Rachel said: 

"The most significant effect the study had in Norway was that there is
greater awareness in and around Oslo about what it takes to breastfeed
exclusively for six months, than there is where I live, just a few hundred
km away."

I have to agree that this effect was felt by me and those who participated
in assisting those moms - a series of research articles and studies from UC
Davis have been invaluable in my adding information in my PowerPoint
presentations about the importance of EARLY (72 hours pp), some of the
barriers to breastfeeding and when/how to offer effective interventions.

Additionally, we also learned how to work together - all of us dealing
within this study (I was a substitute's substitute - not a primary member of
the group - but helped in that I was available during weekends to provide
breastfeeding support) gained immesurably from not only speaking to moms who
WANTED to breastfeed, but to whom we could offer regular breastfeeding
support without worrying about costs or timing (my biggest challenges here
often arrive at 4:00 pm on a Holiday weekend - waiting for the shoe to drop
today for sure!).  ALL moms deserve this sort of help - not the "call me if
you have problems" or the "come in next Thursday".

As for the growth charts, I have data from my grandchildren and some of
their neighbors so that I can show people the differences.  They are very
subtle with these normal, healthy (with WIDE range in birth weight from 4
lbs to 10 lbs, and one set of twins) children.

However, at age 12 months both my grandchildren were considered
"underweight" by their pediatrician.something that would not have happened
with the new charts. Had my daughter-in-law taken it to heart, I could see
that she might have been convinced to reduce breastfeeding and start
"filling them up" with higher-calorie foods...

I also found charting their BMI's to be very interesting, as I don't believe
these types of charts were available.

We need to remember these charts are to be used for POPULATIONS - so that
Public Health Departments can evaluate their populations and develop
recommendations. (Like reduce soda use - especially in those baby bottles I
saw at the airports during the last 2 weeks I have been traveling!)   

Individuals need to be compared to themselves, the additional data such as
activity, skills, situation, recent illnesses etc. need to be considered as
part of the evaluation and the development of recommendations.



Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
Vacaville, California




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