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Infant feeding

breastfeeding after an accident

12 replies

Elasticwoman · 18/09/2007 21:44

My friend was in a car accident, unfortunately, this summer. She's up and walking now, and her 2 children were unhurt, but at the time she was in considerable pain, having seriously damaged her back.

Staff at the hospital must have asked her 20 times if she was pregnant, before giving her the strong painkillers she needed. They forgot to ask her if she was bf, and when her 18 mo came to see her she bf him as normal! Luckily the ill effects to the child were short term, but why do doctors tell mothers "breast is best" and then assume they are not still doing it a few months down the line? Staff must have known about her dc as they were in the car with her at the time of the accident.

Bf mothers of toddlers do not go round with a big badge on saying I'm Still At It, do they?

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hunkermunker · 18/09/2007 21:45

It's just assumed that you won't be bfing after 6m, if at all, ime

Hope your friend's OK now and thank goodness the children were unhurt.

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coleyboy · 18/09/2007 21:47

People just don't think.

I have been in hospital with ds for an extended period, and I find it really sad that the doc's and nurses always assume the babies on the ward are bottle fed.

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NotQuiteCockney · 18/09/2007 21:49

This really is a common assumption. After I had DS2, some registrar was talking about booking me in for my six-week check, saying they would be checking my period had returned.

I'm pretty sure that periods don't come back that quickly, even if you don't bf, do they?

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Elasticwoman · 18/09/2007 21:52

at the ignorance of your registrar NQC!

Thanks Hunker but my friend is still in backbrace caring for toddler at home with little help.

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laura032004 · 18/09/2007 21:53

It's wrong of them to presume, but I always mention it when getting any medications just in case. Even if it's just as an eye opener to the doc

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Jojay · 18/09/2007 21:54

It is wrong of them to make assumptions, but I have to say, I'm suprised she didn't check that it was ok before she fed her dc.

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Elasticwoman · 18/09/2007 21:55

Sure my friend would have if she'd been compos mentis!

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Elasticwoman · 18/09/2007 21:55

mentioned the bf, that is.

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Jojay · 18/09/2007 21:57

Fair enough

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hunkermunker · 18/09/2007 22:08

I always mention it too, because I like to put the idea at the forefront of HCPs' minds. I've often been pleasantly surprised by how encouraging they are of it. But I've also been v disappointed by some comments (one doctor who said "do it for six months if you must" and "but...they bite!").

DS1 had to have a kidney scan when he was about 14mo and they said "give him his bottle and he'll probably doze off while he's having it done". So I said, "He's still breastfed and doesn't have a bottle as a comfort thing and as I'm pregnant and this is a scan using radioactive dye and I can't be anywhere near him, he'll have to cuddle his bear instead!"

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moondog · 18/09/2007 22:10

They were very kind and attentive to me on the other hand when i had to go into hospital when fel ill in Brighton on a weekend visit to see my sister when dd was 11 mths old.

Bent ovver backwards to accommodate us.

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Elasticwoman · 18/09/2007 22:10

Wouldn't a child choke if he dozed off while taking a bottle, Hunker?

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