Jul 08 2008
Doctors may not know about breastfeeding
I am writing this from my own experience. About 4 years ago, when I suffered sore tendon on my right wrist, I was so painful that I went to see doctors.
I first saw a Chinese orthopaedic, who told me I suffered “Carry-Baby Hand” (抱仔手), i.e. result of carrying baby. He told me that he couldn’t cure me and the only solution is to let it rest.
Not satisfied, I went to the company panel doctor. When I went in, I told one lady doctor (they are on rotation) about my problem. She didn’t buy the “carry-baby hand” theory. Then, she asked me if I do any laundry, and said it must be the laundry that caused my pain.
She then wanted to give me some anti-inflamation medicine (ibuprofen). I told her that I was still breastfeeding, whether the medication is suitable for me or not. Her first reaction was a disgusted look (of breastfeeding)!
And then, she wasn’t sure of the medicine on breastfeeding mom (how qualify she is!). She picked up a reference book, after checking for a while, couldn’t make up her mind whether I could take that medicine or not. She got irritated and told me I should stop breastfeeding so she could give me the medicine.
She asked me why I wanted to breastfeed, and then started promoting whatever-Gold brand of formula. Lastly she commented that Breast Milk is just Body Liquid, no longer useful after baby is beyond 1 month old.
I was so upset with her that I didn’t defend nor argue. I later confirmed in WHO site, in their Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, it is clearly stated there on second section, item 10:
Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding.
So, you tell me, who is ill-informed? The lady doctor or me? She is quite elderly. Not that I disrespect older folks, but I just suspect that she never get herself updated with information after she became a qualified doctor dunno how many years ago.
I later also double confirmed this in a breastfeeding counseling course given by Jabatan Kesihatan Malaysia.
The conclusion is, if your doctor doesn’t support breastfeeding, check her background first. Validate what she says first. Get a second opinion from other doctors. When I did that, I got a completely different opinion, and was encouraged for my effort to breastfeed my children.
Don’t be fooled by this kind of lousy doctors!
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OOh…so geram to read about doctors like this, who are so ill informed about breastfeeding.
I actually laugh out loud when reading this article! Just a body liquid? Does she knows formula is make from body liquid too? of a cow?
next time if you need to know which medicine can be used in breastfeeding or pregnancy, ask a pharmacist, even if they can’t remember by heart, they can still interpret the info given by the drug reference
My wife breastfed for the first 9 months and our little Florence hasn’t been sick yet with anything more than a runny nose. Breastfeeding is beneficial to the baby’s health (builds their immune system) and to the mother’s also (prevents a bunch of cancers and helps her loose the weight she gained during pregnancy).
It’s amazing that in this day and age, some doctors (of all people) still don’t get it!
I am so interested to know who is that stupid doctor! Duh~
Last time I also had this “Carry-Baby Hand”, I hope I wouldn’t get it this time!
wow. that was some doctor. maybe she gets commissions if she sell that formulated milk for babies. she has to be stopped! i think you can report that in the Phil. Medical Association or something, that you were being discouraged by this doctor to breastfeed your babies.
I have a schoolfriend who’s now a surgeon. The smartest person I have ever met.
His dad used to be an elevator technician, while mom is illiterate and wash dishes at restaurants for extra income to support 6 kids.
All 6 kids are now doctors and surgeons, all received full scholarships to study.
Might just be a coincidence, might also sound ridiculous to some, but truth be told that the mom actually breastfed each of the kid till they we’re six.
perhaps you’ll have your own surgeon and doctor someday
That’s not bad enough, I used to argue a lot with one paediatrician (yes! a PAEDIATRICIAN!!!) when he tried to push milk powder on me and saying that there is no point in breastfeeding since it is giving my son stomach ‘wind’ or something.
Well, finally this doctor ended up in a baby friendly hospital where he had to promote breastfeeding! I couldn’t help it but go up to him and ask him why the about change and he turned so red in the face and could not answer me coherently.
Of course I know why he suddenly changed his tune…it is the company he works for. In the old company, I assume he was probably paid commission for ’selling’ milk powder while in the new company which supports breastfeeding, he has to do what the company wants!
So, not ALL doctors are looking out for the interest of their patients. They are only looking out for their own pockets.
Agree… just ditch him/her…who ever they’re, shown they are so unprofessionals and under qualify.
Good Job…
Way to do the research yourself and more importantly to have the sense to know that something was wrong…. A mother’s instincts lol
I have come across some pretty lazy doctors in my life so I can identify with you…
Awesome blogsite!
Oh No, thats such an awful experience. Yes, I agree with you that doctors may not know about breastfeeding nor promote it, not even some paeditricians.
I suffered from the same so called “Carry-baby Hand” for the first 6 months. I dragged for such a long period simply because the doctor advice me not to take this anti-inflammation pills when I was still breastfeeding my boy. However, the pills didn’t work on me though, and I had to take an injection on my wrist 2 months ago, and *puff* all the pain gone!
Oh! Gosh! Didn’t realize this post has so many comments and I haven’t even replied to one. Apologies… but I guess you understand, coz last week was a hectic week for me (mom admited to hospital)…
Elain:
Actually when I think of it, I also feel geram. Some suggested that I print out WHO’s chart and past on her door. LOL!
Renn: Hahahah! You got the point! Why I didn’t think of that and answer her back this way? :p
cllau: Ya, I think that doc has even less knowledge than a pharmacist.
CrazyKinux: Kudos to your wife’s effort! Yes, the benefit is great, but even in this modern and informative days, many still don’t get it - imagine if doc not promoting it what would be our grandmother say?
beckysmum: Hehehe, this doc is one of the many docs in our panel clinic (is a group). They take turns to come to our office’s clinic to duty. I also didn’t get her name - a mistake. :p
nix: Is this for Philippines? Wow, you have such a great body to govern this. Envy you…
eddyjr: WOWWWW! Your friend’s mother is a supermom! But the family might have surgeon genes already? LOL! Of course I do hope my children are as good as your friends! :p
Foong: What a paed you have met! Your story confirms that many docs have their personal agenda. It is so difficult to get docs with really good ethics nowadays… that’s why I’m sticking to my good family doc, kick that panel doc away!
LW: Yup, ditched her already. Now I check first, who is on duty, before I go into that panel clinic. LOL!
Michael:
Lazy doctors? Wonder how they got their certificate at first?! I thought the study was hard…
MG: Ya, I got quite upset for a little while, especially that was my first experience (first kid, first encounter of such thing). If it happens now… that doc will get it from me. :p
HN: Glad that it is gone now for you. My family doc also mentioned steroid injection, but he said there is some risks - some people might not work, some might work like magic (in your case).
Not to mention breast milk contains Telemerase…
Science actually knows quite a bit about it. Telomers sit at each end of a chromosome, the elongated X-shaped thing that contains our DNA. After cells divide a little chunk of the telomer disappears, aging the cells. Old cells off-themselves so they don’t pass on harmful mutations.
Telemerase is an enzyme that repairs damaged telomeres. Cancer cells have telemerase, and normal cells don’t (it vanishes shortly after birth) which is why cancer cells live forever. A drug that blocks telemerase should help block cancer, or a drug that induces telemerase could extend life.
The next a doctor’s office makes a case against breast feeding, throw that into the physicians face.
-Nick deVere
Nick: Wow! That is so much of scientific terms… telemerase, telomeres, etc… where did you learn all these! Will check that out and throw to the phase of the doc like what you suggested. LOL!