World Breastfeeding Week 2008 Photo Contest
I know a lot of y'all are both avid photographers and avid breastfeeding supporters. Combine those passions and participate in the WBW 2008 photo contest! Deadline February 29, 2008. Details here.
What are we looking for?
We need stories that illustrate support for breastfeeding. We are looking for any photo that TELLS A STORY of support. It may be a who, a what or a where! You may be the person who provided the support or the person who received the support.
Illustrate the kind of support you provided or that you received in a photo. When taking photos, think globally and locally! We encourage you to submit photos that reflect different ethnicity and that include breastfeeding children, from a newborn to a child of 2 years or more. Support takes place in different environments, so the support you illustrate may be in a home, in a museum, in a marketplace or in a field.
(Note: I don't know the photographer of the above picture, neither do I know where I found it to give proper credit. If you do see it elsewhere online with credit to the photographer, please let me know so proper attribution can be given. Thanks!)
January 12, 2008 | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7th
Join in encouraging mamas and promoting breastfeeding during World Breastfeeding Week! Unlike years past, I won't be posting daily on this topic, but I know that Kristen and the Lactivist and others will be. Or follow the WBW news to see what is going on around the world or in your neighborhood.
August 01, 2007 | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
World Breastfeeding Week: August 1-7, 2007
World Breastfeeding Week is quickly approaching. I've already seen other mothers, bloggers, lactivists posting about WBW--now is the time to start planning how you will be involved, in your local community or online.
Need ideas?
Caption contest at The Lactivist.
New Zealand Sponsored World Wide Latch-On
Why Aren't Black Mother Breastfeeding?
WBW Photo Contest (Not the official one.)
The "official" WBW Photo Contest
Arte de Leche Exhibition This looks so cool--I wanna go!
Here at TulipGirl, we'll have a week of posts and links and art for World Breastfeeding Week 2007, as we have in years past. Our little part to encourage breastfeeding mamas.
July 10, 2007 | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Nurturing, Nursing Mothers
"Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God. Do not be far from me." Psalm 22:9-11
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." Isaiah 49:15,16
"For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance." For this is what the LORD says: "I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem." Isaiah 66:11-13
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." Isaiah 49:15,16
"But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore." Psalm 131:2,3
"But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." 1 Thessalonians 2:7,8
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11
Be encouraged. God who has given us our children, has given us also means to physically nourish them and spiritually nurture them. We may lean into Him, each moment of each imperfect day.
For more mommy-inspiration, check out Parenting Decisions.
This post concludes our World Breastfeeding Week 2006 series.
August 07, 2006 | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
More WBW 2006 Blogging
More people are blogging in support of World Breastfeeding Week and mamas and babies around the world.
August 5:
Echo of Love
Misplaced Mama
No Such Thing
Color Me Red
Five Minutes for Mom
This Classical Life
Life With An Axe
Jo's Cafe
(Another) Day in the Life
Confessions of a Political Junkie
August 6:
Nursing Two
Arch Words
And Then There Were Four
Girl from FL
Blogging Baby Malcolm
Mommy @ Home
Oddly Complete
Jihad of a Woman
Only the Best
Hannah
Rinsed With Gold
MomSquawk
August 7:
Blog on Breast
Charity Grace
Rambling Moo
This Classical Life
Gaggle of Girls
Love Never Fails
liminal musings
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2006 series.
August 07, 2006 | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Breastfeeding Art
Over the past several years, I've shared some of the examples of breastfeeding art that have moved me.
Now I've found a website that is combination art history and lactivism:
Breastfeeding Art. I especially like the timeline.
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2006 series.
August 05, 2006 | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Blogging WBW 2006
Here are some blogs who are sharing thoughts on breastfeeding, in support of World Breastfeeding Week 2006.
August 3:
MereMortal Mom
Mountain Mama
Angelic Momma
Out of Cute
This Classical Life
PonderFool
SweetPea
Green Goddess
Celebrity Baby Blog
Mary Ann Liebert **Academic papers! Interesting. . .
