Infant feeding - what do you want your GP to know?

[user1498741230]

Hello, I'm writing some educational materials for GPs about infant and toddler feeding (milk, weaning, problems). What would you like your GP to know about these areas? Thanks for any helpful input.

That breastfeeding a 2 year old is not an inconceivable thing. The look that is often on their face when they suggest a treatment for whatever is wrong with me and I ask if it is compatible with breastfeeding and my 2 year old is sat there chattering away. Pharmacists also need to be aware of this when women are trying to buy over the counter medication (Though I did have a lovely pharmacist spend a long time helping me with the question of whether I could take threadworm medicine that says not suitable for breastfeeding when I was also giving the same medicine to the 2 year old that was being breastfed).

That formula is acceptable and not the Devil's work and that the mental health of the mother is far more important than the origin or method lof delivery of milk.

That reflux is NOT normal and can have a huge ongoing impact on a child's development and should not just be dismissed as 'they'll grow out of it'.

That you can have Reynaud's present in your breast, and to consider it as a cause of pain at the time of or in between feeds if mastitis/thrush/poor latch have been ruled out/are unlikely.

I had weeks of treatment for thrush (the applying topical treatments actually made it worse), before a bf advisor plus the internet made me realise I just needed to stay warmer!

Definitely tongue tie - going through hell with it with my newborn at the moment and it would have been good if HCPs had more awareness of it so it could have got sorted sooner (we're actually getting it sorted privately as the wait on the NHS would be too long and risk me having to stop BF altogether).

My GP had never heard of ductal thrush. I had to take in print-outs from the Internet and ask for specific treatment. He did his own Googling and final wrote a prescription but for a weaker strength that did no good. Had to go back a week later for stronger stuff and if finally went. Was three years ago now, but I wonder how many GPS would automatically diagnose mastitis.

Tongue tie - it's real, may need a referral

Reflux - it's real, not just mums being paranoid or unrealistic about how much babies like to cry

Thrush - both mother and baby need to be treated otherwise it will pass between the two. Knowledge that prescribing antibiotics for any reason is a risk for thrush, preemptively discussing that with a breastfeeding mum when writing the prescription would be ideal. Awareness of ductal thrush

Mastitis - things that help aside from the antibiotics, i.e. need to keep feeding from the breast, varying feeding positions etc

Weaning - breastfeeding on demand still best when moving to solid foods

Older children - breastfeeding is beneficial for as long as the mother/child decide to continue, it doesn't have a cut off point where it is no longer 'good' (and by implication becomes bad)

Haven't read the full thread, but I'd add vaginitis due to low oestrogen of breastfeeding - hardly ever mentioned, that was an unpleasant surprise! (plus the main advice I was given - very well meant - was to stop bf as baby was nearly 6 months)

Knowledge of the Breastfeeding Network's "drugs in breastmilk" service. It is rare that a woman needs to give up breastfeeding because she needs medication, but common for women to be told to give up breastfeeding.

That it's normal and quite common for breastfeeding to continue aged 2 and beyond.