Getting the message to doctors and their staff

[lacysmommy]

After seeing my SIL's breastfeeding relationship go up in flames due in part to bad medical advice, and now seeing my sister trusting her ER doctor completely when she was told to pump and dump for 5 days while she's taking prednisone and other medications for a severe allergic reaction and rash (he actually told her, "well, it probably won't kill him..."), I've decided to dedicate my lactivism toward getting the word out to doctors and other medical professionals that work with women. I know that all medical professionals need to learn more about lactation, but first I would like to focus on ER doctors/nurses, family doctors and pediatricians. Once that has been done move on to OBGYNs and all other specialties.

What I'd like the doctors to know:
*Breastfeeding is the default method of feeding and preferred in most situations
*The book Medications and Mother's Milk is a valuable resource that all medical professionals should have access to
*What the real risks of formula feeding can be
*It's okay to not know everything about lactation, and if you're not sure refer the mother to someone who is an expert in that field

I live in my state's capitol and have worked in state government, so I'm considering contacting the Department of Health to try to work with someone on getting a pamphlet prepared for doctors, organizing events to talk about the basics of human lactation (maybe a trade show type event sponsored by the DOH/WIC or something?) and starting a grassroots campaign to require so many hours of lactation training for certain medical fields.

I also know several area doctors personally because there are a lot of doctors that go to my church. I'm hoping they'll be able to help me out in some way. I'm just not sure how.

Any other ideas/thoughts?

[Purple Sage]

I think this is a good idea. I'm always surprised at how little doctors know about breastfeeding. For example, my OB with my last baby tried to talk me into getting a flu shot by telling me that I couldn't breastfeed if I had the flu because I'd pass it to the baby in my milk. Can you believe it? : As it turns out, my entire household did come down with the flu that winter - except my then 3 month old breastfed baby.

[homewithtwinsmama]

I got one. This just happened to my young cousin. After two months of problems initiating breastfeeding (and no real good advice from her ped, only middle of the night calls to me) she finally got things going well. Then she got bit by a wild cat. It takes two weeks to put down the animal and test for rabies. Her ped told her that she could pass rabies through the breastmilk and kill him. She would have to pump and dump and give him Nutramagin (allergenic formula since she is on a total elimination diet because her son has severe gastric issues). He screamed for 12 straight hours on this stuff. Her mother had the bright idea to call the CDC about it. Guess what, can't pass rabies in the breastmilk. Baby suffered a whole day for that pediatrician's ignorance. Having taught childbirth education for 8 years I have a hundred stories like that.

Lorrie

[Meiri]

I've tried, no clue as to success. After being brow-beaten into thinking I'd have to not nurse DD for 10 days (an eternity for a 6 month old) due to the antibiotic for the post-op infection (which the surgeon's partner had prescribed precisely because he knew I was nursing and knew it was safe), I wrote a long letter to the hospital suggesting that the ER should have an updated edition of Dr.Hale's book available in the ER itself.

No clue if they've done so. Fortunately for us, at that time, DD's ped was also an LC. She laughed at their ignorance and told me to nurse my sweet baby.

When my surgeon was concerned about a particular med, I had a number back then that was for doctors to call with such questions. He used it, opted to not give me the different med.

Some can be taught.

[Jen_in_NH]

I think it's a great idea. ANother thought for you - do you live near any medial schools, nursing schools, etc? If you can get out information to future practioners while they're still learning, it could be very helpful.

Good luck!

Jen

[St. Margaret]

I think is is a fantastic idea. This is possible the first key to more BF success. I'd love to pass along any pamphlet to my area docs... or help in other ways. PM me if there's anything a SAHM in CA can do...

[krystyn33]

That is so important. So many people look to doctors as authorities rather than researching an issue on their own. The misinformation and lack of education about BFing among ped's seriously undermines BFing.

[PiesandAbrosmama]

In my town the core group of LLL members 6 to be exact are going to have a brainstorming lunch to discuss this very thing. The medical system in this area is very uninformed and in my doula opinion sabatoging (spell?) the women here into not breastfeeding because of horriable advice and help.

Such as the Lactation consultant requires you to buy or rent a breast pump, hands out these plastic "nipple shield covers" out like candy to every breastfeeding mother and, no ones allows rooming in. I am feeling like to actually breastfeed here you have to know what you are doing and be one strong willed mama! So I am looking for advice or ideas as well, how to we inform our medical establishment in our towns to understand and actually help women breastfeed.