As with so many recommendations - using only ONE method of ANYTHING can be
carried to the extreme and create problems.

YES, I believe and teach baby-led breastfeeding for MOST babies MOST of the
time...

However, there are times when it is healthier for both mother and baby to be
more directive/interventional.  The real knowledge and skill is in knowing
when it is appropriate and/or empowering mothers to do what they feel works
for them and their babies.

An example is a baby that is fed according to their rhythm (I refuse to use
the word "schedule")...and throws up at every feeding!  THEN we try
different things such as burping DURING the feeding - which means removing
the baby before they're ready to stop and then returning them to the same
breast.

Another example is a baby that falls asleep during the feedings and is
losing weight....

...well, you get the idea!

It seems that people who write articles about a single topic/recommendation
(for example "baby-led breastfeeding"), are authors who choose to write in
order to elicit emotional responses against breastfeeding and lactation
experts in general.  Any author worth their salt would have researched the
topic, spoken to lactation experts and learned that NONE of us recommend
only ONE way to do ANYTHING!

...just read one week's worth of LACTNET as proof!

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

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