I agree with this. I am a dedicated supporter of breastfeeding and
understand all too well the subtle and not so subtle undermining of
breastfeeding BUT go look in a few old graveyards at the numbers of
babies who died in the past from all sorts of things. Just because all
mothers breastfed did not mean that babies didn't die. I personally am
thankful for scales and bottles and formula (when I can't get donated
human milk) and scientific research and lactation consultants who want
to be evidence based. I do not personally believe in evolution, I
believe in devolution (the second law of thermodynamics). I see hundreds
of outpatient babies every year from all sorts of births (home,
c-section, vbac, vacuum, forceps, spontaneous, epiduralized,
unmedicated, etc) with many sorts of issues. The main thing I am
convinced of right now is that women DO want to breastfeed. It's up to
us as professionals to help them achieve their goals, to not be
patronizing, to give them truth and emotional support. When we argue
about whether scales are good or not (hey formula is GOOD when it is
used appropriately!) or this or that technique is good - we miss the big
picture. Our goal is for healthy moms and babies - physically,
emotionally, and spiritually and breastfeeding helps ALL of that. It's
what our creator intended according to the Innocenti Declaration and
when we help make that happen, I believe we are doing God's work -
whether we acknowledge that or not. With that said, I will probably go
no mail for a while. If you wish to talk to me personally, you can
contact me off list.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kathy Eng
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 6:00 PM
Subject: caloric requirement equations and cultural bashing
Nina, as a lay person or non-physician, any IBCLC needs to know what to
suggest to a mother whose baby is not gaining enough weight or who is
losing too much weight. You ask where we get these formulas.
As a non-physician IBCLC, I go to my text books, like the Breastfeeding
Answer Book for the 2.5 ounces of breastmilk or formula per pounds of
baby's weight in 24 hours. There is another slightly higher equation in
Breastfeeding and Human Lactation.
You probably ask where did these books get that information? This is
something you may want to pursue for your own curiosity.
I for one am content to use these equations because as a non-physician,
most IBCLCs need to know how to start the turn around with a baby who is
doing poorly and losing weight or not gaining weight properly.
I wonder at the posts that say that some cultures are too worried about
weights. I wonder how someone could not be concerned when baby is
failure to thrive or way under weight or not gaining well enough? .
We can agree to disagree and leave the not so subtle cultural bashing
aside. We all have to take responsibility for the mothers we help and
the information we give and I think we all want to do the best we can
for our mothers and babies who are not doing well. So how about calling
a truce on the cultural stuff and let's just say we are all trying to do
the best for the mothers and babies we help?
Kathy Eng, BSW, IBCLC
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