UNC Hospitals is aiming to go "breast-feeding friendly" by refusing formula company freebies to send home with new moms, limiting the use of pacifiers and doing more to encourage new moms to breastfeed their newborns. Is this a good idea?
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UNC Hospitals going "breast-feeding friendly"
Breast Feeding
Submitted by tswnuk on February 1, 2007 - 8:34am.
I believe that it is up to the mother before giving birth to decide whether or not they want to breast feed. Once the decision is made, it is up to the Health Care team to honor the wishes of the mom.
I was unable to breast feed after my first child, and would hate to think that I would be pushed to do so if I have another child. I am a Family Nurse Practitioner, so I am well aware of the benefits of breast feeding, but I have also seen first hand that my daughter is a healthy 3 year old without Breast feeding!
Susan of Cary
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toxins in Breast Milk
Submitted by feleciao on February 1, 2007 - 10:42am.
Dear Susan,
I have been involved with toxicity research for many years and particularly breast milk is known to contain levels of toxins such as PCB's, dioxins, etc. that no mother is ever asked to have a screen for milk safety. I was not breast feed, nor my many other friends and we all have lived healthy normal lives, without toxic breast milk.
I just wish more mothers were aware of the high risk for this when they make the decision to breast feed. The environment has tainted our milk and no one will address this!
I happy for you that you didn't breast feed!
Felecia
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toxins in Breast Milk
Submitted by feleciao on February 1, 2007 - 10:48am.
That's a beautiful presentation of the benefits. But did you screen for the levels of dioxin and PCB's in your breast milk before you began feeding the infant? I agree that nature is a great thing, but honey, your milk is contaminated with our industrial pollutants and the health community knows this.....just read the EPA and CDC information regarding breast milk. If any mother breast feeds without a test for certain carcinogens, she may be doing far more harm in development than good.....
The intention is to go with nature and I agree, but we have unfortunately altered our environment from ALL natural!
Felecia
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I disagree
Submitted by mindypoo on January 31, 2007 - 3:50pm.
What about those of us who are unable to breastfeed?
I recently had a baby at UNC and ended up in intensive care. I had a horrible experience with staff trying to bully me into breastfeeding which was really not the best choice for my baby or me due to my health.
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Breast feeding
Submitted by caravan on February 1, 2007 - 10:23am.
NO! Hospitals should honor the choice of the mother as to whether to breast feed or not as long as she is informed of its benefits. My daughter was bullied and brought to tears when trying unsuccessfully to breastfeed. She was made to feel guilty by both professionals and co-workers while in so much pain as she struggled to do this with her first baby. The hospitals should be the last to brow-beat their patients into breastfeeding or denying them formula or "goodie bags" - they should be supportive of the mother's choice!
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toxins in Breast Milk
Submitted by feleciao on February 1, 2007 - 11:01am.
Become Aware!!!
Having worked in the environmental toxicity industry for 20 years, I am still baffled that no one addresses the common issue of Breast Milk safety. There are known carcinogens that collect specifically in a mother's breast milk. EVERY mother has a predisposed amount of such toxins as pcb's, dioxins, and other harmful compounds that bioaccumulate over the years.
We test our water....why not breast milk. I know there are cost effective ways to screen for this today that didn't use to be available. WHY would you feed your child breast milk without a check for the levels of these compounds that are stored specifically in Breast Milk?
How about a little awareness to this issue!
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Both sides
Submitted by Newsmonkey on February 1, 2007 - 12:35pm.
Anyone against breastfeeding solely for "toxicity" reasons should remember that studies point to the overwhelming benefits of breastfeeding, in spite of the chemicals which might be present.
And formula isn't necessarily any safer:
http://www.nrdc.org/breastmilk/formula.asp
http://www.newstarget.com/019338.html
A 2005 study says, "The presence of environmental chemicals in human milk does not necessarily indicate health risks for infants, according to researchers." Source: http://www.news-medical.net/?id=13244
Another very well-written article about the subject states, "Although the children who were breast-fed had higher PCB levels than children who were exposed only in utero, they consistently performed better than those who drank formula. ... In other words, breast milk appears to be at least partly protective against the effects of toxic chemicals. In fact, the World Health Organization and other groups continue to recommend breast-feeding for all women." Source: http://www.mindfully.org/Health/2005/Toxic-Breast-Milk9jan05.htm
The FDA, World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend breast feeding.
http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/895_brstfeed.html
http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/infantfeeding_recommendation/en/index.html
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics%3b100/6/1035
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toxins in Breast Milk
Submitted by feleciao on February 1, 2007 - 6:03pm.
I respectfully agree that a healthy breastmilk has benefits for an infant. And there is certainly a debate within the health community and research organizations about the specific levels of risk. As with every science, there is funding and there are those who pose much to gain and those who pose much to lose in the resulting research. Global warming is a perfect example. The truth is, the environmental factors are most difficult to prove because of their chronic nature. Risk aren't always acute and immediately recognizable to us. In addition, the analytical testing provided in most of this research tends to target only a small number of specific congeners of the toxins for Dioxins and PCB's. Thus, the results may not provide the broadest contaminant possibilities. And if I were to refer you to the EPA and other university research organizations on this topic, you would first hand see the limitations of the funding and resources to rule the topic out of concern. The research for dioxin in breast milk still raises concern with regard to specific carcinogenic compounds.
ADD, Autism, childhood cancers, all are being caused by something. Something no one can explain. If it's possible that it could be in the breast milk, shouldn't or wouldn't every mother just like to be reassured with a simple screening analysis.
This is a serious and highly debated issue.....And my point is to consider the real possibilities. One test could reassure a mother that her milk is safe and beneficial to her child. Has ANY ONE had a Dr. to provide such a screening option prior to her decision regarding this important matter? I would really like to hear from you.
Environmental problems are taboo.....And Insurance doesn't cover the testing.
Sincerely.....
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I think it is
The first few weeks of a baby's life are times when many biological imprints of the mother's immune system can be assimilated by the baby through breast milk. Babies who are put into formula diets immediately are deprived of this head start on disease. Since there are valid immunological reasons for a baby to breastfeed, it is a practice that should be encouraged by the healthcare system.
We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.