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for prevention and cure of sepsis. Mother’s calcium level would also often infant’s father was rarely present or involved,
be analyzed to better determine infant stores. In the past, proper nutrition and was in fact usually unknown.
played an integral role in the prevention of sepsis. The average taxpayer cost for an infant in
These days the infant often receives no calcium or vitamin D for a the NICU per day is approximately eighty-five
prolonged period. Given the diets of most of the mothers I interviewed, hundred dollars. The average stay in our NICU
the infant most likely has poor stores as well. Calcium and vitamin D was thirty-two days. The cost to taxpayers for
administered after birth along with a closer look at ionized calcium levels infant formula provided by the WIC govern-
and the dietary history of the mothers, could help prevent sepsis. I would ment program in 2009 was approximately eight
also like to see a more frugal approach to the use of antibiotics due to their hundred fifty million dollars.
long-term negative implications. When I asked these moms why they did not
Probiotics were administered in our NICU with the initiation of enteral want to breastfeed the typical responses were:
feedings and discontinued when the infant reached 2000 grams. Usually, “Breastfeeding is gross.” (This was the most
antibiotics are still administered to the infant at the 2000 gram weight. If common response.)
diarrhea is present or other opportunistic yeasts found in a culture, con- “My mom did not breastfeed and I want to
tinuance of probiotics is never considered. The infant is instead treated do as she did.”
with more antibiotics. “It is easier to use the formula.”
Probiotics should be administered throughout the infant’s stay in the “Why should I take my time? I have other
NICU and even after discharge until healthy bacterial flora is restored. things going on and I get the formula free.”
“The company says the formula is better for
FORMULA FEEDING my baby.”
I conducted my own small study. During my first year working in the “I don’t get enough milk from the breast
NICU, 94 percent of infants were discharged with a diet of commercial pump.”
infant formula. One hundred percent of the new mothers of these infants When I asked nurses, other dietitians and
were able to breastfeed or pump their breast milk. And 100 percent of these physicians why they do not insist on breast-
same mothers were provided with prescriptions to enter the WIC (Women, feeding the typical answer was: “It is not my job.
Infants and Children) government program. This program provides free That information should have been discussed at
formula for the infant for the first six months of life. their gynecologist’s office before delivery.”
The geographic area of this NICU has the highest teen pregnancy rate I feel the true reason many caregivers do not
in the country. Many young mothers confess their intention for having a encourage breastfeeding is simply in order to feel
baby was a larger government paycheck for the family unit, or the fact better about their personal decisions regarding
that they would receive free health insurance if they were pregnant. Often this topic. Many did not breastfeed their own
one would find a teen mother living with her parent or grandparent. The children and seeing other women choose not to

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

1. Caregivers should gain a better understanding of long-term antibiotic use side effects and explore nutritional avenues
to prevent infection.
2. Caregivers should better understand probiotic therapy and the benefits of continued probiotic therapy after antibiot-
ics are discontinued.
3. Caregivers should gain a better understanding of the importance of breast milk, and understand how the collusion
of commercial infant formula and government programs discourages breastfeeding. NICUs should establish a goal
that no baby be discharged from the hospital with commercial infant formula, and should instead implement the
use of homemade infant formula in cases where the mother is unable to breastfeed or the child cannot tolerate milk
proteins or lactose.
4. Caregivers should become aware of and ensure proper and effective implementation of the International Code of
Marketing of “Breast Milk Substitutes.” Government should begin investigating code violations and impose appropri-
ate sanctions.
5. Caregivers should gain a better understanding of an adequate diet for pregnant and nursing mothers including healthy
saturated fats, adequate protein, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, and iodine.
6. Caregivers should become familiar with research outside of that conducted and advertised by the pharmaceutical
and food industries.

40 Wise Traditions WINTER 2010

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