Breastfeeding rates fall after newborn period

You've probably heard this news story about breastfeeding rates that came out of BYU. As we know, initiation rates for breastfeeding are decent; well, 77% is 3/4, but far from "most."

I digress. What I wanted to discuss with you is the fact that only one-third of mothers are still breastfeeding at six months. The recommendation, as you know, is a minimum of a year, by the AAP, two years if you consider WHO guidelines. (By the way, check out this great collection of breastfeeding recommendations by KellyMom.)

Why are mothers stopping breastfeeding? What do you think it is? The study suggests that each region, even metropolis, has its own reasons. What are they here? The only reason I ask these questions is so that we can each find our own answers to the next one:

What can we do to be more supportive, as individuals: friends, neighbors, sisters, strangers?

So, you didn't circumcise your son. NOW what?

The why's and wherefore's of circumcising or not bring many parents to the choice of leaving their son's penis intact. Then what do you do? Do you just leave it alone? In fact, "leave it alone" is good advice. Read on....

Doulas and Dads

Have you ever wondered why we need doulas if we have dads, or why we need dads if we have doulas? ;) Here's a great article that explains how doulas and dads work together and have their own unique roles.

"Our culture is one of the few that does not provide continuous supportive care for the laboring woman. Even though men are choosing to take active roles in the birth of their children they are often put in a very uncomfortable situation. They attend childbirth and parenting classes and remain with their partners during the birth process but often feel that they are expected to be the “labor authority” when they do not feel qualified for that role. No matter how good the childbirth education class was that he attended his experience attending births is very limited and for the first time father non-existent. Many fathers realize that they need reassurance, support and guidance also."

Breastfeeding Cafe in Logan

Hi Friends!

The Breastfeeding Cafe is on in Cache Valley! Tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday will be from 10 am till 9 pm at the Logan Library.

Tuesday, there will be a class on making baby food at 3:30 and a class on combining breastfeeding with work or school at 7 pm.

Wednesday, there will be a class at 3:30 on babywearing, and a class on how doulas can help with labor at 7 pm.

Thursday through Saturday will find the Cafe at the North Logan Library. Thursday and Friday it will be open from 10 am till 7 pm; Saturday will only be 12-4 pm.

Classes on Friday will be: 2:00 babywearing, 3:30 breastfeeding beyond a year, and 7:00 breastfeeding, beginning to end.

There is also a raffle going on. Tickets are $1 for items like 2 pumps, onesies with the "I eat at mom's" logo, tshirts with "I make milk, what's your superpower?" logo, 2 prenatal cradles, some breastfeeding books by Amy Spangler. Stork Landing has donated a Purely Yours pump; tickets for that raffle are $2. As of tonight, no one had donated money for tickets, so drop on by - those sweet prizes could be yours!

~S~

Breastfeeding promo from Puerto Rico

"...to give the breast is to give life..."



You can check out the discussion, links and other breastfeeding videos uploaded by BreastfeedingBabies here.

World Breastfeeding Week at API

Attachment Parenting International (API) has jumped on the World Breastfeeding Week bandwagon. They are giving away a copy of LLL's The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. Leave a comment on that blog post to enter the contest.

Liz brought this to our attention. Here is the email she received from API :

Attachment Parenting International (API) is proud to participate in World Breastfeeding Week August 1-7, 2008. Started by The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is a way for those who support breastfeeding to help achieve WABA's vision of "...a world where breastfeeding is the cultural norm, where mothers and families are enabled to feed and care optimally for their infants and young children thus contributing to a just and healthy society."

La Leche League, a WABA Core Partner, encourages everyone to participate in the WBW celebrations. API is pleased to join as one of the many LLL WBW participants, as well as honor its long-standing support of breastfeeding and LLL.

And consider making a donation to La Leche League today to help LLL continue its good work.

API shares many of the LLL philosophies having been born from LLL Leaders turned Co-Founders Barbara Nicholson and Lysa Parker. Please join API in celebrating WBW, and all of the organizations who are working hard to make WABA's vision of a breastfeeding-friendly world a reality.

Consider the following facts and recommendations about breastfeeding:

The American Public Health Association (APHA) "affirms that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life with continued breastfeeding for at least the first one or two years of life is the biological norm, and that all alternative feeding methods carry health risks in comparison, with rare exceptions...Identifies the exclusive breastfeeding rate as a leading health indicator in the goals of the nation."

"Human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick newborns. It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least the first 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired." American Academy of Pediatrics Breastfeeding Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk.

PEDIATRICS, a publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that "The protective effect of breastfeeding on the attainment of gross motor milestones is attributable to some component(s) of breast milk or feature of breastfeeding and is not simply a product of advantaged social position, education, or parenting style."

