SO very true Carole; thanks for pointing out that rather horribly scary
fact. I DO say to people that formula is the biggest unregulated
experiement out there!!
To add to this discussion, I think one of the things that made this thread
so disturbing for me (I normally just lurk, and rarely post) was the
implication that we are in a position to judge whether a mother was capable
/ appropriate / in the position to breastfeed; while we may see cases where
a mom is not adequately caring for her baby and needs intervention to keep
the baby safe, I do not believe that we are supporting the mother, much less
meeting her where she is, by walking in the door and deciding for her that
she should not BF due to the factors we have been discussing. Even if we
only make this decision in our own mind, the mother will see it in our
attitude and degree of involvement and encouragement. Unless the situation
is so extreme that the baby's safety is uncertain or compromised, it is
simply NOT our call. Making the decision that someone ought NOT breastfeed
FOR THEM is just as coercive, with much more potential damage, than assuming
that they CAN BF until you see evidence to the contrary from that individual
mother and baby. Therefore, making that assumption in no way represents
respect for the mother or support for her baby, IMO. BF is for everyone
(barring the tiny minority with medical issues that prevent it), not just
those who fit society's view of a suitable mother, unless the mother makes
that call for herself and her baby. Speaking as someone who has worked with
a wide range of moms, as well as a mom that HAD judgements made by other
people about how I have parented my kids.
Esther Friedman, IBCLC, LLLL, MS, mom to 2 BF kids
www.firstgiving.com/tylermom
There is no greater accomplishment than helping a child...
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carole Jernigan" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 7:46 AM
Subject: Re: Questions and Mother vs Baby
> Esther, not trying to be contrary, but I would like to add that it is
> almost impossible to FULLY inform parents of the risks of feeding
> artificial infant milks...because so many have not yet even come to
> light for the scientific and medical communities. That is truly the
> scary part for me: these substances have been introduced to one of our
> most vulnerable populations and long term consequences have been
> ignored or minimized by the manufacturers.
>
> I have a strong suspicion that the high numbers of people in their
> 40's, 50's and 60's developing malignancies has a strong link to being
> raised on Karo syrup, condensed canned milk, and water, as well as on
> commercially manufactured AIMs, but only time and a lot of research may
> bring confirmation. As Dr. Nancy Wight succinctly and firmly states,
> "We are NOT 'fine'!"
>
> Carole Jernigan, RN, BSN, IBCLC
> San Diego, California
>
>
>> Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:08:25 -0800
>> From: Esther Friedman <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: Questions and Mother vs Baby
>>
>> I have been following this thread and feel very concerned about
>> several =
>> of the "fine lines" that have come up. Of course, if a mother is
>> truly =
>> adamant against BF AFTER she is FULLY informed of the risks involved
>> in =
>> artificial feeding, it is counterproductive to try to force her to do
>> =
>> so. We ARE ethically obligated, IMO, to give her a complete picture
>> of =
>> the heath and financial risks involved in formula feeding, whether
>> her =
>> initial inclination is to artificially feed or not. The VAST
>> majority =
>> of mothers do not have access to accurate information regarding
>> infant =
>> feeding. We are obligated to give that information to ALL of the =
>> mothers we work with. That is the "fine line" for me; I cannot
>> change a =
>> mother's mind, nor should I try; I SHOULD make sure her decision is
>> an =
>> informed one.
>
>
>
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