Breastfeed or else

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Acute Med, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology.

just some food for thought for "breast is best". ;)

Sears, M., Greene, J., Willan, A., Taylor, R., Flannery, E., Cowan, J., Herbison, P., and Poulton, R. (2002). Long-term relation between breastfeeding and development of atopy and asthma in children and young adults: a longitudinal study. The Lancet, 360(9337).

Summary:

Background

Breastfeeding is widely advocated to reduce risk of atopy and asthma, but the evidence for such an effect is conflicting. We aimed to assess long-term outcomes of asthma and atopy related to breastfeeding in a New Zealand birth cohort.

Methods

Our cohort consisted of 1037 of 1139 children born in Dunedin, New Zealand, between April, 1972, and March, 1973, and residing in Otago province at age 3 years. Children were assessed every 2–5 years from ages 9 to 26 years with respiratory questionnaires, pulmonary function, bronchial challenge, and allergy skin tests. History of breastfeeding had been independently recorded in early childhood.

Findings

504 (49%) of 1037 eligible children were breastfed (4 weeks or longer) and 533 (51%) were not. More children who were breastfed were atopic at all ages from 13 to 21 years to cats (p=0-0001), house dust mites (p=0-0010), and grass pollen (p

InterpretationBreastfeeding does not protect children against atopy and asthma and may even increase the risk.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I think what we all agree on the following points:

1. It is our duty as nurses to inform parents of the risks/benefits of the decisions they make regarding their infants' care, including feeding methods.

2. For the vast majority of infants, breast milk is the preferred food.

3. There are parents who, for a number of reasons, opt not to use breastmilk to feed their infants.

4. As healthcare providers, we must realize that once we inform parents as to the risks/benefits of breastmilk vs. formula, the choice is theirs to make.

It is wrong for us to nag, badger, belittle, guilt, strong-arm, threaten, etc. parents who choose not to use breastmilk, just as it is wrong for us to do those same things to parents who make decisions regarding circumcision or vaccinations that are contrary to our beliefs and preferences.

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I tried to get help, knowing that twice before I was unsuccessful with BF. Everyone said wait till the baby comes. Then when he did come there was poor support in the hospital, so it was a third failure.

Me too. I never dreamed I would have problems, but after delivery I got very little help from anyone in OB. They all told me what to do, but no one worked with me in trying to get Baby to latch on. I tried everything I could think of and everything my doctor suggested, but the one thing that could have helped, I didn't know about until just after I stopped pumping: there is a breastfeeding support group at another hospital in the county. The only one in the county, in fact. I found out about it too late.

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

Ah :) Now this is what I like.

Interesting study. I'm wondering about the cat thing, and whether pets in the home were looked at. Also, there's a lot of potential in the wording of breastfed for 4+ weeks. Does that mean exclusively breastfed without supplementation? How long did the average in the cohort nurse? When were solids introduced into each group?

Do you happen to have a link to this study on medline?

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Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.

Very well stated, Jolie.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I think what we all agree on the following points:

1. It is our duty as nurses to inform parents of the risks/benefits of the decisions they make regarding their infants' care, including feeding methods.

2. For the vast majority of infants, breast milk is the preferred food.

3. There are parents who, for a number of reasons, opt not to use breastmilk to feed their infants.

4. As healthcare providers, we must realize that once we inform parents as to the risks/benefits of breastmilk vs. formula, the choice is theirs to make.

It is wrong for us to nag, badger, belittle, guilt, strong-arm, threaten, etc. parents who choose not to use breastmilk, just as it is wrong for us to do those same things to parents who make decisions regarding circumcision or vaccinations that are contrary to our beliefs and preferences.

very well stated.:balloons:

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.
Me too. I never dreamed I would have problems, but after delivery I got very little help from anyone in OB. They all told me what to do, but no one worked with me in trying to get Baby to latch on. I tried everything I could think of and everything my doctor suggested, but the one thing that could have helped, I didn't know about until just after I stopped pumping: there is a breastfeeding support group at another hospital in the county. The only one in the county, in fact. I found out about it too late.

Me too. I planned to breastfeed my first, I didn't even buy bottles, I read every book on the subject of breastfeeding, etc. No one told me that when my baby was born she would come close to death, that I would literally almost bleed to death and wouldn't even SEE or HOLD my baby until late the next day. By the time I saw her she was already on formula.

I tried, with the dumb ass nurses "help" to breastfeed her. I had no CLUE what I was doing and there was NO support. None of the nurses had breastfed so they had no real experience, only what they had read in books. The hospital has no lactation consultants. One nurse told me to only nurse her on each breast for only 20 mins because if I did more than that she was only being "a little piggy".

I was luck screw this crap, give me the formula! Ughh it was a horrible experience!

Thankfully with my second dd breastfeeding worked out well, but it wasn't easy at all in the beginning.

It still to this day makes me upset and angry with how both my oldest daughters birth and breastfeeding went. It's true that us moms remember everything like that in vivid detail, we don't forget what a nurse said, or how the nurse acted or what vibes we got from our nurse. I certainly didn't.

Anyways, that is it from me on this subject :) I have come away with a greater understanding of it all I think.

-Marilyn (who's ARMPITS got sunburned today when I was trying to be sexy and lay out at the pool with my kids!!!! Ya it's funny but damn it hurt and I can't put on deodarant!)

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.
Ah :) Now this is what I like.

Interesting study. I'm wondering about the cat thing, and whether pets in the home were looked at. Also, there's a lot of potential in the wording of breastfed for 4+ weeks. Does that mean exclusively breastfed without supplementation? How long did the average in the cohort nurse? When were solids introduced into each group?

Do you happen to have a link to this study on medline?

i think you are stating what alot of others were trying to state "there is more to a study then just the "findings" of that study. i am curious and by no means trying to be "smart", but are you this inquisitive on studies that are pro-breast feeding?

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
i think you are stating what alot of others were trying to state "there is more to a study then just the "findings" of that study. i am curious and by no means trying to be "smart", but are you this inquisitive on studies that are pro-breast feeding?

Well said ... and this echoes what SmilingBluEyes noted about the *art* of nursing. Science and evidence-based practice is the foundation of the profession, but because we deal with human beings, who have preferences, emotions, past experiences and even neuroses, science is not the end-all of decision-making.

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

Yep, actually I am, and there are several I will not mention because I find their results to be weak.

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I hate this breastfeeding debate.... Some ppl choose to do it and some don't

I have no health conditions, I simply chose not to breastfeed and guess what my kid is normal and healthy. My mom didn't breastfeed me and I am normal and healthy too. So flame away, I guess I am a terrible parent because I gave my child a bottle instead.... sheesh....

This type of discussion could go on forever and ever, It's like the working moms vs the stay at home moms. Many ppl seem to think that working moms are selfish for giving up time with their children to have a career. Then some feel stay at home moms are lazy for not wanting to work. Why can't we all just agree to disagree and realize that everyone is just doing what they think is the right thing for them and their family.... period. :o

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.
Alrighty...now who wants to talk about circumcision :chair:

Or to vax or not to vax? Or to co-sleep or to not? All highly sensitive topics.

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