Teresa writes:
"Bottlefeeding does not help the mother continue the breastfeeding
relationship, and maintain her milk supply, even if it is paced, respectful
bottlefeeding. It is hand-expressing or pumping her milk
that allows her to maintain her milk production despite separation.
Bottlefeeding is ONE way to give the baby human milk during the time they are
separated. "
First, it is sad that anyone wanting to follow this important and
interesting thread may not be able to because for some reason the subject lines keep
changing. Let's try to be consistent so anyone coming in late will know what to
look for when they are trying to keep up.
I realize that I did not clarify something that got missed: I do firmly
believe, based on years of experience, that moms who use paced bottlefeeding do
have longer breastfeeding relationships than those who use traditional
bottlefeeding. I don't think there is any evidence that longterm supplementation is
better done with cups ( except when sanitation is the issue) or tube devices
on a finger for the /physical/emotional well-being of the baby, and the
continuance of the breastfeeding relationship. What I have seen, though, is moms
in tears because their babies will not eat when they are away. Some of these
moms are, with lots of support and encouragement and brainstorming, able to
quit work, change hours, encourage reverse-cycle nursing, offer a more
nutritious,appropriate solids, do whatever it takes, while others do not find this
workable, and try a more respectful, more baby-led approach to bottlefeeding,
and that works out. I will brainstorm like crazy with any mom who wants to,
and even with some who don't, just to review all options. I have also seen moms
whose babies have been taking bottles in the traditional, fastfood style for
months, suddenly do one of two things: start refusing to bottlefeed because
they were never comfortable, but went on reflexively for a while, then things
get voluntary and they now can refuse so they do, OR, babies who are used to
this big food, fast feed style, start refusing the breast, thinking that
getting 6 oz in 5 minutes by doing little except trying to breathe is a normal
way to eat. Whoever said I have no research is right, I have none. But these
things are common enough where I am, that I think I see this as a real
consequence of poor bottlefeeding. I guess I look at it the same way I do crutches (
as as PT I can't help these things sometimes). I often see people on
crutches and wonder who fitted them, since they are often the wrong size/height, and
being used wrongly ( bad coordination, excess pressure on the armpits, wrong
timing you name it.) They are all potentially dangerous ( like poor
bottlefeeding). The 'problem' is, that crutch-using has not yet become the norm for
many, the way bottlefeeding has for a generation or two in the US so the
analogy breaks down. Still, it works for a while. If only babies who had feeding
problems to the extent that they actually could not breastfeed fully, were
given bottles as one potential therapeutic tool, I would be one happy camper.
Although I am out on my own limb here, I have come to look at proper
bottlefeeding as one potential therapy for what I see as a dysfunctional world in
which many of the moms I work with, live. LLL taught me to meet moms where they
are, so I do. They get a lot more information and brainstorming than they knew
existed sometimes, and they get support for continued breastfeeding as the
norm, and also support for however close they can come, no matter what their
decisions.
Peace,
Judy
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