Breast Feeding in The Bahamas

[Nurse Jimo]

Hey guys whats up I have just realize how important breast fedding has become so therefore instantly I have become a strong advocator for breast feeding.

And I recently asked by girl wat she think about and she says that she think a new mom should breast feed for at least six months but others disagreed and say that all newborns do not like to be breast fed. what I think is that the mother should make the innitiative to make that new born adapt to the breast milk. The benefits of breast feeding are so good that I find it to be ignorant on the behalf of those who refuse to breast feed and disagree with the practices.

In the Bahamas mothers really do like to breast feed and this has become a very important issue for midwives and nurses. as nurses what advice would you guys give concerning breast feeding and how can I convince others to breast feed.

[OBNURSEHEATHER]

Originally posted by Nurse Jimo

Many disagree with me when I say that new moms should breast feed for at least six months alone avoiding everything else.

In the Bahamas mothers really do like to breast feed and this has become a very important issue for midwives and nurses.

I guess I just don't understand the contradiction here????

As for personal opinion, I think it's wonderful if a mother chooses to breastfeed. However, I do not base my opinion of a person on whether or not they choose to do it. It's a personal choice, one I encourage my patients to make on their own, considering all of the variable unique to them and their lives.

Heather

[kittyw]

Originally posted by Nurse Jimo

what advice would you guys give concerning breast feeding and how can I convince others to breast feed.

Want to encourage breastfeeding?? Then don't shove it down mothers' throats.

[OBNURSEHEATHER]

Thank you for posting that quote kitty. The word convince offends me greatly. I would never try to convince my patients to circumcise, have an abortion, get certain immunizations, etc. I offer them information and let them make an informed decision. And then I support that decision fully, no questions asked.

There is such a thing as taking an issue too far, which I think is something we are doing if we are trying to convince people to do something they may have already decided against.

Heather

[Q.]

Originally posted by OBNURSEHEATHER

The word convince offends me greatly. I would never try to convince my patients to circumcise, have an abortion, get certain immunizations, etc. I offer them information and let them make an informed decision. And then I support that decision fully, no questions asked.

There is such a thing as taking an issue too far, which I think is something we are doing if we are trying to convince people to do something they may have already decided against.

Heather

Excellent point. Instead of the word convince, why not insert educate. How can we EDUCATE moms on breastfeeding? Ultimately, the feeding choice is HERS and hers alone.

[semstr]

I am not a professional nurse to convince patients/ clients, but due to my training I can educate them.

[BadBird, BSN, RN]

I think that what is good for the mother is good for the baby, some mother choose not to breastfeed, that does not make them bad mothers. I think it is a individual decision and no woman should be put down for her choice either for or against breastfeeding. Some of the most recent studies that I have read show a increase in asthma for breastfed babies, so who knows what really is best. They all grow up to be teenagers, wanting the car keys and driving us nuts, thank God!!

[BBnurse34]

I always tell new mothers that if they try breastfeeding and don't like it they can quit. But, if they don't initially attempt breastfeeding, the opportunity is lost.

[LCDEBBIE]

Hello! Breastfeeding is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics exclusively for the first 6 months and in combo with solids until 12 months old; the WHO and UNICEF recommend breastfeeding for 2 years or until mutually agreed upon weaning by mom and baby. Computer friendly - see http://www.ilca.org; http://www.aap.org; http://www.abm.org for great references. In my lactation practice my motto is "Human milk for human babies" no matter how we obtain it. In our country women are accustomed to "gadgets and gizmos" so pumping expressed breastmilk can also become the norm.

My son is in medical school on the island of Dominica. Since you are in the Bahamas, can you "shed some light" on the use of sea kelp and waterkress as a galactogogue? It really worked and it was a midwife on the island that educated me in Sepember of this year. Just curious.

Changing the world one breast at a time,

LCDebbie

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan