I work night-duty and see another side of this. By the time I get to work
the new Mum's who have had a rotten day are having an even worse night.
They have been told by midwives all day to put the baby to the breast, they
are exhausted, have nipple trauma etc. ... the midwives are so busy, they
have no time to do as much education and assistance as they would like too.
Unfair to the Mum's - Yes, but thats life on hospital wards, especially when
we have a mix of ages 0 - 90 on any given day.
by the time I get to work, (and it's happened enough), they are in tears,
desperate for assistance and want me to give this baby formula. One thing
that I find works for me is that I ask them if they are happy to stay awake
for another half an hour, I make sure that the baby is attached and sucking
well (regardless of if the baby fed an hour ago), then I make sure Mum has
drink/Panadol/hot pack etc, and get her into bed, settle baby and make sure
that she gets 3 solid hours of sleep.
Now, I know there will be many that criticise and say that the baby should
room in all the time and that mothers just have to get used to being tired,
but I think that we as midwives defeat our own purpose at times by being a
bit heartless. Many of the mother's request that the baby stays with them
the rest of the night once they have had the break and the 'formula
discussion' seems to be forgotten. It doesn't happen every night to every
Mum, but sometimes a litte bit of practical help (not just the education)
can make the difference between a Mum throwing her hands in the air and "I
Quit" to a women who knows that she will need a bit of help but can continue
to breast-feed.
Of course what I said above can be done if we are having a reasonable night,
but if it's busy, it just compounds the problems of the day, and the next
night she often will have suppressed. Frustrating at times.
>From: "Grant and Louise" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: "Ozmidwifery" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: re:formula without consent?
>Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2001 10:44:20 +1100
>
>Oh I see this happen regularly, consent is given - but not INFORMED
>consent.
>" Your baby NEEDS a bottle/comp/some food because s/he's
>hungry/dry/jaundiced/big/little/sleepy/crying/prem/overdue/urates in the
>nappy (or you've laboured/had a caesar/had diabetes/were overdue/had lots
>of
>visitors) " No discussion of alternatives or possible outcomes of the
>"little bottle".
>In the mothers eyes it's okay because WE ( who are classed as the medical)
>say so.
>Louise
>The cure for all things is salt water -
>Sweat, tears, or the sea.
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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