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News

Manslaughter by breastfeeding

34 replies

meringue33 · 10/04/2014 21:16

Did anyone else see this?

Horrific :(

www.theguardian.com/science/2014/apr/09/manslaughter-conviction-negligent-breastfeeding-mothers

OP posts:
RoadKillBunny · 24/04/2014 20:48

This is terrifying to me.
I suffer from chronic pain. I take OxyContin and oxycodone, both opiates.
I breast fed my second child. I did massive amounts of research, I contacted breast feeding support services and got information and opinion from both her in the UK and America. It seemed at the time I was the only person in the UK to have fed while on OxyContin although I suspect there are others but no studies have been done.
I wasn't allowed to breast feed my first on the same drugs. She went through withdrawal and needed morphine to wean her off (just under a week it took but it was horrible), I fed ds for 2.5 years. He never had withdrawal.

It upsets me so much to read some of the comments up thread about if you must take the meds bottle feed. My dd suffered because of that attitude. I had ds in a different health trust that was far more open minded thankfully.

There shouldn't have been such high amounts in this babies system, the transfer amounts are tiny. It seems that the mother was judged for feeding on opiates and they simply didn't bother to look further or ask why. I really hope she manages an appeal, she is suffering enough.

Jux · 05/05/2014 20:32

That article doesn't say there was a genetic defect in either mother or infant, but merely speculates that there might be one genetic defect in the mother and a different one in the baby.

FanFuckingTastic · 05/05/2014 20:35

I am confused as I was on opiates throughout my pregnancies with both children, and I breasted my daughter on them. Is it because she hid it and the doctors hadn't given her permission?

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 05/05/2014 20:37

The article also states that a needle point was not located on the babies body - surely that cannot be a guarantee. She was a nurse. Im not saying she did inject the baby but she could have and the needle entry point may well have been unspottable or well hidden.

BobPatandIgglePiggle · 05/05/2014 20:39

My baby was seriously ill a couple of weeks after he was born. I was taking meds for high bp which are usually safe with bf

Although unproven ds notes say 'probably due to maternal use of ...'

Safe meds aren't safe for everyone.

AndIFeedEmGunpowder · 05/05/2014 20:44

This is desperately sad.

AFAIK guidance on codeine while breastfeeding in the UK has changed very recently. (in the last year) It is no longer recommended.

ChunkyPickle · 05/05/2014 20:45

It's terrible she felt she had to hide it - but chronic pain can do that to you.

I had nasty toothache that codeine only just touched while BFing my 6 month old. The dentist warned me of the risks, the pharmacist warned me of the risks - both as an adult to adult though, that I should keep an eye on the baby and if there seemed to be any changes in him then I should use something else.

FanFuckingTastic · 05/05/2014 20:51

Okay, so it was okay a few years ago, but they don't recommend it now? I couldn't have another baby as I could manage my needs versus a baby's need. It's sad, you can see why someone might be terrified enough to do this, but its so sad for the baby.

Jux · 06/05/2014 18:05

I think that if you suffer chronic pain and are pg or breastfeeding, then you have to be completely honest with your HCPs. It doesn't necessarily mean that you have to stop medication or stop bfing. They will be able to keep a close eye on both you and your baby so any problems are picked up quickly.

If you aren't honest with your HCPs how can they look after you properly?

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