PickleBums
Bin and Mitch
Geek in Your Country
Mama's Village
In The Agora **Sadly, not that supportive
This Side of Somewhere
Orlando Sentinal Blog
And She Calls Me Mommy
NeoBean
My Journey
Eric's Blog-O-Rama
Squirrel Stories **Kudos for a great blog post title
BlogCritics
Tracker
August 4:
Living a Full Life
Life Story (Indonesia)
Debra Kloskey
Perfect Mom
Blue Door
Suicide Girls
Where It's At
Charity Grace
This Classical Life
Blonde Mom Blog **Another With A Great Post Title
The Politicker
Mama Life
Rantings of a SAHM
Oh, Baby
mooshoopork
vwsistah
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2006 series.
August 04, 2006 | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Breastfeeding Art X
“The Audrey Samsara Triptych” © Amy Jenkins 2004
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2006 series.
August 03, 2006 | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
John Calvin, Lactivist
John Calvin, in commenting upon Genesis 21:7 states:
". . .the Lord does not in vain prepare nutriment for children in their mothers' bosoms, before they are born.
But those on whom he confers the honor of mothers, he, in this way, constitutes nurses; and they who deem it a hardship to nourish their own offspring, break, as far as they are able, the sacred bond of nature.
If disease, or anything of that kind, is the hindrance, they have a just excuse; but for mothers voluntarily, and for their own pleasure, to avoid the trouble of nursing, and thus to make themselves only half-mothers, is a shameful corruption."
(Posted on TulipGirl in December 2005. Found quote via Pastor Lane)
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2006 series.
August 02, 2006 | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
World Breastfeeding Week 2006
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action has chosen the theme of Code Watch: 25 Years of Protecting Breastfeeding for this year's August 1-7 World Breastfeeding Week.
By the term Code Watch, they are referring to the 1981 International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, which was designed to limit the undermining of breastfeeding through advertising.
As in years past, I'll be posting this week in support of breastfeeding. Just my little online contribution to World Breastfeeding Week. If you are posting about breastfeeding, too, let me know!
So, hooray for all those who are blogging on breastfeeding for WBW!
August 1st:
This Classical Life
Heart, Mind and Strength
Mom Squawk
The Marmot's Hole (Korea)
Domestic Psychology
BurmaNet News
Belly Tales
Celebrity Baby Blog
Women's Health News
Susan D'Arcy
Knitted in the Womb
IrwanIrah (Singapore)
And Baby Makes Four
Wired for Noise
Sazz (Australia)
Blogging Baby
Got Sophia
Mom's Milk Anywhere
Footprints
dotMoms
Pieces of Us
MumSpotting (Singapore)
Basta
Crunch Mama
Cigar Theology
August 2nd:
No Such Thing
Charity Grace
Count It All Joy
View from the Prairie Box
Dorian Kaye
The Juggling Act
Birth Write
Amanda's Blog
I'm a Geek in Your Country
Aurelia Ann
And the Seasons Go 'Round
Confession Time
Dry Eraser Thoughts
Kitten Licks
Christi's Blog
Blogging Kellan
What's Hot for Tots
Plantain
August 01, 2006 | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Breastfeeding, Babies and Big Girls
"When DD3 pretends to be a Mommy, she is a very good one. She rocks her babies, she sings to them, she snuggles them in a blanket. And then she says she needs a paci and a bottle. She has no memory of the hours I spent nursing her. She has no memory of seeing anyone nurse. Heck, she has no memory of seeing people do most of the things I did with her as an infant. . . .
I so want DD3 to grow up knowing that it is normal, natural, healthy, and God’s design for a woman to nurse her babies."
May 03, 2006 | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
New WHO Growth Charts
Via an e-mail from Ted Greiner, breastfeeding advocate, I heard that the World Health Organization has updated its infant and child growth charts. Greiner says, "Based on careful studies of breastfed babies living under "ideal" conditions in several countries, WHO has determined that they grow at similar rates and that this growth pattern is the ideal one. Thus they have issued a series of new growth charts. . . The previous international ones were based on how largely bottle fed American babies grew."
The new charts can be found here:
Child Growth Standards
WHO Child Growth Media Centre
April 28, 2006 | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Not a Picture to Promote Breastfeeding.
(Via darjeelingirl)
February 17, 2006 | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
William Gouge: Theologian and AP Advocate
Thanks to Lydia, Nathan's Helpmeet, who has drawn my attention to the works of William Gouge--specifically his pages upon pages of reflection on the Bible and breastfeeding. Lydia quoted a passage on cry-it-out and breastfeeding, but the section below really stood out to me.
