Mothering › Forums › Breastfeeding › Lactivism › Ribena is better than breastmilk for a sick baby apparently *update post 9*
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Ribena is better than breastmilk for a sick baby apparently *update post 9*  

post #1 of 11
12/21/07 at 4:20pm
Thread Starter 
nak

In case you don't have ribena in the states, it's a very strong sugary soft blackcurrant drink. It's yummy, but I don't give it to my kids cos of the high sugar content.
Both my kids have been sick, and I took my youngest to the Dr today as I was concerned I could not rouse him from his afternoon nap he went 2.5 hrs while he usualy only sleeps a hr) also I could hear his chest was rattly and his eyes looked red (big brother just had pinkeye)
He asked about how baby was eating and I said he has no interest in solids but he is taking breastmilk fine. He said he would recommend giving juice "like say Ribena" over milk : I said we don't give juice, only water if we feel it's needed (with meals) I have been giving him the occasional sip of water but mostly just breastmilk.
He then agreed with me that was better, I wondered if he was thinking of formula not being as good to give sick babies (I know very little about this but my mum tells me you should not give formula to a sick baby as it curdles in the stomach.
post #2 of 11
12/21/07 at 4:38pm
My baby is sick, can I have some Ribena? For me of course!!

The dr. seriously suggested Ribena for the little one?? :
post #3 of 11
12/21/07 at 7:24pm
Oh my - your health care providers are not up to date on breastfeeding at all, are they? Not the health visitor and not the doctor. There have been so many problems from Ribena - it isn't even juice! (Not that a baby needs juice - but to suggest Ribena... wow.) I can't believe he said that.

I hope that you are an inspiration to them, and that they learn from you!
post #4 of 11
12/21/07 at 7:27pm
:
post #5 of 11
12/21/07 at 7:34pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PatioGardener View Post
Oh my - your health care providers are not up to date on breastfeeding at all, are they? Not the health visitor and not the doctor. There have been so many problems from Ribena - it isn't even juice! (Not that a baby needs juice - but to suggest Ribena... wow.) I can't believe he said that.

I hope that you are an inspiration to them, and that they learn from you!
you're so right! I've been given so much misinformation in the 3 yrs I've been breastfeeding.. Would have been sabotaged if I wasn't so well read on the subject before I even started! My niece is pregnant and wants to BF, I bought her the Jack Newman book for Christmas hoping she will read up and at least be able to argue her corner, she will need to from my experience!
post #6 of 11
12/21/07 at 8:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claire and Boys View Post
My niece is pregnant and wants to BF, I bought her the Jack Newman book for Christmas hoping she will read up and at least be able to argue her corner, she will need to from my experience!
What a wonderful gift - she is lucky to have such a thoughtful aunt!

Speaking of not so helpful doctors, have you had any experience with the breastfeeding info or helpline run by the National Childbirth Trust? I wonder if they are of any help to women in situations similar to yours? If you weren't so aware you would have been sabotaged since you are without a choice of doctors and with little community breastfeeding support.
post #7 of 11
12/21/07 at 9:13pm
Thread Starter 
I haven't spoken to that one personally, although there are others I have had dealings with. The LCs here are pretty good IME. It's the regular Drs and health visitors that give terrible advice.
I actually like my Dr, but just don't listen to him with anything that involves BFing!

The sabotage I speak of was a particular Dr in the Childrens Ward in the hospital that tried to tell me my son was FTT after weighing him on a scale placed on a BED, yes a non spirit level surface, and spouted some rubbish about needing to know exactly what his intake was and there was no way they could possibly know that with breastfeeding so it would be better if we were formula feeding. (He wasn't there because of his weight at all, but because his belly button was herniated) I argued with him and he was weighed 4 days later on a proper scale setup by a midwife who showed he was half a pound over his birthweight..
post #8 of 11
12/22/07 at 1:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claire and Boys View Post
The sabotage I speak of was a particular Dr in the Childrens Ward in the hospital that tried to tell me my son was FTT after weighing him on a scale placed on a BED, yes a non spirit level surface, and spouted some rubbish about needing to know exactly what his intake was and there was no way they could possibly know that with breastfeeding so it would be better if we were formula feeding.
Right. Because, it's not like you can, I don't know, WEIGH the baby before and after he eats and calculate the difference, you know? I mean, that can't be done.

(Where's the sarcasm smilie?)
post #9 of 11
12/24/07 at 2:17pm
Thread Starter 
Well, Seamus and I just got home from hospital, he was hospitalized with bronchiolitis and while we were there the SAME stupid doctor was there from when we were there last time (who had told me it was better if I formula fed as then they would know what he was getting)
Seamus was wheezing and had already been diagnosed with a chest infection but his condition was worsening. The Dr said as well as needing oxygen he would need a feeding tube. I said I don't see why as although he is off solids he is taking in plenty of breastmilk, he still had plenty of wet nappies. Dr argued with me and started poking baby trying to look for signs of dehydration. He didn't find any and eventually said well we will need a tube for extra water. I still saw no reason and made a point of telling the nurses he has been weeing lots and they could see on his chart (I put on there that in 6 hrs Seamus had had 4 wet and 2 dirty nappies) So there was no mention any more of a feeding tube yay!
My argument was if he had a feeding tube he would be less inclined to BF and the mama milk was what he needed to get better. And a baby just getting BM does not need extra water.
I think this particular dr is very mistrustful of BFing, I had one nurse tell me that while the maternity ward they are very helpful in that respect the ones on the childrens ward very rarely see breastfed babies (nearly everyone here either FFs by choice or stops BFing in the first few days) so they are just not used to it.
post #10 of 11
12/24/07 at 8:31pm
Good for you, Claire!!

Sometimes you really have to stand up and be confident to deal with them.


Hope your baby is felling lots better soon.
post #11 of 11
12/24/07 at 11:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Claire and Boys View Post
the ones on the childrens ward very rarely see breastfed babies (nearly everyone here either FFs by choice or stops BFing in the first few days) so they are just not used to it.
Thus proving that bf babies are healthier!



I love Ribena!!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Lactivism
This thread is locked  
Mothering › Forums › Breastfeeding › Lactivism › Ribena is better than breastmilk for a sick baby apparently *update post 9*