Watch Your Language - Breast Isn't Best!

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 7, 2005

Perhaps, WIC should not give vouchers for formula, thereby, allowing us to teach these young moms that they already have a full milk supply built right in...at NO COST! And, I always tell them, it is lesss "stuff" you have to carry around in the diaper bag. Cheap, easly, no bottles to wash, buy.. etc. Sometimes, it is easier to appeal to the economics of the situation, especially, for those where money is an issue.

I also teach them that rarely does WIC cover all the cost of formula. Often as infants grow in the first months, their appetites (and tummies) do, too. WIC will "cap" the amount they will provide each month, and I have learned, this often leaves the parent covering at least some portion of cost. This is obviously not a cost burden shared by breastfeeding families. Often, if you can appeal to economic thinking, particularly in younger moms/parents, they will listen. But again, if their mind is made up, after we have discussed it, I refuse to argue or browbeat anyone. It's their choice, their baby; they will raise the child, not I.

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 7, 2005

Beatifully said, Deb!

thank you.

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 7, 2005

There were breatfeeding advocates protesting in front of our hospital yesterday, decrying how our policies "Damage" babies. These Moms and a couple dads, had their infants and toddlers with them in 95degree humid weather. some allowed them selves to be arrested, going limp, being handcuffed...in front of their CHILDREN, who were too young to comprehend the whole scene...and they are that worried about the hospital "damaging" their babies for a couple hours away from them??? What in God's name were they thinking?!? I, personally, thought a well written editorial citing reasearch would have been the wiser way to handle their concerns.

This kind of stuff, I can't condone. Particularly having their kids involved. I am no militant and I dislike militant tactics. The editorial response is a well-thought next move. Way to go--- You are the wiser for it---hopefully, "reasonable" people will be reading the paper the day it's printed. :lol2:

jkaee · Aug 8, 2005

[quote name=UnewmeB4

There were breatfeeding advocates protesting in front of our hospital yesterday, decrying how our policies "Damage" babies. These Moms and a couple dads, had their infants and toddlers with them in 95degree humid weather. some allowed them selves to be arrested, going limp, being handcuffed...in front of their CHILDREN, who were too young to comprehend the whole scene...and they are that worried about the hospital "damaging" their babies for a couple hours away from them??? What in God's name were they thinking?!? I, personally, thought a well written editorial citing reasearch would have been the wiser way to handle their concerns.

That's ridiculous....and I breastfed 2 of my kids. I can't stand extremists, even when I agree with them. All that behavior does is make you look untrustworthy, unreliable and unstable. It DOES NOT educate anyone, really.

This brought to mind the time I was walking my then 4 year old son down the street in New York City after a Wiggles concert. A pro-life demostration was going on, and one of the demonstrators shoved a poster of a mutilated aborted baby (post partial birth AB) right in front of my son's face. Now, I am completely pro-life......but that really pizzed me off! What purpose does that serve? The same with the BF people....who are you really helping by getting arrested? So sad.....

allnurses Guide · Aug 8, 2005

That's ridiculous....and I breastfed 2 of my kids. I can't stand extremists, even when I agree with them. All that behavior does is make you look untrustworthy, unreliable and unstable. It DOES NOT educate anyone, really.
This brought to mind the time I was walking my then 4 year old son down the street in New York City after a Wiggles concert. A pro-life demostration was going on, and one of the demonstrators shoved a poster of a mutilated aborted baby (post partial birth AB) right in front of my son's face. Now, I am completely pro-life......but that really pizzed me off! What purpose does that serve? The same with the BF people....who are you really helping by getting arrested? So sad.....

I agree . .. :)

Can I just say that there are some of us nurses in California who feel the same way about CNA's tactics with the Governer (I know - off topic but the comparison just struck me). Their answer to our complaints about their "in your face" behaviour is that things need to change (true). Well, pro-life people could use the same argument and so could pro-breastfeeding people. However, some people don't think the way to do that is to be belligerant.

Anytime people get in another person's face, it rarely does anything but pizz them off.

