Dear Friends:
James McKenna, Helen Ball and Linda Smith talked for hours at an
International Lactation Conference in Orldando, Florida about current research on
these topics. Their presentations were powerful, inspiring, and loaded with
ammunition to deal with today's witchhunt, a diametric opposite to the hysteria
that has swept across the USA.
We can all ask for the research that shows that babies sleeping alone is
safe..................there is none. We can, as with breastfeeding, insist
on correct definitions. Is the infant alone in an adult bed? Is the adult
drunk or stoned? Is the infant breast or bottle-feeding? Is there tobacco in the
home? Was the infant trapped, strangled or over-lain (all of which have been
lumped in with 'sids') ?
With all the fuss and furor about the so-called dangers of bed-sharing,
I am furious and astounded that a true culprit in infant death, i.e. tobacco
in the home, is being virtually ignored by all these campaigns. A token
recommendation that parents not smoke is completely inadequate in view of the
dangers of tobacco to babies!
Dr. Ball is presently awaiting publication of an article comparing the
impact of a solitary crib, a co-sleeper, and bed-sharing in the postpartum
unit on the initiation of breastfeeding. She filmed dyads at night in the
hospital to see what happened. This is a fascinating study, and she is a top-notch
researcher. I want our local hospitals to get co-sleepers for everybody now!
Dr. McKenna is very dear, and so brilliant. I love his understanding of
language and also how he has brought in the topic of morals and judgements
masquerading as science...................
Linda showed the audience that formula companies are funding some of the
major anti-SIDS organizations. As research shows that breastfeeding and
bedsharing go together, it is logical for our competitors to do what they can to
undermine the connection between mothers and babies.
We have to stay on our toes!
warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE
Maternal-Child Adjunct Faculty Union Institute and University
Film Reviews Editor, Journal of Human Lactation
www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com
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