For the latest news go see this page, which gets updated much more regularly.
March 2011 news is found on this page.
Find us on Facebook to discuss these issues if you wish.
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Mumsnet are following up their recent (very popular) webchat with Gabrielle Palmer by announcing a webchat this week (Friday noon) with Ann Sinnott.
"It's webchat Super-Friday this week (26th). First up, at noon, is Ann Sinnott, author of Breastfeeding Older Children. Then, at 1pm, it's Caroline Lucas, MEP and leader of the Green Party."
Article in the papers about the survey on breastfeeding older children (and book) by Ann Sinnott.
March 8th being International Women's Day...
A group on Facebook which is objecting to the censorship of women's breastfeeding photographs is staging an event where each member posts an image for the day. Read more on their pages.
"In Our Time" on March 4th 2010 had an interesting review of what we know about the Infant Brain. Get your own brain in gear and then click here to hear the R4 programme.
Those with high blood pressure should not read about this poor lass from Bristol - story from February 2010 covered here in the Metro.
Breastfeeding supporters everywhere up in arms - Harriet Harman makes a supporting statement...
Ann Widdecombe says, "Our parents' generation got by perfectly well without needing to breastfeed in public. I'm not silly about it. If it's done discreetly, it's not a problem."
Also covered in Amy's local press, and in the Independent, The Sun and Daily Mail.
And then as a final twist, we see that CCTV coverage seems to prove it was all made up. More to come on this tale, I'm sure.
Damage done?? Or does the initial outrage on Amy's behalf improve the chances of someone else being supported in their choice to breastfeed a child in public??
An article in the Chicago Times from February 2010 (about a mix-up which happened in 2008) has the amazing story of a couple who are suing their maternity hospital...
because they messed up, brought the wrong baby to them, and the mother fed this wrong baby.
They aren't suing because of the mix-up (of course, baby's ID tags in hospitals are very important), or even because anyone was harmed; but rather because of the Mum's trauma & risk that she may have been infected by the baby. If I was that baby, I'd want to join in the game & sue them. But I'm not.
Michelle Obama is aiming to cut childhood obesity - so she 'should' endorse breastfeeding too?
News about a piece on full-term breastfeeding getting aired on GMTV (see the piece here on YouTube).
Covered here in the Flintshire Chronicle. GMTV are telling us that they gave all sides enough time to debate their argument... but what about making sure that people don't spout dangerous opinions which are not backed up by research.
Hey kids, eating worms is good for you. I know it to be true, and also they are really tasty. (Can I get on GMTV, now?)
You can see how Breast friendly GMTV are - here's the banner for their Breakfast Club:
Good old LLL have responded to the 'survey' in a much more thoughtful way.
This text comes from the LLL news page, and sadly it does not tell us what the response has been.
LLLGB'S RESPONSE TO GMTV BREASTFEEDING SURVEY
Dear GMTV
I am contacting you on behalf of La Leche League, GB, an organisation which offers support and information to women who are thinking of, or who are, breastfeeding. Several of our members have drawn our attention to the GMTV survey on Breastfeeding. Having looked at this we share their concern at the wording and bias of the questions asked.
The survey starts by asking if the person completing it thinks breastfeeding is something "women shouldn't do". After any birth a woman produces milk which is meant for her baby and contains unique structures which can never be replicated in formula. Breastmilk gives babies all the nutrients they need for the first six months of life and helps protect them from infection, diseases and, in later life, obesity and other illnesses. A breastfed baby is five times less likely to be hospitalised with gastroenteritis and, on average, will visit the doctor 15% less. It is also beneficial to the mother's health. A woman may chose not to breastfeed but to suggest it might be something she shouldn't do is as nonsensical as asking if giving birth vaginally is something women shouldn't do.
The survey asks if women should be "allowed" to breastfeed in public. In fact the mother is not breastfeeding, the baby is, and there is absolutely no law against breastfeeding in a public space. It is, in fact, discrimination and in Scotland it is an offence to ask a mother to stop feeding her baby, while in England and Wales the mother can sue under the Sex Discrimination Act.
In question Nine the question talks about "breasts being displayed" which is a very inaccurate and offensive way to describe a woman nurturing her baby. Many women are very apprehensive about feeding in public and do not want to draw attention to themselves. They certainly are not "displaying" themselves. The answer to this question of yes/no is also very unclear because of the way the question is phrased. To answer no, which would seem to be the answer if you do not mind women breastfeeding, leads to a double negative which might mean someone is answering yes when they mean no, so this question will not have reliable results.
Question 11 - Is it wrong to breastfeed over twelve months? - is again a very loaded question. Both the Department of Health and the World Health Organisation recommend breastfeeding up to and beyond two years. The physiological process of weaning is complex and involves many gradual adjustments for both mother and child. Human milk continues to complement and boost the immune system for as long as it is offered and research on the incidence of illness in breastfed or weaned toddlers reflects these dynamics. It cannot be "wrong" for a baby to continue receiving emotional, nutritional and immunological benefits so it is a decision only those involved should make. If people do not have knowledge of the many benefits they may answer this question without enough information.
With Question 12 - What age should a woman stop breastfeeding? - this is not something that can have a hard and fast rule. It's a natural process for children to outgrow breastfeeding on their own and allows for differences in children. Some will be ready to wean earlier than others. We do not expect all children to get teeth at the same age, to talk or walk at the same time or to be out of nappies by a set date. In the same way there cannot be a set age for breastfeeding to stop. Children mature at varying rates and will wean at different times. The aim is to finish when both mother and child feel good about it.
In conclusion we feel that the way this survey is worded could lead to results which will be heavily skewed against breastfeeding in public and extended breastfeeding, which goes against efforts to support women to breastfeed. Nine out of ten women who want to breastfeed give up in the early weeks, and many of them say that feeling unable to breastfeed in public spaces was a factor in this. Yet just a 10% increase in breastfeeding in the UK could lead to 3900 fewer cases of sickness and diarrhoea in babies which would save the health service £2.6 million. For the health of mothers, babies and their babies we should be encouraging breastfeeding not making it into something unacceptable.
Yours sincerely,
Anna Burbidge
Chair, Council of Directors, La Leche League GB
My favourite author gets a pasting. Go Girl!
I was pleased to read this in one of the comments - good advice to pass on.
Breastfeeding in the news again - this time it's reached the Flintshire Chronicle.
Also see it in the Times, much more fact-filled.
As I understand it, research has shown that DHA (omega-3) has no benefit to IQ of children at age 4 - whether consumed through breastmilk or f***mula milk with added DHA. And yet the headlines universally (many media sources are carrying this item) are "BF not helping improve intelligence".
So, here is a report on a study of how 241 Southampton children have done in IQ tests (they were breastfed, but also given f***mula "enhanced" with added DHA). They found DHA had no benefit to IQ, and concluded that a child's IQ is more likely to be high if the mother's IQ is high. Well. Not really news!
The research was funded by the MRC & FSA, not Nestle!
I'm not sure how I feel about this, need to read some more. It doesn't particularly bother me one way or the other if higher IQ is a benefit of BF - I'm not sure I ever believed it, though I can see how DHA helps development of brain/nerves. I do object to the headlines, though. The research does not JUST suggest that BF doesn't aid IQ... it also has the same result for the expensive formulae with added DHA. That is not given top billing. Grrr.
A paediatrician is quoted in the Times; "It could also be that breastfeeding takes longer so those mothers talk to their children more." Dear me - if the only time we talk to babies is when we feed the mites, heaven help them!
DHA is in breastmilk, so it must be good for something???!! Dr Gale repeated the message that the DHA is needed for babies' proper brain development in the last trimester of pregnancy (see also other work by Gale here). So use a supplement (with advice) or eat fish at least once a week if you are in the countdown!
The BabyFriendly site has a page of interest on this, which is well worth a read if you want to find out more about research in this area.
It was shown a long time ago that children fed on formula (which then had no DHA) had a lower IQ than breastfed children. Therefore, DHA has been added into many f***mula milks. By the way, if you are vegetarian and looking at different brands - bear in mind that DHA is usually sourced from Fish. It will be clear from the label, but you'll need a half-hour to read it all!!
Recent research from Norway (a country where the breastfeeding rates are phenomenal, and apparently that can mean that the pressure to breastfeed can be overwhelming)...
The research tells that higher testosterone levels in pregnant women can lead to a reduction in the length of time the mother feeds her child.
It does not tell us that one causes the other, but that this research has found a correlation between these groups. The research has been interpreted as telling us that we shouldn't beat ourselves up if we can't "succeed" at breastfeeding - it can be blamed on our hormone levels instead. Another interpretation put on this research seems to be that the benefits of breastfeeding are due to improved conditions during pregnancy (e.g. the placenta).
I enjoyed a line in the Australian research - from a husband who was trying to understand how it might be to feed in public. "I guess it's strange to go from being a sexual object to a kitchen utensil".
Latest advice on Swine Flu (H1N1) for breastfeeding women - from the Department for Health.
March 2011 news is found on this page.
Find us on Facebook to discuss these issues if you wish.
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Oh my goodness, what were they thinking?
Perhaps they are thinking of the potential sales for their formula advertisers, or their magazine sales after such a inflammatory piece. Certainly they weren't thinking of how they could celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness Week!
Here are some particularly well-thought out comments & replies found online.
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Mother & Baby Magazine, July 2010
Read about it in the Mail, Guardian, BBC, Telegraph, or the New York Times.
Read about it in the Mail, Guardian, BBC, Telegraph, or the New York Times.
Oh my goodness, what were they thinking?
Perhaps they are thinking of the potential sales for their formula advertisers, or their magazine sales after such a inflammatory piece. Certainly they weren't thinking of how they could celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness Week!
Here are some particularly well-thought out comments & replies found online.
"The truth is that there's almost nothing creepier than a culture in which breasts are reduced to fun-bags."
An American writes: "Regardless of her motivation, several of her deal-breakers are factually inaccurate. First, it's scientifically proven that breastfeeding does not cause your breasts to sag. The factors for sagging breasts are age, smoking, and how many pregnancies the woman has had. Also, you can definitely have *some* wine while breastfeeding. For safety reasons, I don't think anyone with a newborn should get drunk, regardless of how they're feeding the baby.
And yes, it's creepy that she thinks breastfeeding is creepy. She's just perpetuating society's current message which is that breasts can only be seen and used in sexual situations. If you're exposing most of your breast in a tiny bikini, you get a pat on the back. Even hint that you might expose a centimeter of your breast by nursing in public, and you get dirty looks. If she truly wants to support mums, she can find another way to inject humor. This mum isn't laughing."
"Women formula feed for plenty of good reasons: they don't want to breastfeed, they don't produce milk, they don't have support at home or at work for breastfeeding, they adopted the baby, they take medicine that interferes with the production of safe breastmilk, etc. I don't sit in judgment of them. But referring to breastfeeding as "creepy" is rude and ignorant. Breasts are designed to feed babies and women like Blundell make the environment for breastfeeding mothers that much more difficult. Also, any doctor will tell you that pregnancy and age make breast tissue sag, not breastfeeding.
I nursed each of my children for 13 months. It often was exhausting and frustrating, but I felt it was important. It would help if formula feeding moms dished out the same respect they expect to get. Don't want to breastfeed? Fine, but painting a picture of breastfeeding as abnormal or unnatural is ridiculous."
Protest about Nastle's claim that their milk 'protects' babies.
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More recent research into smoking whilst Breastfeeding. See page on this site about the issue.
