'Breast is best' bias blamed for hundreds of dehydrated babies
By Beezy Marsh, Health Correspondent

Hundreds of newborn babies are being re-admitted to hospital suffering from dehydration because mothers are being warned not to resort to bottle feeding, experts claim.

Many new mothers are told not to bottle feed because it will "ruin" breastfeeding, but an increasing number are being left with babies so dehydrated they need emergency hospital care.... (link)

It's sad to see that people are not being educated about the signs of dehydration and proper breastfeeding. My son had a good latch right away so I never struggled with it until later when we got home. He was jaudice and wouldn't stay on long enough. I ended up pumping to make sure he got enough for awhile. I'm actually surprised by this because everyone I know that has breastfed was always worried about the baby getting enough. I know that my DS OLD pediatrician didn't support breastfeeding.

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I'm always missing my angels in heaven

I agree. They're also being discharged from hospital too early.

Yeah that is a problem. Unfortunately what the op said is true. A lot of mothers are not educated on the signs of dehydration before they leave the hospital, I know I was never given any information when i left the hospital.

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Technically it's not bfing itself though that's the problem it's the lack of education. Which I agree is lacking sometimes. I was suprised with this birth the # of times the LC came in to talk and all the information I was given, plus receiving a call after my 2nd day home from another LC. They also have a hotline you can call. None of the other hospitals I've delivered at have done that much with bfing.

I was kinda worried this time about Zoe getting enough b/c of how long she was going between feedings and she would cluster feed at night, etc. But at her newborn appointment she'd gained 8oz (at 3days old) and hadn't lost any at our discharge from the hospital.

I think the education has to come from physicians but is also partly the responsibility of the mother to read the materials she's given and educate herself. I think ppl are falsely led to believe it's "natural" in that you really don't have to do anything and that it's "easy" when really you need to keep an eye on diapers and nursing times, etc and that there is some pain involved, what pain is normal and what's not, correct latching AND positioning, etc all that leads to a healthy and successful bfing relationship.