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Some opinions on hospital policy, please...
Hello, I've been primarily lurking here for the past few years and posted
a couple of times. I'm expecting my first any day now (already 3cm dilated, but not due until the 7th). I went and did all the classes at my hospital including breastfeeding, baby care, and prepared childbirth. This hospital (and the local area) is pretty pro-BF - about 90% of mothers start BFing in the hospital. The breastfeeding class was taught by a lactation consultant. The hospital has a whole team of LCs to help new mothers. She explained the problems with supplementing and how that could cause supply problems, etc - her whole lecture pretty much was in sync with what I have learned from reading this group. Then, I went to the baby care class. That class was taught by one of the mother/baby nurses (the ones who care for you after delivery). While she had BFed her children and was pretty pro-BF, she offered conflicting information. The one thing that bothered me most was that she said that if you had a big baby (her definition was over 8 lbs), colostrum would not be enough to satisify them and they would be wailing from hunger. She said that in these situations they let them sip an ounce of two of formula from a cup so that they feel full. Another Mom-to-be must of had a problem with this as well because she asked if they would do this without permission from the mother. The nurse made some kind of comment like 'you don't have to do it - but you'll be the one dealing with the starving baby.' So, I have a few problems with this. First of all, everything I've seen says that colostrum is plenty of nourishment for your baby over the first few days until your milk comes in. I can't imagine why an 8 lb baby would be any different. Plus, if the baby is crying to be fed, shouldn't you just put him to your breast? It seems like that's probably what he wants and don't you need the stimulation to help your milk come in and to determine the supply? It appears that I have a good chance of having a large baby (DH and I were both 9 lbs and this one seems on the large side), so I'm afraid that they are going to try to push the formula thing on me. They seem to think that since they aren't using a bottle and nipple, it's not a problem. I'm worried that I'm just going to be so overwhelmed that I'll just follow anything they say and that might not be the best thing for baby. I just want to know if I'm right in thinking that this is unnecessary so that I feel confident when I tell the nurse that I don't want my baby to have any formula. If it doesn't seem like a big deal to anyone else then I won't worry about it. Thanks, Manda |
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Some opinions on hospital policy, please...
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Some opinions on hospital policy, please...
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Some opinions on hospital policy, please...
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#6
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Some opinions on hospital policy, please...
Astromum wrote:
You should worry about it and make it absolutely clear that you do not want *anything* supplemented to the baby unless there is a distinct medical reason. I've been to a hospital with the policy 'if she doesn't see, she doesn't know and it doesn't do any harm'. Well, they *know* now I could tell Yeah, well, that's what my hospital said, and I'm pretty sure Patrick had some formula when I was knocked out in recovery. So make sure you put that sign in the bassinet!! :-) E |
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Some opinions on hospital policy, please...
Mary W. wrote:
Check with your ped what level of glucose they want to supplement at - might be different from the hospital. Also, try to nurse before supplementing, colostrum is packed full of what baby needs and is often sufficient to bringing up the glucose level. Definitely - DS was born with low blood sugar, undoubtedly because I'd had to fast all day. They wanted to supplement. I nursed him and it brought it right up. IF they're concerned about low blood sugar, I'd insist that they let you nurse him first THEN check his blood sugar. And furthering the big baby database - DS was 9lbs 10oz and did fine from birth to past a year on breastmilk alone. -- iphigenia www.tristyn.net |
#8
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Some opinions on hospital policy, please...
three of my four were 8# babies (the other one was early)
they were all perfectly happy with colostrum they roomed in (mostly... I did send them to the nursery for short stints), and nursed a lot. As my mama is fond of saying "Air doesn't refuse to carry words." Just cuz the nurse says it, doesn't make it so. Esther |
#9
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Some opinions on hospital policy, please...
You are so lucky to find this out NOW when you can still gather information and
advice rather than find out as they are putting the formula into him or after it has been said and done! Others have offered great advice, such as the sign in the bassinette, rooming in, and nursing first if they are concerned about blood sugar. The only thing I have to add is that you might want to bring it to the attention of the charge nurse that this bad advice is being distributed in the childbirth/childcare class. Not sure if you're up for that, or if you'd even be taken seriously, but it may be worth a shot. Have a great birth and a wonderful nursing relationship! koa Still nursing James, 02/06/01 EP'ing for Joey 04/02/03 (BCP) |
#10
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Some opinions on hospital policy, please...
o, I have a few problems with this. First of all, everything I've seen
says that colostrum is plenty of nourishment for your baby over the first few days until your milk comes in. I can't imagine why an 8 lb baby would be any different. Plus, if the baby is crying to be fed, shouldn't you just put him to your breast? It seems like that's probably what he wants and don't you need the stimulation to help your milk come in and to determine the supply? Yes. Room in with the baby and just nurse it when it asks, and you should be fine. :-) My mom had an 8 pound 12 ounce, an 8 pound 5 ounce, and a 10 pound 9 ounce baby after I was old enough to remember, and I don't remember any of them wailing from hunger while the milk came in. It sounds like the nurse in question was thinking of big babies *with scheduled feeds* to me. -- Caryn mama to Oscar, 10/20/02 |
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