Breastfeeding has been shown to provide some protection against the following common diseases:

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) - American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2007

Diabetes - The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Case-Control Study

Cot death/SIDS - The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID)

Respiratory & ear infections - PEDIATRICS

Obesity - The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) 2003

In addition to the substantial benefits to the infant, Attachment Parenting International also stresses the importance of breastfeeding in the bonding process after birth. A 1996 study by Uvnäs-Moberg & Eriksson showed that oxytocin, a hormone released during breastfeeding, promotes the initiation of maternal behavior and bonding between mother and baby and has a sedative, anti-stress effect on the mother. This study also found that breastfeeding mothers reported that they feel calmer due to breastfeeding and are less likely to overreact to everyday stressors, probably due to decreased blood pressure and cortisol levels that occur in response to breastfeeding.

API reminds mothers everywhere that breastfeeding satisfies an infant's nutritional and emotional needs better than any other method of infant feeding. API recommends breastfeeding as part of your overall parenting approach. For example, feed on cue, before baby starts to cry whenever possible. Breastfeed for the first year and beyond; it is important nutritionally, immunologically, and emotionally. And don't forget that nursing is an excellent tool for comfort during illness, tantrums, and other times of upset.

Do you enjoy receiving information on current events that are relevant to the parenting community? We value your feedback!

Sincerely,

Julie Artz
Communications Coordinator,
Attachment Parenting International
julie@attachmentparenting.org

They are also having a promotional discount for LLL members on API memberships in honor of World Breastfeeding Week and La Leche League: if you join API before August 30, 2008, and enter the code: APIWBW2008, you will receive 25% off the membership fee, and they will make a donation to LLL.

Free Cosleeping Webinar

I just noticed this at Mothering.com. There will be a free webinar on cosleeping on August 22, hosted by Dr. James McKenna and others. Read more about it here.

Homebirth Dads video

This video made by and for dads addresses so many questions about homebirth that it would probably be perfect for anyone who wonders about homebirth!

"For 20 years, Cuevas has been well known in Ithaca as the host of a cable television show, a percussionist, an educator, a videographer, a DJ and a dad. He is also married to Monica, who is arguably the most respected and sought-after midwife in the region. After many years and several hundred homebirths (some of which he attended, including those of the couple's two children), Jorge recognized a void." A review can be read here.

~S~

Big Bird learns about Breastfeeding

According to the comments, this clip of Sesame Street is from 1977. It's short and sweet. Big Bird displays the exact kind of brief curiosity that other kids do when seeing a baby breastfeed. A question or 2 and on with life! What do you think? Have you seen other children's shows address breastfeeding or natural baby care like this?

Big Bird talks to Buffy as she nurses Cody

In Israel, It IS about the Money

Israeli women are given a "birth allowance" by the government, but they only get the money if they birth in a hospital. This news story explains that it really is about the money, since birth is a dependable source of income for hospitals, and if a mother births at home, the hospitals lose that money.

I found this news story to be well-articulated; you should definitely give it a read. Not only do they discuss the financial aspect, but the rights parents should have to choose where they birth as parents and consumers.

favorite quotes:

"Dr. Gil Tadmon's first son was born in hospital, but he and his wife chose to have the second at home. Tadmon, who is about to finish his internship as a pediatrician, said that having experienced the hospital's approach, they preferred to go another route the second time around. They were disturbed by the fact that for the first three days of the baby's life, they were not the ones in charge; they only "took possession" from day three.

"As a doctor and parent, I feel it's problematic," he said. "The baby spends most of its first two days sleeping, and by nature, the mother should be highly attentive to him, not be in another room with no connection to him. Sometimes parents come home on the third day with a baby they don't know."

"Dr. Shiftan said that "like any other product, birth should be examined by criteria of quality and through comparison shopping. In this case, home birth isn't only a good product, it's an excellent one. Research shows that it's as safe as giving birth in a hospital, even more so."

"The choice is not between risk and total security, Glazerman stressed. It is a choice of relative risks - and the woman must decide at what risk to give birth, he said."

I found this money calculator useful in converting the Israeli NIS to US dollars.

What do you think about this frank discussion of hospital-birth-as-income?

World Breastfeeding Month

Well, since breastfeeding is more my thing than birth, and since no one's commenting much (come on, let us know when you stop by!!!), and since August is World Breastfeeding Month, today will begin a series of breastfeeding posts.

Of course, the very best world expert on breastfeeding is La Leche League. LLL Leaders are accredited, volunteer breastfeeding counselors with lots of experience and a terrific network of peers to rely on. Check out their website for articles from New Beginnings (the members' magazine), faq and community.

What has your experience been with either LLL or other breastfeeding helpers?

~S~