"Linda Smith's "Nice Pack" stated the fact from the viewpoint that "breast is best".
Her "Fact Pack" stated the fact from the viewpoint that "breast is normal" and NOT breastfeeding is very risky. You could make your own with very current references; perhaps with a Nice on one side and a Fact on the other side. Just be careful with wording and %ages to be sure they are accurate."

Yes, be careful of the percentages, and also revel in them!  If breastfeeding reduces the risk of something by 20 percent, that's 20/100.  Now subtract 20 from 100, which gives you 80.  Not breastfeeding *increases* the risk by 20/80, or 25 percent.  Does breastfeeding reduce the risk of something by 30 percent?  That's 30/100.  Subtract 30 from 100 and you have 70.  Not breastfeeding *increases* the risk by 30/70, or 43 percent.  What if breastfeeding reduces the risk by 10 percent?  That's 10/100.  Subtract 10 from 100 and you have 90.  Not breastfeeding *increases the risk by 10/90, or 11 percent.

What if breastfeeding cuts a risk in half?  That's 50/100.  Subtract 50 from 100 and you get 50.  Not breastfeeding increases the risk by 50/50, or 100 percent, or doubles the risk.

And don't stop with breastfeeding.  This is one of my favorite turn-arounds, starting with figures that many doulas use in their advertising:

If giving birth in a modern obstetric facility is our biological norm, then adding a doula to the experience means:


  50% decrease in cesarean sections

  25% decrease in length of labor

  30% decrease in use of forceps

  40% decrease in use of oxytocin

  60% decrease in use of epidurals, 

  30% decrease in use of pain medications

 

Ah, but if having an experienced woman at our side is closer to our biological norm, then giving birth in a hospital without a doula means 

  100% increase in cesarean sections, 

      or twice as many

  33% increase in length of labor

  43% increase in use of forceps

  67% increase in use of oxytocin

  150% increase in use of epidurals, 

      or 2 1/2 times as many 

  43% increase in use of pain medications



Though in today's birthing climate you might have to explain to prospective parents why those increases can be undesirable...



Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC  Ithaca, NY  USA
www.wiessinger.baka.com



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