him some exposure to sunlight. The next day, we had his levels checked again and they were slightly higher -- but the ped said he wasn't alarmed and to keep on nursing. He said it could take a month for it to disappear entirely and that the whites of his eyes (which were yellow) would be the last sign of jaundice to disappear. I was to watch for his legs to look yellow, and call them if that happened (which never did, happily).

It made all the difference having a bfing supportive ped.

[mama24-7]

(((hugs)))

You were in a *very vulnerable* position and being ganged up on. You knew what you wanted and they disregarded that. I think I would have done the same thing, especially if it were my first baby, since so many things happened that'd I'd said to my then midwives (actually medwives) expressly I did not want to happen. Acutally, I did give formula to my dd against my wishes and I think, erroneously, so I know how you feel. I told my mom I felt like I was giving her donuts to fatten her up for them.

I've learned from experience that if I ever need to give birth in a hospital again, I will not do it w/o a trusted doula. Even if I have the same midwives that I had for my last birth, a homebirth.

Hospitals, for the most part, seem to be all about the numbers, the clock, the charts, etc., and very little about the patient. I don't know about bili numbers, but sounds like they pressured you when it was medically unnecessary. Since you said you're not sure now what you think of your ped, I would suggest you bring it up and/or consider finding a new one. This was a new experience for you, one you weren't prepared for, and there may be other new things that come up w/ this baby. Figuring out how you'll handle that may be a good idea now.

You really tried hard. You were in no place to stand up for yourself and your baby. You're home now, heal from the experience, come up w/ a plan, and enjoy your baby. Time goes much more quickly with the 2nd one!

Sus

[2boyzmama]

Don't beat yourself up...

Bottom line: You have a happy, healthy baby. You are a successful mama!! So your baby had a few ounces of formula...so what? We all know it's not "ideal", but it's also not deadly. As long as your baby isn't rejecting the breast now, then there really isn't a problem. You didn't do anything wrong. Any mom who has had a hospital birth knows how easy it is to fall into the trap of "well meaning medical professionals" that mis-quote and mis-guide, and that isn't your fault. That post partum period is the most vulnerable time in your life, you're exhausted, sore, scared, intimidated, and here's this helpless creature in your arms that you'd give your own life for. So no, you didn't do anything wrong.

The doctors, on the other hand, did. A bili of 8-9 at 24 hours old is a little elevated, but they should have monitored it with increased feedings-at the breast-over the next 48-72 hours before making any decisions. We, as moms, read and prepare a wealth of information before our babies are born, but we probably don't brush up on newborn jaundice. We trust that our doctors will know what's best for our babies. Whether that's true or not is hit-or-miss.

Like I said, bottom line is that your baby is happy and healthy, and still breastfeeding. Good for you mama!!!

Mama to Ian (3-17-05) : and Connor (3-3-07) : :

[Anglyn]

nak

heres a tip to avoid the whole issue next time: refuse the vitamin K shot, unless you have some reason to beleive your chld is in danger of hemoraging for some reason.

I learned while I was pg. with number three that vit k is linked to high rates of jaundice. Funniest thing, first two got the shot and got jaundcie, second two, no shot, no jaundice.

But yea I a gree with pp that it was just a bit and its in the past, forgive yourself and move on!

[RootSnort]

Originally Posted by Anglyn

nak

heres a tip to avoid the whole issue next time: refuse the vitamin K shot, unless you have some reason to beleive your chld is in danger of hemoraging for some reason.

I learned while I was pg. with number three that vit k is linked to high rates of jaundice. Funniest thing, first two got the shot and got jaundcie, second two, no shot, no jaundice.

But yea I a gree with pp that it was just a bit and its in the past, forgive yourself and move on!

WOW! I didn't know that - very bad!!!!