http://www.rcm.org.uk/magazines/news...r-new-mothers/
hey guys, this article has got a couple of good figures in it, reported by BLISS.

what does everybody think of this? what are people's experiences of those whose babies' are in the intensive care unit? Do they get the same amount of support?

I, unfortunately, on busy days, have found that NICU mums who are obstertically well do not tend to get as much support, only a quick demonstration of hand expression, and they're often left to work out the breast pump for themselves?! and if they don't get any off, they're often put under pressure by NICU staff or midwives to let their babies' be fed formula.... I don't know whether this is very important to their health etc because of the low blood sugar risk with premmies?

any thoughts? xxxx

My experience on NICU was a very positive one. The neonatal nurses were brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed my placement.

But IMHO they do have a different view to us. They want to ensure that very sick little babies get better as quickly as possible and sometimes this does mean that they choose formula over colustrum or breast milk, but in my experience its only when breastmilk is not available. The nurses where I was gave exceptional care and attention to breastfeeding mums.

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Personally I had a midwife tell me if I loved my babies I'd breastfeed them (I wasn't really sure what I would do - didn't think I'd really be able to do it well will two anyway...) - she also said that because they'd be poorly (I was in hospital waiting for delivery at this point) it would be like medicine to them - particularly as there was nothing else I could do for them. So, I dutifully obliged - or at least tried. I was loaned one of those massive milking machines - shown how to use it and told someone would change the milton each day (which the never did - I digress!) and was left too it - I went on the pump 8 times a day - day 5ish (I forget when exactly) they said they'd start on formula - but as it was tube fed it didn't matter - and when I got my milk started we'd swap over. After a week - still not so much as a drop - so they put me metacloprimide (sp?) - another week, no milk - so they put me on domperidone (sp?), another week on, two hospital transfers and news of open heart surgery - figured enough was enough! Still not so much as a drop of milk btw!

Now I still feel peev'd about this - if i'd just been left to make my own mind up - I'd have never had all this other stress and feelings of failing my children - and being a general failure of being a mother (couldn't carry them closer to term, couldn't feed them etc etc) - feelings that are still with me now. If a nicu mum wants to breastfeed - great - she should have all the support she wants. But why on earth pressure them - yes it's best for baby - but it's hardly life or death - and making mothers feel like it is - when they have real life or death starring them in the face is hardly going to help what is already a horrible situation.

Sorry - I tell you - give me a soapbox and I just have to step up on to it!

I too had a negative experience of breastfeeding when my little one was in SCBU. Because of problems with my breasts at the time (tmi!), I needed a bit more help than most to master the art of expressing and getting baby to latch on, coupled with a Prem babe who would tire quickly. I found some of the staff were often frustrated with the amount of time spent doing this, and actively encouraged me to switch to bottle. I gave up after 2weeks- not because I wanted to- my milk just dried up because of all the stress.
I wish that I had been given more support as I feel that rather than be 'forced' into doing it, I was 'forced' out of doing it.

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Its Good To Talk!!

Oh - and complete lack of privicy too - a general problem with nicu I know - but there's no curtain like there is on the ward to pull round as you sit there with your boobs out having no idea and about 500 (well, maybe not quite!) people wander past - staring (ok - I'm over exagerating again - but you get the picture!) It's horrible, horrible, horrible!

I had no support when my daughter was in scbu, I had to wait to be escorted to the uint by a midwife, so by the time I got there she had already been washed, changed fed etc.

So, despite my best efforts to breastfeed, I was never given the help and support I needed, so I had to admit defeat and change to artificial feeding instead.

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Midwifemissy x

Student Midwife 2007
Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

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