Woohoo for these mommas!

[MrsRitchie]

I work in an ICU and this past week we had two postpartum moms up there on ventilators. Anyway, both had breastfed their other child(ren) and asked/motioned/family mentioned that they'd like us to pump for them. So that's what I spent alot of my time during the shift doing- pumping their breasts for them (and then dumping out that liquid gold cause of the meds in it...). Anway, I was so excited that these moms had their wishes expressed and that I was able to help them.

[elizaMM]

That's really really awesome! I'm surprised to discover-- I think I would feel honored! To do something so incredibly important.

Are y'all really really sure the breastmilk needs to be dumped? have the meds been check in Dr. Hale's book? cause it seems like often the assumption is that the milk is bad when its not. but if they are on ventilators that sounds pretty serious so maybe they are on some majorly crazy meds?

[mntnmom]

I find it scary that 2 different PP moms are on ventilators.....but I'm happy they're dedicated to BF, and have someone like you to help!!!: That's making the best out of a bad situation if I ever saw it!

[MaryJaneLouise]

Ditto on the checking with Dr. Hale's medication book. Maybe you could save the milk for later, when the babies are old enough to tolerate small amounts of meds, that they could not tolerate as brand newborns?

[MrsRitchie]

I would be shocked beyound belief if any of the meds they are currently on would be okay in breastmilk. I didn't see their meds list (I'm a student asst, not quite a nurse yet) but the nurses said it wasn't.

It is crazy that we have two in there (well, only one now, one got moved to the floor). One had a pulmonary embolism and one had abruptio placantae and really bad hemmoraghing.

[MaryJaneLouise]

Originally Posted by MrsRitchie

I would be shocked beyound belief if any of the meds they are currently on would be okay in breastmilk. I didn't see their meds list (I'm a student asst, not quite a nurse yet) but the nurses said it wasn't.

It is crazy that we have two in there (well, only one now, one got moved to the floor). One had a pulmonary embolism and one had abruptio placantae and really bad hemmoraghing.

Being a student nurse, this would be a good exercise for you to engage in. Look up from their medical charts exactly what meds they are on, what dosages they are, and what their ratings are in Dr. Hale's "Medications and Mother's Milk." Your hospital's medical library should have a copy. If they don't, they should have. It is relatively inexpensive.

[elizaMM]

Alternatively, you can look the meds up in Dr. Hale's book by using the "search inside" feature on amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Medications-Mo...5393258&sr=8-2

Get ready to be shocked beyond belief because meds in breastmilk are often very misunderstood by medical professionals.

[leafwood]

I think that's amazing and what lucky little babies they have waiting for them to recover!

[MrsRitchie]

At work I'm a student assisstant (Nurse Tech + I can do some other "nurse" things that a tech can't.). But it is not in my job category to need to know patients meds (except for like heparin and things like that that affect my job (shaving, etc). If I looked up their meds it could technically be considered a HIPPAA violation.

Regardless, one mom is already home and we moved the other to the floor the other day so it's a mute (moot?) point now.

[AuntNi]

Originally Posted by MrsRitchie

Regardless, one mom is already home and we moved the other to the floor the other day so it's a mute (moot?) point now.

Wow! I'm just THRILLED to hear they're doing better! :

[MrsRitchie]

I took the mom who had the abruption down to the NICU before we transferred her so she could hold her daughter for the first time and I was choking back tears!

[RootSnort]

The Moms were probably on sedatives such as Versed drips to keep them from fighting the ventilator. That and a paralytic. Those critical care sedative and paralytic meds are not something I'd want to keep the milk from. Glad they are better!

[MrsRitchie]

RootSnort- Versed and diprivan. That's pretty much standard protocol at our hospital for vent patients.

I "know" those but not from looking through their charts. I was kind of offended at the attitudes from some of the responses on here for some reason. I am just happy these moms are going to be able to nurse their babies when they are recovered. I just wanted to share that sentiment and not get belittled for throwing the milk out.

[RolliePollie]

Originally Posted by MrsRitchie

RootSnort- Versed and diprivan. That's pretty much standard protocol at our hospital for vent patients.

I "know" those but not from looking through their charts. I was kind of offended at the attitudes from some of the responses on here for some reason. I am just happy these moms are going to be able to nurse their babies when they are recovered. I just wanted to share that sentiment and not get belittled for throwing the milk out.

I don't think anyone was belittling you for throwing the milk out. All I saw was encouragement to take that extra step for your patients.

[nevaehsmommy]

I wish I would have had ONE nurse supportive of nursing when I was in the hospital for hysterectomy. I had one nurse physcially try to stop me from nursing my daughter bc I was on a pain killer drip. I about took her smirk off her face. I told (read: yelling bloody murder) to never ever touch me or my daughter and to get infomed about meds in milk. She never came back.

Another time I was so engorgged I was leakinking everywhere. I had a pump in my room but was cut from tip of vagina to sternum. I was not able to pump by myself. I asked for help pumping and the nurse replied that it went beyond her job description. They put a blanket over my chest to catch the leakage.

I had to call the post partum floor to get help. I was on a surgical floor.

I would have loved to have a nurse that was even slightly interested in a nursing mom and how to keep the relationship going.....kudos to you mrsritchie

[elizaMM]

sorry :-(

Originally Posted by MrsRitchie

... I was kind of offended at the attitudes from some of the responses on here for some reason. I am just happy these moms are going to be able to nurse their babies when they are recovered. I just wanted to share that sentiment and not get belittled for throwing the milk out.

I'm very sorry you were offended and I certainly didn't mean to belittle you!! But thank you for saying how you feel. It just seams (mostly from reading on MDC) that there is much misunderstood about drugs in breastmilk and if there was a small chance that one or two people (the women's docs) could learn about the great resource that is Dr. Hale's book, it seemed like it would be worth it to mention it.

When I told my psychiatrist I was concerned about my babe going into withdrawal from Effexor after he was born he said that I should just breastfeed, like that would take care of it. Later I found out breastfeeding only gives them access to a miniscule amount of the med, and he very well may have experienced withdrawal, and that may have been why he had trouble latching, which could have resulted in formula feeding if I hadn't had really good help from an IBCLC. So that's where my passion comes from....

I'm really glad you shared that with us though! What important work!

[elizaMM]

Originally Posted by nevaehsmommy

Another time I was so engorgged I was leakinking everywhere. I had a pump in my room but was cut from tip of vagina to sternum. I was not able to pump by myself. I asked for help pumping and the nurse replied that it went beyond her job description. They put a blanket over my chest to catch the leakage.

Now that's just terrible! So glad you found the help you needed!