From Jill and Jarod Johnson about their son, Landon who died of cardiac arrest 12 hours after discharge from a Baby-Friendly Hospital

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

As another birthday passes....

Landon would be three today if he was still alive. I've been wanting to share for a long time about what happened to Landon, but I've always feared what others would say and how I'd be judged. 

I've recently been thinking a lot and it's now weighing on my heart to share in hopes that no other families ever experience the loss we have. 

Jarrod and I wanted what was best for Landon as every parent does for their child. We took all of the classes. Bought and read all of the books. We were ready! Or so we thought....every class and book was geared toward breastfeeding and how it's so important if you want a healthy child. Landon was born in a "baby friendly" hospital. What this means is everything is geared toward breastfeeding. Unless you'd had a breast augmentation or cancer or some serious medical reason as to why you couldn't breastfeed, your baby would not be given formula unless a prescription was written by the pediatrician. 

Landon was on my breast - ALL THE TIME. The lactation consultants would come in and see that "he had a great latch and was doing fine" but there was one who mentioned I may have a problem producing milk. The reason she gave was because I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and it was just harder for women with hormone imbalances to produce milk. She recommended some herbs for me to take when I got out of the hospital. 

Landon cried. And cried. All the time. He cried unless he was on the breast. The nurses would come in and swaddle him in warm blankets to get him to sleep. And when I asked them why he was always on my breast, I was told it was because he was "cluster" feeding. I recalled learning all about that in the classes I had taken, and being a first time mom, I trusted my doctors and nurses to help me through this - even more so since I was pretty heavily medicated from my emergency c section and this was my first baby. But I was wrong. I've learned I have to be my child's number one advocate. 

Did you know newborns aren't supposed to cry all the time? They're supposed to eat and sleep and dirty their diapers. I  had no idea that he was inconsolable because he was starving - literally. And when a baby is only on the breast, how do we gauge how much they're actually getting out? Sure, there should be wet and soiled diapers, and weight checks, right? And where is the limit as to weight loss and a minimum for the diapers changed? 

So we took him home....not knowing that after less than 12 hours home with us, he  would have gone into cardiac arrest caused by dehydration. And the best advice I was given by one of his NICU doctors while he was on life support is sure breast is best, but follow with the bottle. This way you know your baby has eaten enough....if only I could go back in time... 

See more at:

http://afairytalewithendlessadventures.blogspot.com/2015/02/as-another-birthday-passes.html