> The dogma that suggests that "even one bottle" will compromise bfg is
>inaccurate in my experience.
>Further, it runs so counter to what so many mothers experience and can
>plainly see for themselves that the statement compromises our professional
>integrity.

Yes, as would a statement such as  "formula can harm your baby!" when
everyone sees smiling, living formula fed babies. the difference is informed
consent. There is a definite possibility that a baby given bottles will have
trouble going back to breast, or seem not to but the mother might be in pain
from an altered latch. I think that risk should be known. Granted, no would
calls an LC or a LLLL when things are going great, but I'm seeing this theme
everywhere - baby fussy at breast, "easier" to just give bottle then
struggle, milk supply diminishes, baby more fussy at breast... weaning is
happening.

What I or another lactnet member might post on LN is certainly different
than what we would say to a mother on the phone or during a consult. Also,
the mother returning to work is different than the mother not returning to
work during her breastfeeding years. At a LLL meeting a few weeks ago, there
were 3 new mothers, all with babies under 8 weeks all there to ask how to
"make" a baby take a bottle. The reason? not return to work or impending
return to work. They had "heard" through a pediatrician, book or MIL that it
was important to make baby learn this important skill. It was important also
to let MIL or father feed baby. Did any of these women want this? No, none
of them were comfortable, but they had "heard" this was important. My focus
would be to draw out why this seems important to them, and if it what they
really want. And then to reassure that a bottle is NOT a necessary baby
implement and many babies never have one at all. Worldwide, most babies
never have one.

>These older babies whose moms go back to work who then begin to have
>problems with the breast may also be sliding over into a NOT NORMAL
>category.

For the sake of argument, doesn't labelling babies who do not go back and
forth easily from breast to bottle imply bottlefeeding as a norm? It
certainly is not a biological norm.

Just as with formula use, I believe moms should be informed that sometimes
bottles can disrupt breastfeeding. The "democracy" bottles (those urged so
dad or grandma can feed) can also hurt a new mother's confidence - whether
she is pumping or supplementing with formula.

It is heartbreaking to see people who want to nurse their babies run into
troubles and shattered confidence due to injudicious use of bottles, or any
other bad advice. Bottles are not a normal part of raising a baby, but an
accessory. Pacifiers are the same. They are cultural (and capitalist)
artifacts more than anything else, and both cause enough trouble that we
should all at least be very wary.

Michelle DePesa

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