I went to work today in a hospital near Nashville, Tennessee. I was asked to go back into a patient's room because she was confused about the information the pediatrician seeing her baby recommended regarding how she should approach breastfeeding her baby at just 22 hours of age.
Last time I checked the date, it was January 2013. I have been a certified lactation consultant since 1990 and I can't think of a single reason for a perfectly healthy, full term baby at 22 hours of age to need 1 ounce of formula, 3 times a day in order to prevent it from becoming "lethargic"!!!
Yes, in January 2013, we still have pediatricians going into patient rooms and telling new, impressionable, insecure moms that their baby "NEEDS" formula.
I have done all I can do... We teach our moms that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends EXCLUSIVE breastfeeding for at least the first six months of life unless there is a medical reason to use formula.
This is the time I really feel like the licensing body of pediatricians should be notified and this "pediatrician" officially disciplined for providing inaccurate information to a patient ---this is totally malpractice!
My hope is that new moms will educate themselves and become confident enough to stand up to this doctor and I am sure a few others out there who are committing
"Breastfeeding Malpractice"!