Among other needful things, the milk of the breast is fit for young babes, and with it they are to be nourished. I think none doubt of the equity of this. It hath in all ages, and in all countries, been accounted the best food that can be for young babes. The metaphor, which S. Peter useth, taken from young infants [in the words, As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word (1 Peter 2:2)] confirmeth as much. So doth also the desire which such infants have to the milk of the breasts: and the ability, and promptness which is in them to suck: and God's providence in causing a woman's breasts to yield forth such milk: and the constant manner of nourishing little infants after this manner, commended in the Scripture: and [to conclude] the natural instinct which many unreasonable creatures have thus to nourish their young ones.
. . .
God hath given to women two breasts fit to contain and hold milk: and nipples unto them fit to have milk drawn from them. Why are these thus given? to lay them forth for ostentation? There is no warrant for that in all God's word. They are directly given for the child's food that cometh out of the womb; for till the child be born, there is no milk in the breasts: anon after it is born, milk ordinarily floweth into the breasts: yea a great part of the meat which they eat turneth into milk. They make this admirable work of God's providence to be in vain, that dry up this spring, and suffer not their children to partake of the benefits of it.
--William Gouge, On Domestical Duties
Related:
Martin Luther: Theologian and Cloth Diaper Advocate
John Calvin: Theologian and Lactivist
Breastfeeding and the Bible
January 19, 2006 | Comments (16) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Babywise "Trade-Offs"
Ezzo discusses "trade-offs" with Babywise:
"We wish everything in this book worked perfectly for each mom/baby combination when it comes to lactation.
"...in parenting there will always be tradeoffs...while most moms can [breastfeed longterm*] with Babywise, we recognize not all moms can because no philosophy comes without trade-offs."
-- Babywise, pp. 63, 64
* while "longterm" is not defined, Babywise says mothers using the program breastfeed for just over 8 months on average.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a minimum of one year of breastfeeding.
(Via Ezzo.Info)
Related Tags: GFI / Ezzo / Babywise, Babywise, Gary Ezzo, Ezzo.Info, Christian Parenting, Breastfeeding, American Academy of Pediatrics
January 13, 2006 | Comments (17) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Neat Noonie News!
I made the short list on The Lactivist blogroll! Thanks, Jennifer!
And in recognition of that, here are some of my favorite writings on breastfeeding:
The Original Noonie Page
A Few Of My Favorite Things 2005, 2004
Play Ball! (Militant Breastfeeding Cult)
Breastfeeding and Babywise: The Realities, The Practicalities
Contented Cows Give Sweet Milk
January 11, 2006 | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
I Thessalonians 2:7-8
7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
December 17, 2005 | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Martin Luther: Theologian and Cloth Diaper Advocate
Now observe that when that clever harlot, our natural reason... , takes a look at married life, she turns up her nose and says, "Alas, must I rock the baby, wash its diapers, make its bed, smell its stench, stay up nights with it, take care of it when it cries, heal its rashes and sores... ?
What then does Christian faith say to this? It opens its eyes, looks upon all these insignificant, distasteful, and despised duties in the Spirit, and is aware that they are all adorned with divine approval as with the costliest gold and jewels. It says, O God, because I am certain that thou hast created me as a man and hast from my body begotten this child, I also know for a certainty that it meets with thy perfect pleasure. I confess to thee that I am not worthy to rock the little babe or wash its diapers, or to be entrusted with the care of the child and its mother. How is it that I, without any merit, have come to this distinction of being certain that I am serving thy creature and thy most precious will? O how gladly will I do so, though the duties should be even more insignificant and despised. Neither frost nor heat, neither drudgery nor labor, will distress or dissuade me, for I am certain that it is thus pleasing in thy sight...
God, with all his angels and creatures is smiling--not because the father is washing diapers, but because he is doing so in Christian faith.
Last week we read of John Calvin's breastfeeding advocacy. I'm beginning to wonder if this is going to turn into a series on Great Theologians and Attachment Parenting?
December 11, 2005 | Comments (12) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Mommy, Remember When?
"Mommy, do you remember when I was screaming my head off for moonie? When I was a baby? I was crying and screaming my head off, and then you gave me moonie." --C5, who hasn't breastfed in years. And who only screamed his head off when we were boarding planes.
