Hospital failing a nursing mother rant!

[Bumperlicious]

My friend and occasional mnetter (Lcy) had her baby on monday. 2 weeks over due and an emergency c sec, but still managed to get bfing started successfully.

Anyway I have had a text from her, she is back hospital poorly, she asked the hospital to only give her meds that were suitable for bfing as it was really important to her, so they said they checked, gave her the meds. Turns out they didn't check, the tablets were contraindicated to bfing the baby has had to be monitored all night for effects, my friend has had to pump and dump and the nurses had to feed the baby SMA, of which she would only take one bottle, so both mum and baby have cried all night.

I don't have any more info from her at the moment, so don't need any advice (yet) but just wanted to rant at the fucking incompetence of the medical profession and their complete lack of support for a nursing mother. Why does it have to be such a fucking struggle for us!

[MrsJamin]

That's really bad, once it's all over she should make a written complaint to make sure things are changed in the hospital - there's no excuse for it.

[becaroo]

Tell me about it!

I am 37 weeks and last week I needed antibiotics for a water infection (which I have had for some time but no-one bothered to give me my test results!)

I am allergic to penecillin and they prescribed something I had never heard of so double checked when I got home and it was not safe to take in the 3rd trimester!!!!

Took 2 days of wrangling with GP/hosptial to get alternative meds sorted.

I really sympathise with your poor friend - she must be devastated....but I cant say I am surprised

[DKMA]

Bumper - I would want the name of the person who signed that prescription and I would demand they explained themself to me!
All to often this kind of thing happens (ime) and no one is held accountable.
Or
There could be an explaination - ie, there was no alternative (however, she should have been informed).
If it was a junior dr then they need to learn (and not do it again!) and if it is a senior dr then ......... well......... they should know better!
I suppose Lcy might not feel stong enough to kick off like that though, hope she feels better very soon

[3littlefrogs]

In a situation like that, a clinical incident form should have been completed, and the incident should be fully investigated. Agree, once all over and safely home, your friend should make a written complaint and ask for the findngs of the enquiry.

[LackaDAISYcal]

bumper, am for Lcy and she should be making sure that heads roll over this one, if she has the strength. I hope that she is on the mend and that she will be home soon and able to get back on course with the breastfeeding.

One thing though; are they really sure the meds aren't suitable? My experience in the hospital with DD showed me that even consultants on the post natal wards and the hospital pharmacists don't know what is what with drugs and Bfing. As you know contraindicated to BFing doesn't necessdarily mean they can't be given, just that the pharmaceutical company haven't carried out any costly trials.

there is information avialable here if you want to check for her, as well as other sites and on the breastfeeding network site and La Leche League.

Send her my love won't you

[tiktok]

Bumperlicious - the effects of pumping and dumping (inconvenience and hassle, which can be majorly irritating and not as effective anyway as bf in maintaining supply) and the effect of SMA on the baby are likely to be more deletirious to the baby and to bf than the meds...I say that as an educated guess, 'cos I am neither medical nor in possession of the name of the meds! Most meds are actually not unsafe when breastfeeding, and if there are risks, they need to be compared with the risks to the baby's health and to breastfeeding of suspending breastfeeding in this way.

Your friend has been badly let down in all ways by the hospital staff

[onepieceoflollipop]

Very sad and angry for your friend.

Agree with DAISY about the suitableness or otherwise of meds.

[Bumperlicious]

Thanks for all the replies. Still only have limited info but she is off the meds and baby is happily feeding again. They are both real troupers.

They think she has/had an epidural drip (?), something like leaking cerebral spinal fluid giving her migraines whenever she stood up.

I think she is ok now, probably just wants to get it sorted and get back home to her DH with her baby. But when she is better hopefully she can pursue this. I did suggest she try and contact a BFC about the meds, but obviously they have stopped them or replaced them.

Thanks for the replies anyway, hopefully she will see this thread when she gets out.

[DKMA]

Daisy - It's not the cost that is the issue for the drug companies re data on bf - it's the ethics committee that rarely allow drugs to be tested in pg or bf iykwim.

[foxythesnowfox]

Oh poor Lcy. Please send her some love from me. Have been thinking of her.

[LackaDAISYcal]

thanks DKMA