come and be astounded by what the GP said to me this morning...

[bohemianbint]

Have now been ill for about 8 weeks, had antibiotics for a chest infection 2 weeks ago and it's back again. I went to the docs for something else and she listened to my chest and decided to prescribe me more antibiotics to try to crack it. As she was writing out the prescription, I asked if the ABs were ok while I was still breastfeeding.

She pulled a face and said "are you still breastfeeding?! How old is he now?" I replied that he was five months.

As I was leaving (she had been really nice to me in general and just referred me for the counselling I wanted) she said "and stop breastfeeding now - naughty naughty!"

I should probably point out that she isn't English, I think she is Eastern European which might excuse the "naughty naughty" bit, perhaps...But isn't that astounding? It's lucky I'm me, and not someone who might think "hmm, Dr telling me to give up BF, maybe I should?"

DH reckons I should mention it to the docs but I feel a bit bad and have enough going on in my life without that as well, but blimey!

i despair, i really do

isn't that a bit unprofessional of the practice to get the GP to phone you? the letter wasn't addressed to her.

Yeah, I thought it was a bit odd.

How would I go about insisting on a reply in writing? (I will have to never, never go back there again!)

And the thing is, there was someone there sitting in on the appointment at the time. Although I don't know if he'd a) remember the incident or b) back me up even if he did.

Appropriate that the GP called you, and was alerted by the manager of your complaint, but you should get a reply in writing as well, IMO.

How strange. I understand that not everyone is completely up on the WHO guidelines, until I joined Mumsnet I didn't realise that bf was advised for 2 years. BUT everyone knows that bf is advised for at LEAST 6 months and for a medical professional not to know that is inexcusable.

I know that I should not really generalise but I do often wonder if GP's actually know anymore about medical issues than the average person on the street. I don't come away filled with confidence when I have to visit them.

Perhaps, as there was clearly a 'miscommunication' (according to the Dr) you should write back to the Manager and suggest that the Dr should go on an English course as she is clearly unable to express herself clearly enough for English speaking patients

I hope that you're feeling better soon.