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Subject:
From:
Jennifer Tow <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 6 Dec 2000 02:17:04 EST
Content-Type:
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Kathy wrote:
<<I feel that we live in dire fear of nipple confusion when it's not really
necessary.  If a slow flow bottle is chosen (our center likes the Haberman),
if baby is encouraged to open wide before bottle is offered and if mother is
provided a hospital grade pump to maintain supply, we've had very few
instances where infant has not been able to get back to breast if s/he was
latching at one time. >.

There has been a lot of discussion about confusing babies, but I think part
of any decision has to take into account that which *confuses the mother*.
When I consider any feeding method (almost always at the breast is first
choice), I also consider the message it gives the mother. I believe one of
the biggest problems with bottles is that they do not reflect the idea that
we are feeding temporarily in an alternative way. Bottles are viewed in
Western culture as *the way* to feed a baby--bf as an alternative. When we
reach for a bottle, we give the impression we are reaching for the solution.
We are fixing a problem, therefore bf is the cause of the problem. It could
easily follow that breastfeeding poses a risk to the baby, while
bottlefeeding does not.

    In the above post, Kathy wrote:
<<we've had very few instances where infant has not been able to get back to
breast if s/he was latching at one time. >>.

I wonder how you can justify even one of these "very few" babies?

And also:
<<Even the most commited mother would wear out with this and I frankly did
not think this underwt. baby had the stamina. I sent this mother home with BF
(no more than 30 min.) with compression and massage, pumping after and
supplement with EBM and or AIM. I really believe that once this baby gains
wt. and mother's milk supply increases so will his stamina and  he will be
able to go back to feeding
exclusively at the breast.>>

Kathy,
Why wouldn't you think this would be the perfect use of an SNS rather than a
bottle. Again, the bf is being fixed with a bottle. If we accept the premise
that bf is more than feeding the baby, then wouldn't we *always* feed at the
breast as a first choice? If we accept the premise that bf as a relationship
is of paramount importance, then wouldn't we offer solutions within the
context of breastfeeding--that is feeding at the breast?

Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

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