Breastfeeding

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

:rolleyes: So I went into work last night, I guess it is World Breastfeeding Week right now. We have all these posters around the unit advertising it. Then in our station (in plain view of patients and visitors) is a poster listing the top 12 reasons to breast feed. Now I agree with some of them like increased immunities and the best natural food for your baby.

The best one though says that your baby will be smarter if you breast feed them. Now I want to read that research article. How did they prove that?

Anyway it was the joke of the unit last night. We were saying that all our strange (stupid) patients must have been bottle feed or else they would be smarter right?

Meghan

Specializes in OB.

I fully support any mother who wants to breastfeed, and have spent hours holding baby and boobie together to help first time moms and postop c-sections. However, I am not and will not ever be one of the breastfeeding Gestapo, making mothers feel guilt over their decision not to breastfeed!

As I see it, my job is to instruct and facilitate whatever choice the mother has made for herself and her infant.

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you can encourage a mother to breast feed with out making them feel guilty. one should point on the benifits and any latest info. if mom choses to bottle feed then i teach them the proper methods. and everyone is happy,:)

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.

THEY CHOOSE! AS A NURSE, YOU SUPPORT THAT CHOICE W/O ANY MILITANT PUSHING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. AFTER ALL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU ARE A PATIENT ADVOCATE.

Yes, yes yes, SmilingBluEyes. Have seen too many Mom's feel like failures cuz BF didn't work out for them. :(

What little benefit breastfeeing may have on the intellect is not the end all. Growing up in a loving and nurturing environment is key.

I have thought that maybe the reason for this increased intelligence statistic in BF babies is more due to the physical closeness than the breast milk, which of course is entirely possible with formula fed, but not necessary. I believe good nurturing can increase well being and promote intellectual potential. My 2 cents.

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I would like to respond to this thread but I was not Breastfed and as such can not understand the big words you guys are using? I think I need some edu-mac-ation.

=P

All hail the breast!

Sorry I'm in one of those silly moods again I think it's entirely possible that breastfed babies have higher IQ's. Ever looked at the labels on baby food bottles? Most of the stuff in there is sugar and the juice is even worse. I know the formula market is very competitive but they are still in business to make a profit rather then nourish our babies.

Heck... has anyone else noticed that new lipil stuff makes babes gag all the time? What the heck is that lipil stuff anyway? They say it's a protein but I bet its cow brains or something

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

dunno, i was not breastfed and yet i tested w/an IQ of 145 two separate times. not a genius, no, but enuf to get by, huh? so----what would two or three more points do for me, anyhow? hard to tell and frankly, i dont' care. it is what you do for the next 21 years (or more) that, to me, counts for so much more than exactly how you fed; bottle versus breast for the first year or two. by the way, i breastfed both my kids cause it was what I FELT was right for them, me and my husband. (not cause someone pressured me to with an agenda on their minds). i think we need to be VERY careful how we educate and assist new parents to feed their newborns; and really work hard never to instill guilt in their choices. there is enough guilt w/being a new parent day-by-day and we sure don't want to add to this-----we are often such influencial forces in new families' lives. just my .02 (or less).;)

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nothing beats the breast,:).

I wish I was breast feed, i could sure use those 5-10 extra IQ points! maybe it would have even helped my typing.

everyone have a good day/night which ever the case my be.

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I agree smiling

I never try to presure patients one way or the other. I belive that in a perfect world breast would be better for everyone. However we dont live in a perfect world and sometimes it just won't work.

Some people especialy teen mom's are embaressed by breastfeeding, some moms simply cant do it becuase of work and others don't have the personality that lends its self to breastfeeding. If you presure or guilt people into BF you set them and the baby up for a hard time. If they dont really want to BF they may not feed the baby on time or they might get really stressed out and thats not good.

I always ask my patients why they have choosen breast or bottle and prob them too see how much they know. Then I try to see if i can provide information to lead them to a desition that works for them. I've said it before I am pro BF but I have helped some moms make the desition not to BF. Some of them don't really want too but feel guilty and thats not right.

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Specializes in NICU.

I've noticed that about the lipil stuff!!! I thought it was the nipples we were using (ran out of the good kind). Did you notic that it says to use within an hour of opening? I know it's silly, but that kind of scard me. I always throw leftovers away, but other nurses on my unit don't; they'll recap them and use them at the next feeding. I had to make a big sign and post it over the formula table...had me wondering...what happens to the ingredients after an hour? Do they come alive? ;>P

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have noticed the same thing, they sure spit it up a lot! also made a note of the 1 hour thing. it is hard to get some patients educated to the fact that they must use with in an hour or throw it away

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Dayray, you sound like MY kind of nurse! I like the way you advocate!

And if I had MY way, the hospital would stop stocking formula openly in the nursery; it would be in formulary and in the pharmacy for use *as prescribed by a ped*. I don't like it; there are MANY digestive and allergenic issues you court when you use it. I prefer breastfeeding. But it is there, for all to see. I even remove it from the bags we give out to breastfeeding moms.

But if a Mom chooses formula feeding, surely it is her choice. I just wish they were educated more before giving birth---many come to me "I think I might try breastfeeding....if it does not work out, I will go to bottle. " (!!!) I do EVERYTHINGin my POWER to help "it work out" but it is hard when one is not committed.

Conversely, When I ask what type formula they are considering when they are determined to bottle-feed, they have no clue NO idea what they will be putting in their infants' stomachs. I think they should KNOW what they are considering feeding their kids before this! I see many feeding problems w/formula. Few with breastfeeding.

I (still) say, keep the political agendas out of it (from both sides). Stop sending formula reps to us to take us to the Olive Garden to hard-sell their product (I actually do not participate out of principle). Also, when a mom says she is set to formula-feed, support her choice w/o guilting. To me, it is all I can do. Iknow this post is too long and not very well-said, but I did my best to convey how I feel about this issue!

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Specializes in Clinical Risk Management.

I'm lovin' this discussion. And it is, indeed a REAL discussion! The one thing that I have certainly learned as a parent is that each mother, each FAMILY has to make the choices that work best for them! I have the opportunity to speak with expectant moms every day. I am asked about BF on a daily basis. I can extol the virtues of BF until I'm blue in the face, but I tell them, make a decision based on what's best for HER...and to not feel guilty, or to let anyone make them feel guilty about anything.

Educate & let 'em make their OWN decision.

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