New Yorker article on breast milk

Unique and interesting take on the history and politics of wet-nursing and pumping breastmilk. Lengthy, but informative. The article asserts (I think) that breast is good, but *at* breast is best.

I've often thought that formula isn't necessarily a bad thing. It can be mighty helpful, and even on occasion, life-saving. But things are such that formula is way over-used, completely beyond its helpfulness. The author speaks of non-breast-feeding of mother's milk the same way.

And just to be crystal clear - I respect every individual mother's choices: formula, breast or both; pump and bottle! Formula is inferior to breastmilk, yet helpful on occasion. Could it be argued that pumping is helpful on occasion, yet inferior to mother-baby togetherness?

My favorite line: When did “women’s rights” turn into “the right to work”?

Are them fight'n words for any of you? :)

Read the whole thing here.

~s~

p.s. still polishing that essay

Great Quotes

I found a page of quotes at BirthSource, and so far, this is my favorite:

"A pair of substantial mammary glands have the advantage over the two hemispheres of the most learned professor's brain in the art of compounding a nutritive fluid for infants."

~Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894)

:)

~s~

Nursing Is Normal

Preaching to the choir, eh? Well this terrific lady, Kathy O'Brien, decided to put together a photo essay of nursing in public. It begins with the words:

"We believe the more often something is seen, the more accepted it becomes."

Here's the link, but be advised, clicking on it will download the PowerPoint presentation to your computer.

I also found this via Mothering.

~s~

psa from the Australian Breastfeeding Association

Have you seen this? How did I miss it!? I love it.



For more information about the ABA, visit their site.
I found this video here.

~s~

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?

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.

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

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~

Amazing Mom

For those of you who missed this little bit of positive news surrounding that huge earthquake in China back in May, there was a woman, a police officer by profession, a mother by heart, who nursed babies who were either orphaned, or whose parents were unable to feed them. At one point, she was nursing 9 infants! Her own little one was in another town, being cared for by family.

Links here and here.

~J~