>Have been asked to provide research support re how to introduce solids -
>should it be before or after a breastfeed?
>My feeling is that it should be after a breastfeed since breastmilk is
>considered the key food source in the first year of life.
>Others have stated that it should be before a breastfeed otherwise baby
>will not take solids since baby will be filled with breastmilk.

Ellen,
Sorry I haven't got any research studies for you, but I would like to write
something about this anyway. I also think it should be after breastfeeds,
but I know Australian literature from Child Health says before (grrr). So I
get round it by telling mums that it depends on how long they are planning
to keep breastfeeding. If they want to continue long-term, to feed solids
after breastfeeding, but if they are wanting to wean soon, to give them
before. Then I am not totally contradicting the literature they get from
their Child Health Nurse. Is this a reasonable thing to tell them, do you
think?

If they give solids first, the baby may be too full up to take sufficient
milk from the breast. Which is the most nutritious??? Duh - this goes
without saying in this forum! So what if baby is full of breastmilk and
doesn't want much solids? - smart baby, I reckon! Surely, this is logic
that doesn't need to 'proven' with research studies???

I also don't like the way the 4-6 months age for introduction is
interpreted by everyone (meaning most Child Health Nurses) as meaning the
first day after the baby hits 4 months! I try to encourage mothers to watch
baby for readiness cues and not worry about ages so much - just try
offering from about 6 months, but not to get worried if baby is not
interested. In fact I use the analogy of a few years back, when it was
recommended that feeds were timed, spaced according to timed intervals, etc
and we have got rid of most of that now, and watch the baby. I just say
that we are just a bit behind getting rid of prescriptive ages for other
things like solids, but that soon this will also change to allow for
individual variation. Makes sense to them. (And I hope this actually does
happen!)

Joy

P.S. Sorry about sending you the hot weather. It's quite pleasantly warm
here at the present, so relief should be in sight. (To all the others, our
weather in Western Australia moves easterly across to Ellen's part of
Australia after a few days)

******************************************************************
Joy Anderson B.Sc. Dip.Ed. Grad.Dip.Med.Tech. IBCLC
Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia Breastfeeding Counsellor
Perth, Western Australia.   mailto:[log in to unmask]
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