I just had my second child 4 days ago and I was really set on breastfeeding since I had to give it up with my first child. Unfortunately there were complications during my delivery and we both got an infection. When he was born they took him straight to the nicu without me seeing him. I had another c-section so I couldn't go see him straight away and they didn't want him to be fed yet. They told me that after a certain amount of time though when I was able to get into a wheelchair that they would allow me to feed him. Instead they brought me a pump and wanted me to do that. I made it perfectly clear to them that I didn't want him to have a bottle or a binky because I knew it would be harder to switch him. Instead of listening to me, by the time they let me see him they had already given him a binky and several feedings of formula. Needless to say he refused the breast and is still refusing. I asked several times for a breastfeeding consultant to help me switch him and they never sent..
2006-09-20 14:14:12 · 32 answers · asked by Chelle's Belle 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
one. I got extremely angry with my nurses. They had completely disregarded my wishes and rights as his mother. I started demanding for the things that I wanted and they told me if I didn't calm down they would refuse to let me see my child and that they would have me confined to my room. How is that they are allowed to do that? I felt completely helpless and powerless to the decisions made about my son. Did I overreact in getting angry? They were allowed to pick him up and carry him but I wasn't? Now we are home and I'm struggling to get a breastpump before I dry up, I do not want him on formula and because of my outburst they put me on anti depressants. Is this right. Opinions and advice is much needed.
2006-09-20 14:18:22 · update #1
Keep insisting because it's not too late. I didn't get to breast feed my son until he was 3 days old. He was in the NICU as well, and on IV. The nurses were VERY supportive and luckily he just latched on right away. I would pump just to make sure the milk supply is being stimulated. And to feed him your milk until you can get him to latch on. Ask them to attach a tube to your breast that will release amounts of formula to get him to want to suck. Most hospitals do that. Don't give up! Good luck.
2006-09-20 14:19:00 · answer #1 · answered by Mommy2Liam 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't think you overreacted, it's horrible that you had to go through an experience like that.....but think about it......what happened is over and done with. Being angry and upset is going to do nothing but harm you and the ability to nurse your baby. What is important right now is that your son is getting breast milk-weather it is from you or the bottle. Be patient, breastfeeding is not easy, it was one of the hardest things I have even done. The best advise I can give when you are trying to nurse your baby is to relax and be patient and it will happen. Your baby can learn to switch from bottle to breast. Perhaps you can feed him you breast milk from a spoon or from a cup if you keep having problems. Good luck with everything!
2006-09-20 14:35:21 · answer #2 · answered by Carlyn 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Oh goodness. That would really have pissed me off. Keep trying is all I can tell you. Squeeze a little out of your nipple to let the baby get a taste of it. Do not wait until the baby is hungry, or else he or she will be too impatient to latch on. Keep trying, every feeding. Find a comfortable spot, lay him down facing your breast, and pray for the best. He or she will come around. I fed both bottle and breast for the first several days, it was tough to get off the bottle, but eventually, baby realized that breast is best. If you cannot get a hold of a consultant, call the hospital where I live and ask for Jeanie Bihl. Tell her you got her name from an old client, explain your situation, and simply ask for advice. She will give it to you and she is an excellent consultant. The phone number is 740-335-1210. It's a small hospital in Ohio, but an excellent one. The best of luck to you.
2006-09-20 14:22:44 · answer #3 · answered by nonametomention 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am so on your side with this one!!! They had ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHT to threaten you like that!!!! Not to mention the fact that they fed your babuy formula and gave a binky without your consent?? That place would have gotten an ear full from me and when they would have even mentioned putting me on an anti-depressant, I would have refused. Did you know that it is your right to refuse treatment? Did you know that you have the right to do as you please with your baby? Patient rights are the same throughout the US. Did you know that you can threaten a lawyer on them? I would highly recomend it!! This is your child that was being born HOW DARE THEY take away such a precious memory!!! I do wish you the best of luck! I really hope that things work out in your favor :)
2006-09-20 14:50:03 · answer #4 · answered by fwog_fwog 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, you didn't overreact! You are absolutely justified in being angry with them. You wouldn't believe the stories I've heard of hospitals pulling this kind of thing. They are *not* supposed to keep your baby from you when you ask for it. If you request that your baby be with you *at all times*, they are supposed to do everything possible to keep the baby with you 24/7. When you request that your baby never be given a pacifier/binky, bottle, or formula at all, they are supposed to respect your wishes. They're not even supposed to give sugar water, when you tell them not to (which is ridiculous in the first place).
You were right to be angry! And they way freaking overstepped their bounds by threatening you with keeping your child from you and confining you to the room. I have *never* heard of that. I'm disgusted with the treatment you recieved.
