Breastfeeding Misinformation begins with Doctors and Nurses

As some of you may know, I have recently gone back to school. I've applied to a local RN Associate Degree program and am working on related coursework. One of my courses this semester is Nutrition and Diet Therapy, and as part of the course requirements, we're presenting group projects. Yes, pregnancy nutrition was taken by the time I got to sign up, but I managed to snag breastfeeding.

I started by scanning my textbook (which is required as we're primarily presenting the text information and supplying research to compliment). I came across this gem: "The adjustments [of breastfeeding comfortably] are easier if supplemental formula feedings are not introduced until breastfeeding is well established, after at least 3 to 4 weeks. Then it is fine if a supplemental bottle or two of infant formula per day is needed." [Contemporary Nutrition: A Functional Approach]

I had a few choice words and then set out to find the research to disprove it. I'm presenting that here.

First - The statement goes directly against current breastfeeding recommendations. WHO states that "exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond" (Citation) American Academy of Pediatrics goes this far: Supplements (water, glucose water, formula, and other fluids) should not be given to breastfeeding newborn infants unless ordered by a physician when a medical indication exists.” and “Pediatricians and other health care professionals should recommend human milk for all infants in whom breastfeeding is not specifically contraindicated and provide parents with complete, current information on the benefits and techniques of breastfeeding to ensure that their feeding decision is a fully informed one.  When direct breastfeeding is not possible, expressed human milk should be provided." (Citation) Healthy People 2020 Targets are exclusively breastfeeding through 3 months - 46.2% and exclusively through 6 months - 25.5% (Citation)

Second: Formula Supplementation has been linked to early breastfeeding cessation: “Partial breast-feeding (supplementing more than one bottle of formula per day, measured at 1 month postpartum) was associated with shorter breast-feeding duration. This latter effect was minimized by frequent nursing (seven or more times per day), despite formula supplementation.” (citation) 

And finally: “Clinicians who recommended formula supplementation or who do not think their advice about how long to breastfeed is very important may be sending signals that exclusive breastfeeding is not something that mothers should value highly. In addition, our results indicate that many clinicians do not feel confident in their skills to support breastfeeding and may have limited time to address the issue during preventive visits. As for mothers, experiencing problems with the infant latching on or sucking seems to be a risk factor for not exclusively breastfeeding.” (Citation - I found the full article through Ebscohost and cannot link it directly. You can comment/email me for the file and I will be happy to supply it.)

I'm excited to use the information I've found to disprove such a fallacy and educate other nurses. Let's hope they listen...

New book - look out for similar titles!

Just came across a new book in our local library titled The Birth Partner Handbook.

Do not be confused!!!!

This is not The Birth Partner!

I highly recommend The Birth Partner. This new one (by a different author), not so much at all. Very much in the vein of whatever the doctor says must be right.

Educate yourself and get The Birth Partner instead!

Recommended Reading for Pregnant Women

Nearly as soon as a woman is pregnant, she begins looking for books to help her fill-in-the-blanks between doctor appointments and ultrasounds. This is no easy task considering all the books that are out there. Here is a short list and review for some of the books I found most helpful, as well as some to avoid.

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Simkin, Whalley, and Keppler.

This is one of the best books I read while I was pregnant. It's easy enough to read straight through it, but it's also a great reference book. Unlike many pregnancy books, it goes into the first few months of your newborn's life rather than ending at birth and the hospital stay.  My copy is full of highlights and marks.

The Birth Partner by Simkin

Amazing book. . It’s aimed specifically to birth partners (as though you couldn’t tell), but I found as an expecting mother it was very valuable for me as well. Good book to read through together and discuss. Also good to toss into the birth bag for reference as needed. It’s even designed for this with “tabs” on the pages so you can flip through and find what you need.

The Doula Book by Marshall Klaus, John Kennell, and Phyllis H. Klaus. - A great book to acquaint you with the idea of a trained labor companion. Doulas don’t replace partners; they support the whole family in birthing.

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin - Sure she’s a bit of a hippie, but she knows birth. This book is full of birth stories to empower and encourage. It also discusses pregnancy, labor, and birthing in a way that makes you feel like a real, powerful, strong woman

The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth. By Henci Goer - A great book for women and partners on the edge with hospital interventions. Henci has thoroughly researched common procedures, outlining risks and benefits. She also gives alternatives and discusses how to talk to your care provider about these things.

The Nursing Mother’s Companion by Kathleen Huggins and The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers by Jack Newman and Teresa Pitman - Great references for the breastfeeding mother. If I had to pick one, I’d go with the first. It’s a simpler read (though both are very readable) and has easy to skim organization of topics.

The Hidden Feelings of Motherhood. By Katheleen A. Kendall-Tackett. - A must read during the postpartum period. This book helped me acknowledge my own post-partum depression and worries. Can be checked out from the library.

The Baby Book. By Sears. The Vaccine Book by Sears. - Though I haven’t read all of the Sears library, I’ve read these two. The Baby Book is huge and comprehensive, not something you can read through easily, but great to have around. The Vaccine Book is very balanced if you’re just curious about the whole debate. It’s an easy read as well.

The No-Cry Sleep Solution. By Elizabeth Pantley and William Sears. - As we are beginning to learn that the cry-it-out approach doesn’t work for all and may cause damage to those it seems to work for, here’s a great alterative. Teach your child how to fall asleep rather than to get so tired they have no other choice.

Books I suggest you avoid:

The What to Expect Series. While I’ve not read them, general consensus has it that these books tend to promote fear. You don’t need any added stress. If a complication occurs in your pregnancy, you can seek information as needed. Don’t scare yourself with all the what-ifs. There are better books out there.

Book Review: When You Were Inside Mommy

Usually book reviews on blogs are for newer books, but when I came across this one, I felt all moms needed this for their children. My son is participating in the Kanawha County Public Library’s summer reading program and this is one of the books we read this week.

This book is very simple and straight-forward. It has lovely illustrations of a young family with their new son.

But the best thing about this book is the way it’s written. It’s from the point of view of the child’s mother. My favorite thing is that it uses the correct terms for pregnancy. The child is told that he grew inside mommy’s uterus or womb. He was fed and got air from his umbilical cord. Simple really, except when my seventh graders last year didn’t know there was such thing as an umbilical cord.

The book talks about how Mommy and Daddy waited and waited until “the muscles of her womb started squeezing.” Then they knew this was the time. How beautiful that this baby was worth waiting for!

The baby is born in a hospital (my own complain, but it is true of most births so I’ll give her that), coming out of “a special opening in her body that can stretch wide.” Love this!

I think this book is a must for basic pregnancy education for any child; we plan on buying my little man a copy.

I believe it’s never to early to start talking to your kids about pregnancy and childbirth. Remember this is a normal part of life and treat it as such. It’s nothing to hide or tell kids that you’ll “tell them when they’re older.” Start now and they’ll understand it’s all normal and beautiful, not scary or dirty.

If you’re in the Kanawha County library system, you can check the book out there. I got mine at the Cross Lanes branch, but you can always request it!

However, I just think you should buy it – here: Amazon.com - When You Were Inside Mommy

Just as a note – I have no connection with this book. I just felt that all women should know about this book.