In a message dated 6/26/99 10:03:29 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Anna H. writes:

<< but I must confess to being a little surprised to hear about bottles
 apparently being advocated when supplementation is required (including
 those "haberman feeder" things and various kinds of nipple that are
 supposed to be more like the real thing). >>

As someone who's been working with breastfeeding mothers in a volunteer
capacity for 15+ years and as a professional for 7 years, it has been my
experience that many mothers are overwhelmed with the thought of using the
alternative feeding devices.  When a mother comes to me for breastfeeding
assistance, I help her to lay out several "possible solutions" to whatever
the problem is.  Some moms will choose to use cup feeds, finger feeds, and
other alternative methods.  There are a few, though, that will choose only to
pump and use EBM via a bottle.  That may be the only way to salvage the
breastfeeding relationship until either the mother gets a better handle on
the situation, or the baby learns whatever he/she needs to learn for correct
breastfeeding.  There are those rare babies that are literally
starving...failure to thrive, etc. who MUST BE FED to keep them healthy; in
certain situations, the bottle may be lifesaving.

The other piece of the puzzle, often, is the source and quality of family
support after the mom and baby leave my office.  Cup feeding may have gone
extremely well in the office, but when they get home and g'ma or dad or
auntie see the "odd" method of feeding, they share their feelings about how
it shouldn't be done that way, or how that is harmful to the baby.  Many
mothers are in such a fragile state in the early postpartum phase that they
cannot counter this ill-informed but well-intended advice.  They give in,
afterall, because family knows better.

I don't feel that we Lactnetters advocate bottle use.  But it is ONE of the
many options to keep breastfeeding intact, although usually the last choice
for most of us.

Kathy Parkes, RN, IBCLC
The Lactation Connection (TLC)
www.tlc4moms.com

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