This was obviously from last week already, but here were my thoughts  
anyway...
 
Sam writes:

If  we
have "experts" on artificial infant feeding, who are also supposed to  be
experts on breastfeeding, where is the line drawn? The line starts to  blur 
-
I'm an expert on formula a, and it's almost as good...  



~~~ I look at it like this: I will never believe nor lead anyone else to  
believe that using an artificial limb is normal, or as healthy as using one's 
 own ( it actually costs a lot more energy), nor would I ever suggest 
someone use  a wheelchair or crutches when they could, with some good work over 
time,  transition back to normal walking without an assistive device. But I 
will  support the use of the items for those who need them, and I will learn 
as much  as I can for people for do need them. People who casually choose to 
use bottles  or artificial infant milks over breastfeeding do not need my 
guidance. But  today, and there may be anger over this, I helped a mother 
I've been working  with decide which AIM and which bottles might be the least 
risky for her baby.  She was of "advanced maternal age", obese, with huge, 
shapeless nipples and  breasts which never changed during pregnancy, and after 
pumping appropriately,  herbs, nutritional support, and supplementing with 
a tube at breast for a week,  she still got no more than 1.5 ounces of milk 
in a 24 hour period. We talked  about other options like acupuncture and a 
consult with a local breastfeeding  medicine specialist. She said she was 
afraid of needles, but might consider the  consult to try to figure out why her 
body did not respond to any/ all the things  she tried. We talked about 
milk banks, but our current system is not set up to  help mothers so that 
anyone who needs human milk for their baby can have access  to the supply needed. 
She was devastated, and tired of working and seeing  nothing change. Since 
her baby was nearly 2 weeks old before any of this was  suggested, I have no 
idea whether earlier timing might have made a difference,  but for now, she 
said she's done trying. I encouraged her to keep putting the  baby to 
breast, even if she doesn't think he's "getting anything" because  breastfeeding 
is so much more than transfer of calories. I also answered her  questions 
about how formulas are and are not different, and how to feed her baby  as 
safely as she can with a bottle, and with an eye toward normal amounts and  
pacing.  I do feel like these are helpful and compassionate skills for  me to 
have. 
 
Peace,
Judy  

Judy LeVan  Fram, PT, IBCLC, LLLL
Brooklyn, NY,  USA

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