December 10, 2005 | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
John Calvin: Theologian and Lactivist
John Calvin, in commenting upon Genesis 21:7 states:
". . .the Lord does not in vain prepare nutriment for children in their mothers' bosoms, before they are born. But those on whom he confers the honor of mothers, he, in this way, constitutes nurses; and they who deem it a hardship to nourish their own offspring, break, as far as they are able, the sacred bond of nature. If disease, or anything of that kind, is the hindrance, they have a just excuse; but for mothers voluntarily, and for their own pleasure, to avoid the trouble of nursing, and thus to make themselves only half-mothers, is a shameful corruption."
(Via calvinist and lactivist Pastor Lane)
December 02, 2005 | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Breastfeeding Studies
Observational studies suggest a longer duration of breastfeeding to be associated dose dependently with a decrease in risk of overweight in later life. The authors performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of the existing studies on duration of breastfeeding and risk of overweight. . . . The definitions of overweight and age had no influence. These findings strongly support a dose-dependent association between longer duration of breastfeeding and decrease in risk of overweight.
And remember, scientific findings in health studies show patterns, and aren't guarantees of positive or negative outcomes. Just ask my healthy as a horse smoking, ice-cream-and-tastee-cakes eating grandmother-in-law.
August 18, 2005 | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Don't Just Eat Carrots.
Want good eyesight? Breastfeed.
August 15, 2005 | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Breastfeeding and the Bible
Pastel and Pencil by Susan Wadsworth
"For you will nurse and be satisfied
at her comforting breasts;
you will drink deeply
and delight in her overflowing abundance."For this is what the LORD says:
"I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
you will nurse and be carried on her arm
and dandled on her knees.As a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you;
and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."
The Bible is full of imagery of breastfeeding and nurturing mothers. What can we learn about God's design for breastfeeding? Start studying with these articles by Cyndi Egbert and Nancy Campbell.
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2005 series.
August 07, 2005 | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Breastfeeding Challenges
For some mothers, breastfeeding comes easily. For others, it entails overcoming a series of obstacles. When one problem is solved, another one crops up. Latch problems, mastitis, low supply, reflux, thrush, working and pumping. . .
For me, my firstborn latched on like a pro. I had normal engorgement and mild mastitis, both pretty usual and minor. However, when he was a bit older I had a problem with my supply, that was related to being misinformed about how breastfeeding really works, and how scheduling can undermine breastfeeding. With my fourth, even with all the previous experience I had, I found it to be tough going to get my newborn to latch well.
So, I'd like to ask those who have overcome breastfeeding struggles, What motivated you to keep breastfeeding? What helped you deal with the challenges you faced while breastfeeding?
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2005 series.
August 06, 2005 | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Breastfeeding Art IX
You can contact artist Jennifer Staumbaugh at jenstumby at sbcglobal dot net.
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2005 series.
August 05, 2005 | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
A Few of My Favorite Things
Some of our favorite things about breastfeeding are. . .
"How my now-weaned preschooler rubs my belly affectionately and tells me about when he was little and ate noonie." -- TulipGirl
"How it forced me to stop and relax. Boy, do I miss that when stressed. :)" -- Andrea R.
The loving caress of my daughter's hand on my skin, her sweet nursing smiles and the way she looks when she drifts off to sleep happy and milk-drunk. --Kristen
The baby's breath after breastfeeding--the sweetest smell ever. --Pam
The way my 15 month old giggles when he says "nah-nah" and then settles down as he starts to nurse. --Mel
The reminder that there is always something simple and beautiful under all the chaos of the world. --Jess
the "take some time out to put your feet up, drink a cold glass of something refreshing, and snuggle with baby" relaxation. It often meant that I had to consciously focus on myself and my baby, instead of everything else that I thought was "important." --CarolynM
"The milk drunk look of bliss on my babys' faces." --Deputy Headmistress
"But one thing I love are the grins while they are still latched on and the "smack smack smack" sound that makes. :-)" --Keer
"My seventh child used to happily hum while he was nursing.=)" --Deputy Headmistress
"when my toddler would stop and look up at my face, and smile with that wide milky grin, as if to say "oh, that's where you are"." --Tracy
"When her eyes roll back into her head when she first latches on as if to say, "Oh yeah, that's the stuff." :)" --Amy
When my boys. . .tandem nurse, look up at me when nursing and start giggling and give me big milky smiles.... it just makes me relax, breathe and concentrate on the good things in life... --Melissa
The playful way she swats mother breast while she nurses.
