1511cf66_all_To_Action_on_Breastfeeding__Topic
[ID] 991 [Interest Areas] Concerned Citizen [Comment] I'm a nursing student, intending to become an IBCLC down the road. I breastfed my own son for three years, and I've been advocating for and assisting nursing mothers for seven years as a peer counselor. One issue that has cropped up over and over again is the poor advice from medical professionals. I'm well aware of how little training HCPs get regarding practical support for nursing mothers, and really, that's understandable. There's a lot that we have to know, and lactation support is most certainly a specialization. However, here's the problem: these untrained professionals give out breastfeeding advice, and it's taken seriously because it comes from someone in scrubs or a white coat, and it's very often poor advice. Anesthesiologists telling mothers to pump & dump for imaging without contrast - or even with a contrast that's perfectly safe. Pediatricians telling mothers to schedule and withhold feedings, and applying growth charts appropriate for formula-fed babies to breastfed babies. Doctors telling mothers - this is my favorite - that they have to pump and dump for the same anesthesia and painkillers that were administered at birth (and which weren't perceived as posing any risk at that time). It's bad enough that HCPs aren't aware of Thomas Hale's book, but worse - they often aren't even aware of the AAP's list of medications compatible with breastfeeding! And that's just in regard to medications - there are other areas in which HCPs are giving out uneducated, incorrect advice. The solution, to me, is not to turn every HCP into a lactation consultant. As I mentioned, it's a specialized field, and most of us are more general practitioners. But HCPs need to recognize that they are not educated in giving practical assistance to nursing mothers, and refer them to those who are, i.e. IBCLCs, LLLI leaders, etc. And on the pharmaceutical front, I would love to see Hale's book getting more widespread use and recognition - and at the very least, the AAP's opinions could be followed. Thanks, Tristyn Underwood tristynu@gmail.com [Topic] 
Health Professional Education, Publications, and Conferences
Call To Action on Breastfeeding
Topic