Coach Smith here.

 

Imagine a circle with three inside concentric circles, like a bull's-eye
pattern, to describe "what works" in breastfeeding and child care practices.

 

In the central core of the circle is the growing body of research and
evidence-supported parenting practices. Examples: skin-to-skin (Kangaroo)
care; breastfeeding on cue 24/7; exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months; and
more. We are ethically bound to employ practices supported by this level of
evidence first and principally. 

 

The second or middle "ring" is common practice with a view to physiology and
wisdom/intuition of mothers. Some practices in this "ring" have not been
thoroughly scrutinized by comprehensive and exacting research, yet are
consistent with other areas of physiology. Examples: latch techniques that
make BF comfortable for mother and baby; safe bedsharing; and more. If
there's little research on a practice, then using methods consistent with
what we know about physiology and maternal intuition is next best. 

 

In the outer ring are the "experimental" ideas. Some practices "seem to
work," and have their true believers and promoters. However, when research
is eventually conducted, some of these practices fail miserably under the
bright light of examination and are discarded or discredited as useless or
even dangerous. Examples: breast binding, spanking to control a child; and
prone sleeping. Other experimental ideas, when eventually researched, zoom
into the core and become the standard of practice. Example: cabbage leaves
for breast edema and cup-feeding of premature infants. 

 

Be very careful when ANY new ideas are proposed, regardless of the source or
the person promoting the practice. Healthy skepticism is appropriate,
because new ideas are, by definition, experimental. Think ethics. If you
decide to experiment with someone else's baby (like your clients'), make
sure the mother knows that the technique is EXPERIMENTAL (yes, I'm
shouting), and be extremely careful to "FIRST, DO NO HARM."  

 

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC

Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre Ltd

6540 Cedarview Ct, Dayton OH 45459

937-438-9458 / fax 937-438-3229

www.BFLRC.com  

 


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