Rachel, 

Those categories that you describe do not sound particularly useful, nor precisely descriptive - must be frustrating.

Having descriptions without categorising breastfeeding and expressed milk feeding as separate groups would be inclusive and also 'precise' according to the WHO definitions. 

Would it be practical in a hospital situation to describe 'infant feeding' under one umbrella, and then have a series of options which describes the method of feeding and what the baby is ingesting? Something along the lines of;

At-the-breast-feeding; parents' own milk, or supplement at the breast (what the supplement is and what proportion of each)

Other method of feeding (not at the breast); parents' own expressed milk, donor milk, formula  
method of feeding; bottle (which), spoon, cup, syringe, finger feeding 


Heather expressed concern that parents wouldn't know the differences - I think this needs to happen in a separate moment, according to the situation. Most parents, by the time they get to me, are definitely aware of the differences and what they are 'missing out on', or believe they are feeding their baby something that is substandard (formula, is often reffered to as akin to poison).

Alice Farrow
www.cleftlipandpalatebreastfeeding.com
www.languageofinclusion.com

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