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Subject:
From:
Elien Rouw <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 13 May 2009 07:38:00 GMT
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Text/Plain
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Text/Plain (54 lines)
Hi, Esther,
We have the same problem here in Germany, allthough here it is not the Health Ministry, that did the recommendations, but the pediatricians. And of course the baby food manufacturers did their part to spread the news ("official" announcements in their publications). 

As a response Utta Reich-Schottky, Denise Both and I wrote a short statement with a long literaturelist (all literature more recent than 2006) about this practice, because it is nowhere founded in science. Even when we take into account newer studies about allergy and celiac disease the recommendation of WHO (6 months exclusive breastfeeding, and after that breastfeeding for at least 2 years and beyond with complementary food) can be followed without restrictions. Our point is, that there are many other factors involved in allergy, notably SC and environmental influences. And breastfeeding is far more than allergy and celiac disease prophylaxis. Even the studies, that state, that earlier complementary feeding will prevent celiac disease and allergy give the window of opportunity for 4-6 months. Because of all other reasons (SIDS, infectious disease, psychomotoric development, adipositas for the child, mamma ca, ovarial ca, osteoporosis, heart disease for the mother to name but a few) the 6 months should be officially recommended, and not watered-down to 4-6 months or even to 4 months. 

This statement was endorsed by AFS, LLL Germany, VELB (European lactation consultants), BDL (German Lactation consultants), the German midwives and the German education centre for lactation. The document is in German, and can be found on the website of the AFS:
http://www.afs-stillen.de/cms/cms/upload/pdf/Stellungnahme_zum_Thema_Optimaler_Zeitpunkt_Beikosteinfuehrung.pdf
In this pdf-file it is possible to have access to the original articles themselves. When needed, I can try to translate the statement in English. When you have further questions I will be glad to answer them. 
By the way: it was nice meeting you personally in Vienna!
Warm regards,
Elien Rouw, MD
AFS, ABM
Bühl, Germany



> From: "Esther Grunis, IBCLC" <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: New recommendations from our Health Ministry
> 
> IN last night's news, there was an announcement that our Health Ministry has
> changed the recommendations about exclusive breastfeeding. Now mothers are
> recommended to breastfeed for only 4 months, at which point they are advised
> to start giving tastes of all sorts of solids, such as eggs, grains,
> chicken, fish, and beef. This is supposedly to avoid allergies, and to
> strengthen the baby's immune system. They say that this is based on the
> European protocols for infant feeding. 
> 
> Have any other countries changed their recommendations? 
> 
> And the newscaster made it sound like this was a great thing for mothers and
> babies!! 
> 
> It sounds to me as if the artificial milk companies have infiltrated the
> Health Ministry just as they did the AAP. 
> 
> Do I have to give these recommendations when asked by moms? Or can I say
> that every few years these recommendations change, and that it is best to
> let the baby decide. 
 
> Esther Grunis, IBCLC who is so tired of swimming upstream. 
> Lis Maternity Hospital
> Tel Aviv, Israel

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