Don't tell anyone but we keep pacifiers hidden in a drawer just in case . . .. I guess that means we damage babies too.

And remember, I'm one of those "extended" breastfeeders ... nursing into toddlerhood. Not a breastfeeding nazi though . .. :)

steph

ljds · Aug 9, 2005

I appreciate a thoughtful discussion on breastfeeding, and how we can improve breastfeeding rates. I think that nurses in the hospital can only do so much, but we all should try.

Even the AAP recognizes the superiority of breastmilk; if you go to their website, they have many studies on the health benefits.

I would like to see a complete shift in our thinking in terms of infant nutrition. Breastmilk is the best for an infant, in most circumstances. We should treat it as such. Meaning that when women first register with their OB/Doc/Midwife, they should be assessed for learning needs in regards to breasteeding. If they don't want to breastfeed, tactful exploration of why should occur. Is it due to myths? Fears? Past abuse? Thinking they can't breastfeed because they are returning to work? Are these issues that could be overcome with counselling and/or education? The prenatal practitioner should also educate the mother on her breastfeeding resources in the area. Like a nutritional assessment, this can take time, but also can be done. Perhaps a routine referral to a lactation consultant, or even better, having a LC available in the office to meet with each client, assessing any needs, providing education and support where appropriate .

I also would like to see formula only available with a prescription, after an LC and pediatrician have assessed the mother and baby for individual needs. I would like to see insurance companies and medicaid cover the cost. I would hope that this would serve a couple of purposes.

1) Formula would be viewed as artificial baby milk, as medication of sorts. I would hope that would provide incentive for the pharmaceutical companies that make formula to put a heck of alot more research into it, to create formulas that are more easily digested, better suited to different ages and health conditions of infants, and of higher quality sources.

2) Guilt would hopefully not be as much of an issue. With more readily available access prenatally and postpartum (and not just in the hospital), with the mother, LC and ped on board, if a woman does not breastfeed for health, emotional, or personal reasons, she (and in reality, everyone else) knows that there is not a deficit of knowledge here. An informed choice has been made. Support has been available. And whether it is because of choice or an other reason, with improved formula, a mother can feel better about her baby's nutrition.

3) In the case of formula feeding, the mother/parents get some education in preparing formula, and work together with the ped/pharmacist on a formula that is best suited for their baby (not whatever samples the hospital gave out, or their friend had left over, or WIC proviced, or what was on sale last week). I used to work with young moms; from first hand experience, I know that some people do infact have great difficulty preparing formula accurately. One of my moms had her infant hospitalized in the NICU (here's one for you, fergus!) because she had improperly measured and stored the formula, and the infant had a life threatening electrolyte imbalance (her potassium was through the roof, and she was having seizures). When the WIC runs out, it wasn't uncommon for the moms to water down the formula until the next month.

4) With insurance companies paying for formula, I would hope that they woudl have a vested interest in supporting breastfeeding, including services provided by professionals who support breastfeeding (paying for LC services, breastpumps, etc). My dad owns his own company, and he receives a discount on his employees' health insurance because he has installed a gym at his job site. Wouldn't it be lovely to see employers provide pumping stations for their lactating employees, if for no other reason that to pay lower health premiums?

Sorry this is so long. I actually have lots more thoughts in this area, but I'll spare you all for now! I do agree that shame tactics rarely work, and positive, gentle support is better. But I also believe that breastfeeding is optimal for the baby and mom, and should be treated as such by medical professionals, as well as the community at large. If breastfeeding is not going to occur, rather than providing basically adequate formula that makes it's money on convincing people that it's actually great, I'd rather see pharmaceutical companies putting out a much higher quality product, and letting insurance companies foot the bill. I'd rather pay for it in my premiums that way, than in higher bills for sicker babies.

When my dream world comes true, I'll make sure you all know how to get there.

Oh, and we all get insurance, too. And chocolate. Daily.

Lori

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 9, 2005

I love how you think, LORI!

Please let me welcome you to the OB/Midwifery/Newborn forums.