IBLCE Code of Professional Conduct 6.3 is a wonderful newish revision to
the IBCLC's mandatory ethical code. We are exhorted to be equitable and
inclusive in our care for families that are breastfeeding/using human milk.
That includes sensitivity about the importance of language and pronouns
when we work with and read about and discuss those who self-identify as
transgender, trans, gender non-conforming -- or as the "woman" or "man" one
has always had as a gender identity despite the sex assigned at birth.
Thus, both this fairly-good-for-mass-media BBC News article, and the
underlying journal article, correctly identify the person who induced
lactation as "woman" and "she."
There seems to be a great deal of consternation about whether or not this
woman **really** was able to provide enough milk for 6 weeks of exclusive
breastfeeding. Rather than hypothecate about what happened, I like to Go.
To. The. Source.
The research article indicates "Three months after starting [induced
lactation] treatment, 2 weeks before the baby’s due date, the patient was
making 8oz of breast milk per day. [The patient breastfed exclusively for 6
weeks. During that time the child’s pediatrician reported that the child’s
growth, feeding, and bowel habits were developmentally appropriate. At 6
weeks, the patient began supplementing breastfeedings with 4–8oz of [brand]
formula daily due to concerns about insufficient milk volume."
It may be that the lactating parent continued to increase her supply after
that 8-ounce measurement, taken two weeks before the baby's birth; we do
not know. And we do not know if the birth parent had a change of mind and
did any breastfeeding or milk provision after the birth (the journal
article says the birth parent did not have any interest in breastfeeding,
based on statements made by the lactating parent at the start of the
inducement regimen).
I think a peer-reviewed case study in a professional journal, with
statements by qualified researchers, and the baby's primary healthcare
provider, are credible. We should share this case study far-and-wide, to
underscore that breastfeeding and human milk use are a public health
imperative, inuring to the benefit of the population at large.
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-43071901
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/trgh.2017.0044
--
Liz Brooks, JD, IBCLC, FILCA
Wyndmoor, PA, USA
Director, Human Milk Banking Assn of North America (2015-17)
Adjunct Professor, Drexel Univ, Public Policy of Breastfeeding
"IBCLCs empower women and save babies' lives!"-Ursuline Singleton
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