We co-sleep so her meals are always available. --Vegan Momma
The way my 2yo can seem so old and independent until she nurses and I catch a glimpse of the newborn she was once again. --Jess
And on a more selfish level, how easy it is. Both of us hardly wake up to nurse at night, somehow it just happens - and we sleep so well because of it. --Mel
Have your say! What are your favorite things about breastfeeding?
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2005 series.
August 05, 2005 | Comments (15) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Laughs or Lactivism?
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2005 series.
August 05, 2005 | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Blogging on Breastfeeding
It's World Breastfeeding Week! Here are some great posts I've read in that encourage breastfeeding. If you don't see your name here, just leave your name and url in the comments, so we can all come over and read your breastfeeding writing!
Tracy @ The Secret of Living (and she has a new blog look!)
Kristen @ This Classical Life, and yet again
Kristen @ This Classical Life, even yet again
Umm Zaynab @ Muslim Mother's Thoughts
Umm Zaynab @ Muslim Mother's Thoughts, again
Umm Zaynab @ Muslim Mother's Thoughts, and again
greenemama @ fresh milk delivered daily
Mommy Blawger @ The Mommy Blawg
Carol @ Parenting Decisions, again
David @ Starbellys
Christine @ Mumspotting
Christine @ Welcome to my Brain
Jennifer @ My One Long Day, again
Jennifer @ My One Long Day, and again
Kristen @ This Classical Life, again
Kristen @ This Classical Life, and again
Amy @ Musings of a Crunchy Domestic Goddess
Roxanne @ Adventures of a Breastfeeding Mother
Beanmom @ Partial to the Bean, again
Beanmom @ Partial to the Bean, and again
Angela @ Oh Baby Baby, again
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2005 series.
August 05, 2005 | Comments (10) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Breastfeeding Art VIII
(Via the ProMom Gallery)
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2005 series.
August 04, 2005 | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Hop on the Lap and Tap
Check out these lap-baby computer games with a breastfeeding theme. Seemed a bit weird when I first heard of them, but they're pretty cool.
Breastfeeding Left and Right Game
Breastfeeding Games in French and Spanish
(Via Kym at GCM.)
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2005 series.
August 03, 2005 | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Breastfeeding in the News
World Breastfeeding Week 2005 Headlines
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2005 series.
August 03, 2005 | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Breastfeeding Art VII
These gentle Cotton Mother Dolls are designed by a homebirthing, breastfeeding mother in a way that reflects the artistry of God's birthing and breastfeeding design.
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2005 series.
August 02, 2005 | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Breastfeeding Art VI
From the collection of Ted Greiner.
This post is part of a World Breastfeeding Week 2005 series.
August 01, 2005 | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
World Breastfeeding Week 2005
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action has chosen the theme of Breastfeeding and Family Foods: LOVING & HEALTHY for this year's August 1-7 World Breastfeeding Week.
Like last year, I'll be doing a series of posts in support of breastfeeding as my little online contribution to World Breastfeeding Week 2005. If you are posting about breastfeeding, too, let me know!
August 01, 2005 | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Coming Soon. . .
World Breastfeeding Week
August 1-7, 2005
July 23, 2005 | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Babywise and Breastfeeding: The Realities
Dr. Matthew Aney a practicing pediatrician in California, states:
"On Becoming Babywise, has raised concern among pediatricians because it outlines an infant feeding program that has been associated with failure to thrive (FTT), poor weight gain, dehydration, breast milk supply failure, and involuntary early weaning. A Forsyth Medical Hospital Review Committee, in Winston-Salem N.C., has listed 11 areas in which the program is inadequately supported by conventional medical practice.
. . .
I have reviewed numerous accounts of low weight gain and FTT associated with "Babywise" and discussed them with several pediatricians and lactation consultants involved.
. . .
This advice is in direct opposition to the latest AAP recommendations on newborn feeding (AAP Policy Statement, "Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk," Pediatrics, Dec. 1997):
"Newborns should be nursed whenever they show signs of hunger, such as increased alertness or activity, mouthing, or rooting. Crying is a late indicator of hunger. Newborns should be nursed approximately eight to 12 times every 24 hours until satiety."
Ezzo-related delayed growth, slow weight gain and Failure to Thrive is sadly common. Our son was one of those babies who seemed to do great with Babywise and then was diagnosed Failure to Thrive. Lori's son was hospitalized when he was less than a month old due to dehydration and FTT.
For every Failure to Thrive diagnosis, there are many undiagnosed examples of delayed and slowed growth. If you spend any time among Ezzo mothers, you'll commonly hear reassurances that it is common for babies to thin out, be "petite", slow their growth rate, be smaller than their peers. And yes, while half of babies are below the 50th%--this common pattern of Ezzo mothers are seeking reassurance for their small babies is disturbing.
Chapter Four of Along the Infant Way (the "new" Preparation for Parenting and "Christian" Babywise) is titled "Facts on Feeding." That title implies that the material contained within that chapter is factually accurate. On the contrary, it is mostly comprised of Ezzo's opinions, the Parent Directed Feeding "philosophy," partial-truths, and medically unsupported claims about breastfeeding the PDF way.
Sadly there are just enough actual breastfeeding facts scattered about the chapter, that a new mother with limited knowledge of breastfeeding will assume the rest is accurate. Without more experience or knowledge, it can be difficult to discern Ezzo's faulty feeding "facts."
I recommend to all mothers, both those who are planning on using Ezzo's ideas and those who have rejected them, to read the following carefully-documented articles about how breastfeeding works:
How Does Milk Production Work?
by By Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC
Examining the Evidence for the Cue-feeding of Breastfed Infants
by Lisa Marasco, BA, IBCLC and Jan Barger, MA, RN, IBCLC
While what Ezzo teaches about feeding may line up with the needs and supply of some infant/mother nursing dyads, there is a hard-to-ignore pattern of Ezzo's parent-directed feeding undermining mothers' milk supply. This collection of case studies was documented by a then-GFI supportive breastfeeding counselor who was volunteering as an Ezzo Contact Mom.
The mothers I have known who have breastfed while using the ideas presented in Babywise have usually struggled with milk supply, typically around 4-5 months, and often transitioning early to formula feeding. It is also common to hear Ezzo moms discussing starting solids earlier than the AAP recommended 6 months because their babies seem hungry and unsatisfied with breastmilk. Again, these situations are common among mothers who are very supportive of Babywise and are seeking advice among other pro-Ezzo parents.
Of course, Gary Ezzo will disagree with the breastfeeding information provided in this post--and he does in this article on the GFI website, "Myths and Misconceptions". Gary Ezzo can be persuasive--but look closely at what he writes. Does he really back it up with medical documentation or simply make assertions based on his opinions?
This post is part of the Ezzo Week 2005 series focusing on Gary Ezzo's parenting teachings.
July 16, 2005 | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
Breastfeeding and Babywise: The Practicalities
The mamas I've known who have been successful in breastfeeding until one year (per the AAP recommendations), have usually altered the Ezzo PDF guidelines significantly.
These are the most common modifications.
1. Never going beyond 3 hours between feedings, except for when baby is sleeping at night. (Current Ezzo materials assume it is normal for babies at 9-15 weeks be going between 3-4 hours, and be down to 4-6 liquid feedings at 4-6 months.) After losing my milk supply while breastfeeding my first, I attempted to never go beyond 3 hours when feeding my second. I still lost my milk supply, but not until 6-7 months.
2. Follow an Eat/Wake/Eat/Sleep cycle, instead of the Eat/Wake/Sleep cyclef. I have seen this advocated by a Contact Mom, but can't remember who. This is what we started to do when our third son was born. (Later we went the route of cue-feeding. I was able to successfully breastfeed my third while cue-feeding, and may have been able to on an eat/wake/eat/sleep cycle.)
3. Breastfeed at night. While one of Ezzo's selling points is the promotion of "sleeping through the night" from an early age for babies, because of the way the breastfeeding hormones work, many mothers have found the best way to keep up their milk supply is to have at least one and possibly two night nursings throughout the duration of the nursing season. Experienced moms have found that this night nursing does not cut into their rest or their baby's rest as much as Ezzo warns.
4. Switching to cue-feeding, and building routine and rhythm in other areas of their infant's day.
I think these article provides some good ideas:
But I Don't Want to Nurse All the Time OR Watch the Clock!
Establishing a Routine While Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding and the Bible
Soooo. . . feedback from breastfeeding, Babywise moms. . . What's worked for you?
This post is part of the Ezzo Week 2005 series focusing on Gary Ezzo's parenting teachings.
July 16, 2005 | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink
The Noonie Page
Cheerleading the Breastfeeding Mother
May 17, 2005 | Comment