Dear Lactnetters;
I have been off line for quite a time (technical difficulties) and now
my mail is off to lactnet and my computer won't open the file where I
put the instructions re-turning mail on... so I hope that one of you
will mail me privately with that.

the pressing reason for my post:
 In April, I've been asked to talk at a parenting conference about home
visiting and the prevention of child abuse and neglect, etc.,  Like it
or not, I'm going to talk about breast feeding... I'm stating my theory
(not unique) that breast feeding leads to a lower incidence of child
abuse and neglect... that shouldn't take a rocket scientist to figgure
out.... but I'd like some studies to back me up.  I did a LACTNET
search, and just found posts last year from others asking for literature
citations- no studies listed in the archives that I could find- just
lots of comments from like minded lactnetters.  I did a medline search
and found essentially nothing.   Does anyone out there know of any
'studies' yet?

If there are none known... then could we at least have a poll?  Does
ANYONE on LACTNET know 1st hand of a case of significant child abuse by
the hands of a mother who fully breast fed her child-... say for at
least 6 weeks?  If by some chance, there are too many posts, and the
list gets cluttered, folks can post me privately and I'll total them up
for all...


sorry this is long, but I want you to know what I intend to say:
BREAST FEEDING:
I can't resist bringing another of my passions into the discussion.
Breast feeding.  As a community, we threw away breast feeding several
generations ago in favor of modern high tech 'formula'.  Now research is
conclusively showing the health benefits of human breast milk over
artificial baby milks: for infants; less infection, Chrohn's disease,
leukemia, diabetes, higher IQ, etc. and for mom: less cancer,
osteoporosis, better weight loss, more calming.  The American Academy of
Pediatrics recently held a conference to help pediatricians find ways to
promote breast feeding in their communities and medical centers.

One speaker stated that we needed to get people used to thinking and
hearing about the intended use for breasts.  She challenged us to bring
breast feeding into any conversation- as it relates to everything in
life.  There was some humorous discussion and general agreement, then
someone brought up child abuse.  Everyone groaned agreement, that this
would be a hard tie in.  But one pediatrician offered that he had never
met a fully breast fed infant that had been intentionally or
significantly abused or neglected.  There were 100 general pediatricians
from every state in the country and 20 expert instructors.  None of us
could think of a case.

Since that discussion, I have given it more thought.  Last week in
clinic I saw 2 of my younger moms who are successfully breast feeding.
One a 16 year old 'single parenting' as dad went off to the marines last
month, with a 10 month old infant impresses me so.  When my nurse weighs
her baby, and the baby starts to cry (remember this is the age of
stranger anxiety) she distracts the baby with a smile and reassurance.
When I examine the baby, and he begins to get anxious she doesn't leave
him alone on the table, but distracts him with 'look at the owie on
mama's finger'.. and playful laughter.  She is so in tune with this
baby.  How did she learn that?  She came from an alcoholic dysfunctional
home, and has dropped out of school.  The other mom 18, does equally
well, with a different style, she is in school with the help of our home
visiting program, and working too.  Both babies are calm and well
developed.

I believe that breast feeding is part of the answer. Human breast milk
is so easily digested that in the first few weeks the baby requires 12
meals a day, these take at a minimum ½ hour each.  That baby is getting
held a lot.  Brain research has shown how important human touch is to
brain integration.

Breast feeding instills patience in any mother.  I remember the 18 year
old telling me in amazement when her baby was 6 weeks old about the
patience she had to just sit and hold and feed her baby "and I am not a
patient person.  I used to worry if I could be a good mother"- That
patience is the effect of oxytocin, the mothering hormone.  It helped
this fiery mother calm and deal with the stress of her unsupportive in
laws and her own dysfunctional family.  It helps mothers decrease their
own anger and contribution to family violence.  It can help others with
lesser stresses.  It's a powerfully under rated tool.

Breast feeding, to be successful has to be responsive.  It is an
interactive reflexive dance between mother and child.  If it gets out of
synch, it doesn't work.  So breast feeding teaches moms to trust their
instinct and read their babies cues.

While breast feeding alone will not solve all parenting problems, can
help- and it won't hurt!

Grace Heitsch, MD, FAAP
Duluth Clinic Ashland
1625 Maple Ln.
Ashland, WI  54806
(715)685-2358
fax: (715)682-2481
e-mail [log in to unmask]
"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD