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"Q: I had a baby four months ago, and I can't breast-feed (sic) because I
have inverted nipples. I'm very upset because I know that breast miulk is
best for infants. My husband suggested that we purchase breast milk, but I
dont like the idea of giving my baby someone else's milk. Is banked breast
milk safe?
A: I do agree that breast milk is the best food for infants, but you don't
need to feel bad if you can't breast-feed (sic). commercial infant formulas
are designed to have the same nutritional content as mothers' milk, and
bottle-fed babies grow up perfectly healthy. I don't like the idea of
purchasing someone else's breast milk because I'm not sure it can be tested
for potentially harmful germs. "
Dear Dr. Marracinni,
I would like to comment on your response to the mother who wrote to you
regarding her breastfeeding situation with inverted nipples. If you refer
to the current recommendations of the AAP, they recommend banked human milk
as a suitable alternative to breastmilk, and this choice ranks high on the
list, above artificial baby milk. Of course banked human milk is tested and
safe, similar to blood products, and is much safer than artificial milk,
which carries with it the potential to cause increased illnesses. I refer
you to the piece of work entitled "A Fresh Look at the Risks of Artificial
Infant Feeding, Marsha Walker RN, IBCLC J Hum Lact 9(2), 1993." This piece
of work outlines the current evidence regarding hazards of infant formula.
Although formula is a tool that is useful in some situations, it should
never be recommended as an *equal* alternative with artificial baby milk,
and this view is strongly supported by the AAP statement, 1997, on
breastfeeding. The myth that breastfeeding/milk and formula are equal
alternatives is an idea that the formula companies try very hard to get
across to mothers, and health care professionals through the use of
strong-arm marketing tactics that flagrantly violate the WHO Code of
Marketing of Infant Formula.
I would suggest that you offer this mother information about relactation, or
about using an nursing supplementer to get her baby to breastfeed.
Relactation is perfectly possible, and may fit the needs of this mother who
obviously has regrets about not being able to breastfeed. Chances are good
that she did not breastfeed because she did not receive adequate support for
breastfeeding. Many mothers with inverted or flat nipples can breastfeed
just fine if they have someone helping them who believes that breastfeeding
is better than formula feeding, and who has the skill to assist. The
following article also comes to mind when we discuss the issue of providing
adequate and educated information and assistance to new breastfeeding
mother/baby couples....
"Professional ambivalence towards breastfeeding remains strong despite
abundant editorial and empirical articles defending breastfeeding which have
appeared in the literature during the past ten years." "Nurses' Attitudes
and Behaviors that Promote Breastfeeding" Patton, Beaman, Cszar, Lewinski,
JHL 6/96.
I welcome you to join LACTNET, a free listserv list for breastfeeding
professionals, and other health care professionals who currently work with
lactating mothers. If you are interested to join the 2500 of us who work in
the field, and who are keeping current on new information and techniques to
help mothers, we invite you to subscribe by sending email to
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with message reading
Subscribe Lactnet *your name and credentials*
We look forward to further dialogue.
Kind regards,
Kathleen B. Bruce BSN IBCLC'
3594 South Road
Williston Vermont 05495
802 879 8854
Listowner of LACTNET.
Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC co-owner Lactnet,TLC, Indep. Consultant
Williston, Vermont
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