To the editor:

They brought the newborn home about noon.

When the mother fed the baby it took about 1 oz. of powdered formula and then vomited the oz. up. This happened every time she fed the baby. She was thinking about getting goat milk for the baby.
About 6 p.m. two social workers and the chief of police entered the house and said that because her older child was in foster care, they were putting the newborn in protective custody.
They told the mother she could accompany the baby as long as she obeyed the rules of the foster home and the agencyís rules. If she did not obey the rules they would take the baby away from her.
She had to keep the baby on powdered formula and baby continued to have problems with vomiting after drinking 1 oz.

The baby was finally admitted to the Hospital with dehydration and malnutrition. When on an IV the baby was fed powdered formula and vomited. It was then brought pre-mixed liquid formula and drank 3 of the 4 oz. and had no problems keeping the formula down.

When the baby was released from the hospital, the mother and child were returned to the foster home and the baby was once again put on powdered formula. The baby once again drank 1 oz and vomited 1 oz. up.
The mother asked a county LPN for pre-mixed liquid formula but was never given it and the baby was once again admitted to the Hospital with dehydration and malnutrition. When the baby was released this time it was taken away from the mother and put in foster care.

Later at a meeting the mother read in a report the she had had complete care of the baby and a doctor said that she did not know how to care for a 5 week old baby. The Dr. also said the baby had non-organic will to thrive, which means the mother did not feed the baby.

Sue Hanford
Caledonia

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Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475

E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com