While it has been a universal idea that pregnant women are not supposed to be drinking and smoking, the danger now lies in breast feeding women who are also taking drugs and alcohol.
Now, support system is being built for mothers who are breastfeeding. Intervention classes are held regarding alcohol and drug use while breastfeeding is not encouraged. These are classes held to support and educate mothers on how to protect their babies in their tender age.
It is a sad thing since some parents who had drug issues before they became pregnant tend to go back to the vice after giving birth. Some of these mothers have little information about the damage it could cause not only to themselves but also when it comes to the baby's health.
Just this month, a Taranaki mother, was guilty of manslaughter in the Plymouth High court. During a hearing in February last year, she breastfeed her baby after drinking vodka, and taking sleeping pills. She was also under the influence of methadone when she passed out. She slumped over her baby and it caused the infant's death. According to the forensic pathologist the baby's death was caused by asphyxia.
According to Stuff, a New Zealand online publication, there were reports of mothers smothering their babies while being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. One lactation specialist says it is an uncommon case.
Julie Foley is a breastfeeding coordinator at Tui Ora. In her 20 years as a lactation consultant she said that things like this are rare. The defense counsel to the Tranaki mother said that since her baby's death, she had been so tired and worn out. He stood by his client and told the jury that it was an accident that happened and not a criminal junction.
According to an ESR, there is about 135 - 165 mgs of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood in the mother, and there were traces of alcohol in the baby's blood as well, post mortem.
The mother will be sentenced on August 5. Here is another video of another mother in another place with almost the same issue.