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A very sensible letter to the Times - (read it here) - tells us how important it is to have good Milk Donation Services.
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Bumpology on the New Scientist site has several articles now which are of interest to anyone who's ever been pregnant! The (pregnant, of course!) author to bring the science into the wives' tales. Particularly interesting was the article on 12th May 2010 which examined how babies' feed - watch an ultrasound video here.
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To be, or not to be?
Link here to an article describing the discovery of a factor in breastmilk which has been named HAMLET. It kills cancer cells.
Link here to an article describing the discovery of a factor in breastmilk which has been named HAMLET. It kills cancer cells.
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A post on a forum about breastfeeding (Bounty) has a disturbing example of a midwife promoting bottles. Thanks to the Mum in the support group who pointed this out to me!
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Mumsnet are following up their recent (very popular) webchat with Gabrielle Palmer by announcing a webchat this week (Friday noon) with Ann Sinnott.
"It's webchat Super-Friday this week (26th). First up, at noon, is Ann Sinnott, author of Breastfeeding Older Children. Then, at 1pm, it's Caroline Lucas, MEP and leader of the Green Party."
***
Article in the papers about the survey on breastfeeding older children (and book) by Ann Sinnott.
*****
March 8th being International Women's Day...
A group on Facebook which is objecting to the censorship of women's breastfeeding photographs is staging an event where each member posts an image for the day. Read more on their pages.
*****
"In Our Time" on March 4th 2010 had an interesting review of what we know about the Infant Brain. Get your own brain in gear and then click here to hear the R4 programme.
*****
Those with high blood pressure should not read about this poor lass from Bristol - story from February 2010 covered here in the Metro.
Breastfeeding supporters everywhere up in arms - Harriet Harman makes a supporting statement...
Ann Widdecombe says, "Our parents' generation got by perfectly well without needing to breastfeed in public. I'm not silly about it. If it's done discreetly, it's not a problem."
Also covered in Amy's local press, and in the Independent, The Sun and Daily Mail.
And then as a final twist, we see that CCTV coverage seems to prove it was all made up. More to come on this tale, I'm sure.
Damage done?? Or does the initial outrage on Amy's behalf improve the chances of someone else being supported in their choice to breastfeed a child in public??
*****
An article in the Chicago Times from February 2010 (about a mix-up which happened in 2008) has the amazing story of a couple who are suing their maternity hospital...
because they messed up, brought the wrong baby to them, and the mother fed this wrong baby.
They aren't suing because of the mix-up (of course, baby's ID tags in hospitals are very important), or even because anyone was harmed; but rather because of the Mum's trauma & risk that she may have been infected by the baby. If I was that baby, I'd want to join in the game & sue them. But I'm not.
*****
Michelle Obama is aiming to cut childhood obesity - so she 'should' endorse breastfeeding too?
&&&&&
News about a piece on full-term breastfeeding getting aired on GMTV (see the piece here on YouTube).
Covered here in the Flintshire Chronicle. GMTV are telling us that they gave all sides enough time to debate their argument... but what about making sure that people don't spout dangerous opinions which are not backed up by research.
Hey kids, eating worms is good for you. I know it to be true, and also they are really tasty. (Can I get on GMTV, now?)
You can see how Breast friendly GMTV are - here's the banner for their Breakfast Club:
Good old LLL have responded to the 'survey' in a much more thoughtful way.
This text comes from the LLL news page, and sadly it does not tell us what the response has been.
LLLGB'S RESPONSE TO GMTV BREASTFEEDING SURVEY
Dear GMTV
I am contacting you on behalf of La Leche League, GB, an organisation which offers support and information to women who are thinking of, or who are, breastfeeding. Several of our members have drawn our attention to the GMTV survey on Breastfeeding. Having looked at this we share their concern at the wording and bias of the questions asked.
