Hi All,

 

Judy R sent in a post from a NICU nurse regarding the "Breastfeed or Else"
topic.  I have to comment on something this woman said:

 

Many exclusively breast-feeding moms are so afraid to supplement their
children with formula because of its bad reputation that their children's
growth and health is sometimes being compromised. 

 

What about the millions of adopted children in our country who are
bottle-fed or all the women who cannot breast-feed for medical reasons? Are
these mothers doing their children irreparable harm? Absolutely not.

 

 

Wait - she says "absolutely not" to the irreparable harm.  I say absolutely
YES there will be irreparable harm.  Now - going on the known fact that
there are women out there (I work with them) who can not BF due to
hypoplasia, or breast reduction surgery complications or Sheehan's,
etc..they have NO milk (or not enough) - these women need something with
which to feed their babies.  Ideally it would be donated breast milk - but
it is far easier to get ABM and less expensive (at least it looks that way).


 

The simple fact is:  we ARE causing irreparable harm to any child who gets
no breast milk, or little breast milk and gets ABM instead.  That is just a
statement of fact given what we know about the risks and possible effects of
ABM can be.  So, how can she say that there is absolutely no irreparable
harm?  It may be that the harm is not life threatening at the time - but
what about later?  The fact is there is harm caused when the optimal growth
and nutrition provided by breastmilk and the optimal oral development from
the act of breastfeeding is not available.  Everything that comes along with
breastfeeding is optimal - and IS the NORM.  Everything that comes with ABM
is NOT optimal - yes the child may survive and even thrive, however, not
optimally.  And isn't what we are striving for the optimal growth and
development of our children?  

 

So, in closing - I take exception that there is absolutely NO harm - even
tho it may be the only way the baby can be fed (for what ever reason) there
is still harm.  Should women feel guilty about that?  Not when ABM is the
only available option for them (when BF can not happen).  Who SHOULD feel
guilty?  Those who seek to undermine a woman's ability to breastfeed her
baby; those who seek to undermine the importance of breastmilk; thos who
seek to minimize the importance of breastmilk; those who seek to minimize
the risks (or HIDE them) of ABM - they should feel guilty.It is their
actions that cause harm to millions of babies and mommies around the world.
They should be held accountable - maybe someday they will be.like the
tobacco companies are being taken to court to pay for health issues related
to smoking - maybe someday the ABM companies will be too.

 

Dreaming of the day when ABM is truly used as the AAP states its use to be:
As a medicine - NOT as an exclusive feeding method.

 

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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