Hello to all Lactnetters:

I too have been "drowning in messages," so mostly printing them out and
reading them later.  This topic though I felt needed a response right away.


I would like to assure you that there are many dietitians like myself who
are dedicated to the promotion and support of breastfeeding.  I'm the
Perinatal Nutritionist at Wellstart International's Corporate Office in San
Diego, and also newsletter editor for The Perinatal Nutrition Report which
is distributed quarterly to the 600+ members of the Perinatal Nutrition
Dietetic Practice Group of The American Dietetic Association.  We are a new
practice group within the ADA focused on the the nutritional health of
women from preception through pregnancy, and postpartum including
lactation.  Our last issue featured breastfeeding.  A large number of our
practice group are Certified Lactation Educators, Lactation Consultants,
and carry IBCLC credentials.

Thanks to Martha Brower for her fine response, and for mentioning the
American Dietetic Association's position paper on breastfeeding.  I
authored it.

To add to Martha Brower's and Alicia Dermer's recommended readings to help
convince the RDs who seem not convinced about the superiority of breast
milk to breast milk substitutes, I would also recommend the Healthy Start
materials developed by Carol Bryant for the WIC Program's national
breastfeeding promotion efforts (check with local WIC office for how to
obtain these).  Carol's social marketing work clearly showed that maternal
diet (and all the "rules") became a barrier to breastfeeding.  With this in
mind, I am careful to reassure mothers that their milk is the best
available for their infants regardless of their diets.  However, I also
remind them that the more nourishing their diet, the more energy they will
have...so to eat for themselves.

Vicky Newman, MS, RD
Perinatal Nutritionist
Lactation Management Education Program
Wellstart International
and
Assistant Clinical Professor
University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine
Phone: (619) 295-5192
Fax: (619) 294-7787
E-mail: [log in to unmask]