The survey starts by asking if the person completing it thinks breastfeeding is something "women shouldn't do". After any birth a woman produces milk which is meant for her baby and contains unique structures which can never be replicated in formula. Breastmilk gives babies all the nutrients they need for the first six months of life and helps protect them from infection, diseases and, in later life, obesity and other illnesses. A breastfed baby is five times less likely to be hospitalised with gastroenteritis and, on average, will visit the doctor 15% less. It is also beneficial to the mother's health. A woman may chose not to breastfeed but to suggest it might be something she shouldn't do is as nonsensical as asking if giving birth vaginally is something women shouldn't do.
The survey asks if women should be "allowed" to breastfeed in public. In fact the mother is not breastfeeding, the baby is, and there is absolutely no law against breastfeeding in a public space. It is, in fact, discrimination and in Scotland it is an offence to ask a mother to stop feeding her baby, while in England and Wales the mother can sue under the Sex Discrimination Act.
In question Nine the question talks about "breasts being displayed" which is a very inaccurate and offensive way to describe a woman nurturing her baby. Many women are very apprehensive about feeding in public and do not want to draw attention to themselves. They certainly are not "displaying" themselves. The answer to this question of yes/no is also very unclear because of the way the question is phrased. To answer no, which would seem to be the answer if you do not mind women breastfeeding, leads to a double negative which might mean someone is answering yes when they mean no, so this question will not have reliable results.
Question 11 - Is it wrong to breastfeed over twelve months? - is again a very loaded question. Both the Department of Health and the World Health Organisation recommend breastfeeding up to and beyond two years. The physiological process of weaning is complex and involves many gradual adjustments for both mother and child. Human milk continues to complement and boost the immune system for as long as it is offered and research on the incidence of illness in breastfed or weaned toddlers reflects these dynamics. It cannot be "wrong" for a baby to continue receiving emotional, nutritional and immunological benefits so it is a decision only those involved should make. If people do not have knowledge of the many benefits they may answer this question without enough information.
With Question 12 - What age should a woman stop breastfeeding? - this is not something that can have a hard and fast rule. It's a natural process for children to outgrow breastfeeding on their own and allows for differences in children. Some will be ready to wean earlier than others. We do not expect all children to get teeth at the same age, to talk or walk at the same time or to be out of nappies by a set date. In the same way there cannot be a set age for breastfeeding to stop. Children mature at varying rates and will wean at different times. The aim is to finish when both mother and child feel good about it.
In conclusion we feel that the way this survey is worded could lead to results which will be heavily skewed against breastfeeding in public and extended breastfeeding, which goes against efforts to support women to breastfeed. Nine out of ten women who want to breastfeed give up in the early weeks, and many of them say that feeling unable to breastfeed in public spaces was a factor in this. Yet just a 10% increase in breastfeeding in the UK could lead to 3900 fewer cases of sickness and diarrhoea in babies which would save the health service £2.6 million. For the health of mothers, babies and their babies we should be encouraging breastfeeding not making it into something unacceptable.
Yours sincerely,
Anna Burbidge
Chair, Council of Directors, La Leche League GB
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My favourite author gets a pasting. Go Girl!
I was pleased to read this in one of the comments - good advice to pass on.
"I was told by every single midwife I saw (double figures) to throw the book away - they didn't want it given to charity as it would cause more misery to babies. My health visitors asked me to throw it away, commenting on the endless problems it causes."
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Breastfeeding in the news again - this time it's reached the Flintshire Chronicle.
Also see it in the Times, much more fact-filled.
As I understand it, research has shown that DHA (omega-3) has no benefit to IQ of children at age 4 - whether consumed through breastmilk or f***mula milk with added DHA. And yet the headlines universally (many media sources are carrying this item) are "BF not helping improve intelligence".
So, here is a report on a study of how 241 Southampton children have done in IQ tests (they were breastfed, but also given f***mula "enhanced" with added DHA). They found DHA had no benefit to IQ, and concluded that a child's IQ is more likely to be high if the mother's IQ is high. Well. Not really news!