To keep your breastmilk from drying up: keep trying to get your baby to nurse, get a pump as soon as possible and use it as often as you can, eat oatmeal (the real kind in the cylinder box, not the instant kind), and look for fenugreek capsules to take (fenugreek is a great galactogogue- 5 capsules twice a day is the dosage, i think- when you smell like maple syrup, you've got the dosage correct).
Stop taking the antidepressants, if you haven't already. They were out of line in giving them to you for getting upset with the way they treated you.
Your patient rights were most certainly violated. Complain to the hospital and to the state medical board. Get in touch with the hospital superintendant and complain calmly, explaining everything that they defied you with, including the threats. Type up a letter with the same complaint and send it to the superintendant, as well, so that they'll have a hardcopy of your complaint.
(When I was Googling to make sure I had the correct term for something, I found this site: http://www.iatrogenic.org/complaint.html It has suggestions for complaining to the state about things like mistreatment by medical professionals.)
Situations just like the one(s) you experienced are exactly why I plan to give birth with only a good, approved-by-me midwife overseeing, instead of having two or three doctors and a dozen nurses interfering with my wishes. I'm sorry you had to experience that. :(
2006-09-20 17:50:42 · answer #5 · answered by ChiChi 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Visit LLLI"s website www.lalecheleague.org use the leader locator and find the closest La Leche League group closest to you.
Call one of the volunteer Leaders, explain your situation and get some good help by trained mothers who know what they are talking about. If you need more help than they can offer they will be able to direct you to a qualified lactation consultant.
Spend lots of time with baby on your chest skin-on-skin. Babies will latch on themselves when instict is given an opportunity. Offer your breast every 30 min, tickling babies UPPER lip with the nipple and then bring him on quick as soon as he gets a nice wide mouth. Keep trying, taking breaks if he starts to get frustrated.
You can offer the formula temporarily in a medicine cup or eye dropper giving tiny amounts so baby won't choke on it. The eyedropper can also be used at the breast to encourage baby.
Remember you had a difficult, medicated birth - this throws a wrench into things and babies need a little extra leeway in the learning proceess so their little bodies can get rid of the drugs they were exposed to labor.
CALL LA LECHE LEAGUE SUPPORT!
2006-09-21 03:22:58 · answer #6 · answered by Ricki L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was alerted to this question via an online forum hope you don't mind me answering:)
Where do I even start, there are so many thing wrong with the treatment and post-partum care that you have received!
IMO you have NOT over reacted at all they have breached your rights and your babies rights too under no circumstances can ANYBODY make the decision to give formula to your baby without your consent or that of the baby's father.
Wishing you the best of luck getting you little guy back on the breast, you can do it hang in there:)
2006-09-20 23:22:41 · answer #7 · answered by laura b 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your patient rights have been violated. It also sounds like a hostage like situation in the hospital. I'll bet if you speak to an attorney you will have a case against the hospital that will make them set up and take notice. Some people may even lose their jobs over it. If there is a husband involved , what was his perspective on the matter. When people state their wishes and expect to be listened to others shouldn't react as if they've committed a crime. Get yourself a copy of patients rights and you will see what I mean when I say your patient rights were violated and good for you for not giving up.
2006-09-20 15:13:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO YOU DIDN"T OVERREACT!! That is your baby and your decision on how you want to feed him. If you both had infections then the BEST thing to do would be to breastfeed. It gives your baby immunities. You had every right to react the way you did. And they had no right to threaten you and tell you you couldn't see your son. Just Ridiculous! I would make a BIG complaint to the hospital and specifically the nurses. Don't listen to anyone who says you didn't do the right thing. I hope things work out for you and your son. Breastfeeding is a special thing. Good Luck :)
2006-09-20 15:42:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The most important thing for a baby is to have a happy, relaxed mom. They were wrong, but they are not there now and tension doesn't make for good milk so it may make sense to let go of it. The baby is way too young to have formed an attachment to a bottle or binky and in fact many babies take both with ease. A hungry baby is a hungry baby. So its up to you to have the milk to feed him and so relaxation and plenty of fluids are key. Milk is pumped to keep production up, and sometimes to feed in a bottle if your nipples are sore. Using breast milk in a bottle can help daddy feel useful (and mom to catch up on rest) at the 2 am feeding. I'd be more worried about the drugs you are on getting passed to the baby. I know its common to become anxious when so much pressure is put on moms to breast feed, but, you know, there are many, many bright, happy,healthy, intelligent children who were completly bottle-fed. A happy mother is more important throughout life than where the poor child had lunch. On a more practical level, offer the baby the breast first whe hes hungry so the urge to suck will be strongest . Good luck and enjoy your little one.
2006-09-20 14:39:09 · answer #10 · answered by justa 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