It seems that my "Co-sleeping handout on my website which covers most of the
recommendations regarding bed sharing and co-sleeping maybe helpful to some
of you.
Christine Betzold NP IBCLC MSN
www.starfireinternational.net/breastfed

In a message dated 7/6/02 2:22:54 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


> Date:    Sat, 6 Jul 2002 16:17:29 -0400
> From:    Michelle DePesa <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: co-sleeping and obesity
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> Lacey Mormont <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> >I'm wondering what evidence there is out there to
> >cause the recommendations against co-sleeping for
> >obese mothers.
>
> I have looked very hard for this evidence and have not found any; I believe
> it stes more from *theoretical* dangers, based on prejudices and
> misconceptions about fat people.
>
> On askdrsears.com it says:
>
> "Do not sleep with your baby if: ...
> You are extremely obese. Obesity itself may cause sleep apnea in the
> mother, in addition to the smothering danger of pendulous breasts and large
> fat rolls."
>
> Apnea is certianly not limited to fat people. It is somewhat more likely,
> as
> it is during pregnancy.  Grouping fat people = sleep apnea is pretty
> narrow.
> "pendulous breasts and large fat rolls" is a very unprofessional and
> insulting way to talk about someone. I know plenty of thin women with large
> pendulous breasts - or breast implants - should they, too not co-sleep?
> This
> comes from misconceptions about fat people's bodies being "numb" and sloppy
> and fears of being smothered. There just is no evidence for it.
>
> >A mother who is 5'5" and 200 pounds would be
> >considered obese, and I just can't see someone like
> >her being any more of a danger to her baby than an
> >average-weight mom.
>
> I can't either. People who are so "extremely obese" that they need doors
> cut
> wider to get them out of the house are generally not having children. Also,
> the definition of obesity grows to cover lower and lower weights every
> year.
> I cringe when I see the "obesity" clause in descriptions of safe sleep
> environments. It embarrasses me as a fat person, and I feel it draws
> negative attention to a non-issue. Women have enough pressure to "bounce
> back" into shape (a thin, pre-mothering - and adolescent - body)  after
> having a baby, we don't need to add "you may kill your baby" along with it.
>
> >This is an interesting topic in my area as many many
> >moms fit the clinical definition of obese.
>
> Yes, and therefore very relevant. A size 14+ is usually considered obese.
> With the restrictions on pregnancy weight gain finally being relaxed a
> little, we will be seeing more post partum women falling into this
> definition, not to mention how many women "think" they are obese.
>
> Michelle DePesa


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