I've also enjoyed this dialogue - and wanted to refer you to Dr. Jane Heinig's research and website - www.secretsofbabybehavior.com  

 

In her research, which has been published in many journals such as the November 2012 JHL: “Maternal Request for In-hospital Supplementation of Healthy Breastfed Infants among Low-Income Women.”  She reports that mothers observe normal infant behaviors but interpret them as: "baby is hungry and I don't have enough".  This could be the day 2 "frequency feeds" or later on, with babies that awaken to eat more often than parents expect.  

 

This lack of knowledge about normal infant behaviors along with misinformation from “experts” and stress from those around her are the most likely causes of early supplementation.  

 

I know my mother started me early (67 years ago in San Juan, Puerto Rico) because the neighbors told her I was crying too much (however, this was also the time for the scheduled child - put them in a crib, don't pick them up, etc.).  

 

If you go on-line, in most websites mothers find that whatever their baby is doing needs to be “fixed” and then umpteen choices of how to fix them: make him sleep more, get used to sleeping in a crib in another room, cry only when hungry and stop crying when full.  Of course if there is a sponsor, then the website proclaims that product is the ideal solution. 

 

In my experience, one of the reasons moms continue to come to La Leche League groups despite the availability of the Internet is that moms learn that their baby is normal, many other mothers have dealt with similar issues, and that they are wonderful moms who are just getting to know their babies.   I love it when moms leave the meetings standing straighter, feeling they are the best mom their baby could ever have - and they know their baby better than anyone.  I would encourage all IBCLCs and Lactation specialists to attend support group meetings (support groups – not breastfeeding classes where the moms just ask the “teacher”) in different locations at least once a year to remind yourself that not every mother/baby needs a breastfeeding evaluation and intervention.  (Of course those who need them are referred, but most do not.)

 

There’s no one right answer for each individual mother/baby dyad, but in general I wish we could encourage all cultures to support their own traditions of the “cuarentena” (40 days of support and rest together, which I’ve heard of in at least 4 different continents and countless cultures) and allow mothers and babies time to get to know each other without rules! 

 

Sorry if I’m off-topic – but got the 3rd call today on “baby should be sleeping through the night by 4 – 6 weeks of age”…

 

Jeanette Panchula, BA-SW, RN, PHN, IBCLC

Vacaville, CA

 

 

 


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