Winnie says,
> Let's face it, we personally and professionally might wish all moms
> who give baby anything other than directly from the breast would use
> a cup or SNS or fingerfeeding. On the other hand, some parents just
> aren't comfortable with any of these no matter how much we extol
> their virtues and point out the drawbacks of an artificial nipple!
>
But why, Winnie? Frankly, once the baby is breastfeeding WELL, milk is well
established, baby is gaining weight, nipples no longer have any even latch-on
tenderness -- why worry about whether or not the baby takes a bottle? I
honestly don't think it really matters one way or the other how we feed him
if mom can't be there to breastfeed, as long as the criteria is in place. I
expect there will be some babies who might come to prefer the bottle rather
than the breast -- but are these babies getting more bottle feeds than breast
feeds? Does mom really want to breastfeed, or is she passing off her baby to
others to feed more often than is warranted?
And as to what type bottle? IF baby is nursing well....blah blah blah...all
above criteria in place -- does it really matter? I'm not fond of Playtex,
because I think babies learn how to bite. I don't think Avent has anything
over any of the others ones. In fact, with the long teat, I think it
promotes more nipple confusion/preference than say, the Evenflo Elite. But
I've not done a scientific study, and this isn't evidence based practice here
-- just personal observation. I don't think there is one nipple for all
babies any more than there is one pump good for all women. And frankly, I
think way too much is made of "which bottle is most like mom." Well, until I
see a woman w/ silicone or latex nipples -- none of them are. And ALL of
them have the caregiver rather than the baby in control.
Would I rather see all babies BREASTfeeding rather than bottle feeding? No
question about it. And if I have a baby who is having difficulty
breastfeeding and mom wants to give a bottle rather than use an alternative
feeding method less likely to interfere w/ breastfeeding, then do I agonize
over which, when, how much, and so on? You betcha!
But after things are going well....y'know, I don't think it makes all that
much difference.
And now I'll don the flame proof suit (not just the vest) -- and it's already
so bloomin' hot....make 'em cold flames, OK?
Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC -- Wheaton IL
Lactation Education Consultants
www.lactationeducationconsultants.com
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