Dear Friends:
 
I just got back from the last international LLL conference in Chicago, 
Illinois, USA. My heart is full of renewed passion and my brain is full of new 
information.
 
Randa Saadeh MSc, RD, of the WHO, gave a talk on the new growth charts. They 
are based on the baby that has been exclusively breastfed for 6 months, with 
continued breastfeeding for at least 2 years. 300 newborns per site were in the 
sample, and another 1400 children from 18-71 months. All the WHO 
recommendations for immunizations and infant care were adhered to for each baby or child 
in the sample.
 
6 cities from around the world were the sources for data collection: 
California, Brazil, Oman, India, Ghana and Norway were the representative countries. 
30 indicators were measured at regular intervals for all the sample: besides 
height and weight and length, they also measured things like arm circumference 
and more detailed physical measurements than I had ever heard of before.
 
The neasurement and standardization protocols were scientifically  applied to 
this cross-cultural field-based project.
 
We all know that these new growth charts were released last year, and are 
designed to be the norm for infant growth.
 
However, in the US, they are not yet being used. Ms Saadeh told us that there 
is a battle going on between the CDC, NIH, AAP and DHHS about the use of 
these charts. The reason?
 
The formula-fed kids will start showing up as overweight very early on.  
Industry does NOT want these charts used.
 
Funny, isn't it? For decades, breastfeeding mothers have been tormented by 
the growth charts because their babies were deemed to be growing "wrong" and had 
to be supplemented. Now the shoe is on the other foot, and Industry is 
fighting and running scared.
 
What YOU (who live in the USA)  can do is print these 
charts,(_http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/en/index.html_ 
(http://www.who.int/childgrowth/standards/en/index.html) )  and give them to every mother that you see to bring to 
her health care provider. While they may or may not be used, we can get the 
word out that breastfed babies grow differently and need to be evaluated 
differently!
 
Even if the mothers and providers lack an understanding of how to use the 
charts  (they do require some training to use and understand), they do show a 
different growth pattern than the commonly used charts provided so nicely by 
industry. 
 
The fact is if babies aren't breastfed, they are 25% more likely to be 
overweight or obese. (see the Cochrane Collaborative)  Knowing that babies grow 
differently, depending on how they are fed is the key fact to get out to the 
public.
 
This is something that every single person that is on this list in the US can 
do as a personal action for WBW!! 
 
warmly,


Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI
_http://www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com/_ 
(http://www.breastfeedingalwaysbest.com/) 
www.myspace/AdonicaLee



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