We received a very sick transfer from WCH. A brand new mom who had a C-section but had some terrible complications after her baby was born.
The patient was sent to the SICU. Much needed to be done to save this new mom's life. She was intubated and sedated with multiple lines, tubes, and drips. She finally stabilized a day or so later.
On the night shift, one of our nurses, Amy Daniels, a new mom herself, took it upon herself to inquire with a WCH nurse about how soon after delivery you may start pumping and if it was too late for this patient. The nurse told her it was not too late and to start pumping right away! Amy had the patient's nurse speak with her significant other and ask if breastfeeding was something she had considered doing. He said yes and gave permission for Amy to pump for the patient using an electric breast pump.
Once Amy received the supplies, she and our CTA, who is in nursing school and interested in learning about pumping, went to the room. Although the patient was intubated, she was not completely asleep despite sedation. Amy explained everything they were about to do, but the patient looked confused. The MARTI (the patient is Spanish speaking) stopped working at this time and so the significant other came in and interpreted to the patient what Amy was going to do and if it was something she would like for Amy to do. The patient understood and appeared to relax. Her significant other stayed and held her hand through the entire first pumping session. Amy says, "It was a pretty awesome moment!" Through all of this Amy took the time to also educate the CTA on what she was doing and why it is important.
The pumping has continued every 4 hours every day since. Time was taken to teach the significant other how to pump for the patient. The patient has since been extubated and is up and walking in the unit and has been shown how to pump on her own now. The patient's baby boy is home and doing well, and the patient can't wait to get home to him and be able to breastfeed as she hoped to do.