Strollerderby : breastfeeding nazis

Study Launched to Examine Malnourished Breastfed Babies

JeanneSager — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:02:00 GMT

The first-ever study to examine what every breastfeeding mom fears has been kicked off in the United Kingdom: scientists will finally take a look at whether baby is really getting enough.

Although doctors say its rare that babies fall ill from lack of nourishment during breastfeeding, the doctors who have launched this project say there's a tendency not to talk about the very real risks involved - because no one wants to rock the breastfeeding boat.

"People are very cagey about saying anything that might give breastfeeding a bad name," Dr. Sam Richmond, a consultant neonatologist at Sunderland Royal Hospital, told the BBC News. "But it does need to be addressed - and properly studied - because the consequences can be so severe."

Writing an article for Babble that examines a few of the most common hurdles (just a few - to hit every hurdle would have taken me three books!), I found that every mom I talked to went through that phase - usually when they came home from the hospital - when they wondered how the milk they were producing could ever be enough to sustain a hungry baby. The best comment came from a pediatrician quoted in the article who admitted she felt the same way - and she KNOWS better. After all, she's a pediatrician. Kind of makes you feel better, doesn't it?

My hope is that these types of studies - which as Richmond points out are very necessary - will help put better information into the hands of worried mothers. If we could understand the circumstances of malnourished babies in breastfeeding conditions, moms who have nothing to worry about can have one less burden in those crucial early days of breastfeeding. What's more, for those who simply CAN'T breastfeed because of this very real condition, there will be evidence to use to back them up when a breastfeeding nazi comes knocking on her door.

Image: BBC News

Also on Babble:

Your Breastfeeding Timeline

Admit it, You Love Arguing About Breastfeeding

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:50:00 GMT

Babble readers have opinions, strong ones, about the recent decision by large hospitals around the country to stop providing formula in post-partum take-home bags. They range from the mild: "I think that sending people home with formula *does* jeopardize breastfeeding success," to the wild: "..nature is an illegal alien in the USA: until your friendly neighborhood ob-gyn gets her deported for good, why not just line up for the scheduled c-section?.."

Dina argues that she shouldn't have to "... be dying of cancer to feel like it's ok to formula feed my baby" while Jessica counters "News flash: BREAST IS BEST!!! It's absolutely the best, and formula manufacturers admit it!"

Next time I want to end a cocktail party on an opinionated/raucous dishes-throwing note, I'll remember to proclaim my support of hospitals handing out free formula.

StrollerDerby Playdate: Enough Already with the Breastfeeding, Part 2

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:52:00 GMT

Firestorms often ignite when breasts are the topic. It seems we can neither show them when we're feeding, nor can we rightly withhold them from our children in favor of bottle-feeding without incurring the wrath of the holier-than-thou "breast is best" advocates. Where breasts are concerned there is no neutral zone, except perhaps when they're flashed for sexually related reasons.

Bloggers are contemplating the many facets of breastfeeding this week and have these thoughts to share with you:

Dawn ponders whether the likelihood of breastfeeding success is linked to your family's history
Blissfully Bitchy weighs in on the ludicrousness of the great synchronized-breast-feed-in.
The Lactivist wonders why breastfeeding moms are often treated as if they're the Gestapo

For an interesting discussion of breast v. bottle-feeding that ignited in our reader comments last week, go here.

[photo credit: Audrey Samsara]

Enough Already with the "Breast is Best"!

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:05:00 GMT

Hospitals around the country are removing formula from post-partum swag bags under pressure from breastfeeding ~~nazis~~ adherents who believe including formula in the go-home goodies might encourage a woman struggling with breastfeeding at 2am to succumb to the ease of formula. Considering the speed at which most women find themselves digging for Advil, formula, and ice picks after a few days of new breastfeeding, this conclusion has some merits, especially the second time around when those post-partum "contractions" (as in hacksaw to your midsection) kick in. But that misses the point. The continued patronizing bossy tones used by most breastfeeding campaigns are so cloying and totalitarian as to render the whole enterprise totally ineffective.

We are often told that breastfeeding can be a giddy experience, with infusions of euphoria, moments of peace and calm and quiet, and total connection with one's child. Sometimes it just happens naturally and lasts longer than we intended. I don't doubt some people feel these things. I also do not have any doubt that many women feel incredibly guilt-ridden about not feeling these things while breastfeeding or, worse yet, not breastfeeding at all. "Breast is Best," we're told over and over. And over. And sometimes the elements of truth within the message get lost amongst accusatory, guilt-inducing tones. If "breast is best" and you don't breastfeed what's your slogan "proud to give my child second best"???

Until we get the proper social supports in place (home visits after hospital stays by lactation specialists regardless of insurance status, proper amounts of maternity leave --far exceeding the 6 weeks most people cobble together, quality child care, and proper post-partum care) I say enough! Enough already with the breastfeeding!

And put the damn formula back in those hospital go-home baskets! I'm not suggesting we push Nestle (like they did back in the day in Mexico). I am suggesting that women who are desperate for sleep, whose baby (or babies) won't stop crying, who find themselves at 2am trying to push forth milk from their swollen tired uncooperative breasts, may find this formula to be the golden elixir, the soothing tonic that is just what their baby needs. And really, that is what is best.

Strollerderby : breastfeeding nazis

Study Launched to Examine Malnourished Breastfed Babies

Should Breastfeeding Get You Out of Jury Duty?

Smackdown: Damned if You Do, Doomed if You Don't (Breastfeed, That is)

5 Things That Make You a Breastfeeding Nazi . . . And 5 Things That Don’t

Salma Hayek Shines Spotlight on Breastfeeding Taboo

Admit it, You Love Arguing About Breastfeeding

StrollerDerby Playdate: Enough Already with the Breastfeeding, Part 2

Enough Already with the "Breast is Best"!