>To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: comments on infant feeding article >Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 17:53:52 PST > >Web MD, > >I have some comments on the article at your website >[ http://my.webmd.com/content/dmk/dmk_article_5461840 ] entitled "Advising >Parents on Feeding Healthy Babies." I am an RN, and board certified >lactation consultant with a graduate degree in parent-child health. I work >in a hospital lactation program, coordinate the Louisiana Breastfeeding >Mediawatch Campaign (a national campaign), and I live and breathe >lactation. I have a few quibbles with your article. > >After reading your advertising and sponsor policies, and your editorial >integrity and ethics positions, I feel comfortable that you do indeed want >to be credible, authoritative, and up to date for health care providers and >parents. Therefore I feel your article needs to be updated right away. Here >are the relevant parts needing revision, in my opinion: > >I, and I believe every one of the lactation experts that I know, would >disagree with the advice to limit early breastfeeding to 4-5 minutes. In >fact, the current recommendation is for UNRESTRICTED BREASTFEEDING FROM THE >VERY FIRST FEED. This pertains to term, healthy newborns, of course. Also, >breastfeeding should be expected to occur about 10-14 times in 24 hours, >which is more frequent than the 8-10 times you recommend. The very minimum >number of feeds should be 8-9. The old advice to nurse on both sides at >every feeding is no longer being given. Babies can nurse as long as they >desire on the first side and then be OFFERED the second side to suckle if >they are still hungry. If not, the baby can take the second side at the >next feeding. > >While I agree that certain nutrients (like types of fats and vitamins) can >be INFLUENCED by diet, research shows that dietary perfectionism can and >should be de-emphasized. And stating that diet influences quantity of milk >produced is really untrue (unless a mother is EXTREMELY undernourished). >Effective MILK REMOVAL FROM THE BREASTS is what drives amount of current >and future milk production. > >Your statement that breast size and nipple shape are irrelevant to the >course of lactation is mostly true. However, knowledgeable lactation >consultants know that sometimes an ususual breast shape or marked breast >assymetry are markers for lactation trouble. Likewise, a history of breast >surgery would be a "red flag," and certain nipple conditions can lead to >breastfeeding challenges as well. Your article goes on to say that breasts >and nipples should be examined prior to the birth. While I agree with this, >in your article this part was confusing. > >There were many, many excellent parts of the article. I especially liked >the explanation and endorsement of the infection-fighting properties of >human milk, the few conditions and medications that contraindicate >breastfeeding, and the statement that "poor nursing technique" (which can >be corrected by knowledgeable and supportive providers) leads to most >breastfeeding difficulties. Therefore, I hope that you will update your >site asap. May I suggest utilizing the very learned and collegial >physicians who belong to the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Address is >P.O. box 15945-284, Lenexa, KS 66285-5945, email [log in to unmask] >http://www.bfmed.org > >Laurie Wheeler, RN, MN, IBCLC >Coordinator, Louisiana Breastfeeding Mediawatch Campaign >Violet LA 70092 > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html