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Date: | Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:56:05 -0500 |
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Susan,
Sorry Susan I didn't mean to exasperate you- I thought I did read your posts carefully
and these two quotes taken together...
"I think the "window of opportunity" and the "solids displacing breastfeeding" theories can
sometimes become mirror images of each other if taken to extremes."
And
"The factors in overfeeding an infant solids were: number of feeds. That's it. There was
no relationship with whether the solid was offered before or after the breast. This really
means that mothers and babies (as they rightly should) can develop a rhythm that works
for them without getting it "right" by the big rule book."
...made me think that you thought the concern about overfeeding solids or simply the "Nursing First for the First Year" message could be an extremist position...I'm sorry if I
misunderstood you, and I whole heartedly agree with the idea that there shouldn't be a
lot of "breastfeeding rules."
I have never personally met someone who takes the "solids displacing breastfeeding"
Theory to extremes. Even the Muslim American women I have counseled offer solids
between 4-6 months per pediatricians recommendations, but maybe you meet less
acculturated women in your practice than I do.
The "Nurse First for the First Year" message implies that solids WILL be offered, so while
it helps educate women that breastmilk is the most nutrient dense food a child will ever
have it does not promote withholding solids- thus it can never be labeled an extremist
position.
Until someone comes up with a more accurate (yet still concise) message it's the best
one I've got that gets the job done, and ntil I meet even one "solids displacing
breastfeeding" extremist I'm not going to worry too much about the "Nursing First for the
First Year"/ solids displacing breastfeeding "Theory" being taken to such an extreme that
it becomes a mirror image of the "window of opportunity" theory.
Maybe in some other parts of the world the task is to educate "breastfeeding extremists"
that withholding solids from 6 months to two years of age is unhealthy, but I think the
task before the vast majority of LCs it to educate mothers about the importance of
exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months and continuing breastfeeding through the second
year of life, which will only be accomplished when mothers understand the proper role of
solids in the diet of the young child.
Jen O'Quinn
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