Dr Catharine Gale, who led the study, said: "This study helps to dispel some of the myths surrounding DHA. We do know that there are clear health benefits to breastfeeding but DHA, which is naturally present in breast milk and added into some formulas, is not the secret ingredient that will turn your child into an Einstein."
The research was funded by the MRC & FSA, not Nestle!
I'm not sure how I feel about this, need to read some more. It doesn't particularly bother me one way or the other if higher IQ is a benefit of BF - I'm not sure I ever believed it, though I can see how DHA helps development of brain/nerves. I do object to the headlines, though. The research does not JUST suggest that BF doesn't aid IQ... it also has the same result for the expensive formulae with added DHA. That is not given top billing. Grrr.
A paediatrician is quoted in the Times; "It could also be that breastfeeding takes longer so those mothers talk to their children more." Dear me - if the only time we talk to babies is when we feed the mites, heaven help them!
DHA is in breastmilk, so it must be good for something???!! Dr Gale repeated the message that the DHA is needed for babies' proper brain development in the last trimester of pregnancy (see also other work by Gale here). So use a supplement (with advice) or eat fish at least once a week if you are in the countdown!
The BabyFriendly site has a page of interest on this, which is well worth a read if you want to find out more about research in this area.
It was shown a long time ago that children fed on formula (which then had no DHA) had a lower IQ than breastfed children. Therefore, DHA has been added into many f***mula milks. By the way, if you are vegetarian and looking at different brands - bear in mind that DHA is usually sourced from Fish. It will be clear from the label, but you'll need a half-hour to read it all!!
&&&&&&&&&
Recent research from Norway (a country where the breastfeeding rates are phenomenal, and apparently that can mean that the pressure to breastfeed can be overwhelming)...
The research tells that higher testosterone levels in pregnant women can lead to a reduction in the length of time the mother feeds her child.
It does not tell us that one causes the other, but that this research has found a correlation between these groups. The research has been interpreted as telling us that we shouldn't beat ourselves up if we can't "succeed" at breastfeeding - it can be blamed on our hormone levels instead. Another interpretation put on this research seems to be that the benefits of breastfeeding are due to improved conditions during pregnancy (e.g. the placenta).
- You can see more on this page - written by Dr Ben Goldacre.
- The Norwegian research (on 180 women) is accessed here.
- The Daily Mail ran with it...
- And the Telegraph... went with a much more pro-Breastfeeding angle, including a quote from the eminently sensible Prof Charlotte Wright.
I enjoyed a line in the Australian research - from a husband who was trying to understand how it might be to feed in public. "I guess it's strange to go from being a sexual object to a kitchen utensil".
&&&&&&&&&
Latest advice on Swine Flu (H1N1) for breastfeeding women - from the Department for Health.
&&&&&&&&&
Tragic story of a mother whose 4-week old baby was smothered as she slept on an airplane after breastfeeding - November 2009. News coverage did seem to suggest that the child died because it had been breastfed, but of course it's not the case.
Articles since then have encouraged a more common-sense view that parents should take care how they sit with children when they are sleepy, and certainly they should not do this under influence of drugs such as alcohol.
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Mumsnet - a very successful forum, particularly well-known by the general public.
On Friday November 20th 2009, Mumsnet hosted a Live Webchat with the Author Gabrielle Palmer. The questions were put to her by the public, and the resulting chat can be viewed for sometime after. Edited highlighted are available here.
There is also a chance to fill in a questionnaire about your breastfeeding experiences.
You can find out more about her well-known and very well-regarded book, "The Politics of Breastfeeding", by following this link to an Amazon page, or by reading other interviews here and here.
Which other authors have you found particularly useful or inspiring?
Did you know that there is a Library of Breastfeeding & Parenting Books available to all parents in Flintshire? Attend a drop-in session or call the advice line (01244 545021, office hours only) to find out more.
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