The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog

Organizations ask Congress for more funding for breastfeeding

As Congress works on preparing the federal budget, 90 organizations involved in public health have sent a letter (pdf) to Congress asking increased support for breastfeeding. 

The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition reports:

A letter signed by 90 national and state organizations was sent to Congress today, asking for $15 million per year in line-item funding to promote breastfeeding. The letter also calls for the establishment of a new Interagency Work Group on breastfeeding to help decide how to use the funds to support a strategic plan to improve breastfeeding rates.

The letter, which originated from the American Public Health Association, has 35 national signatories that include organizations focused on many aspects of health, from public health, to women’s health, to children’s health. Among the signatories are the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Nurse Midwives, the American Dietetic Association, Lamaze International, and the National WIC Association.

In addition to the national signatories, there are 55 state, local, and tribal signatories representing 43 states, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Navajo Nation.

The letter comes as the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are marking up the current appropriations bills.

“We need to speak loudly and with one voice,” said Dr. Melissa Bartick of Massachusetts, who helped spearhead the letter as the chair of APHA’s Breastfeeding Forum.

The letter notes that the only federal funding specifically set aside for breastfeeding is in the WIC program.  The request also lists the following as priorities for this effort: 

a) Transform the maternity care and infant feeding practices of our maternity facilities into
fully evidence-based interventions (e.g., the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding),
including health-professional education.

b) Help shift social norms to ensure that breastfeeding is supported as the healthiest choice
for infants and mothers.

c) Support practices that allow working women to continue to breastfeed.

d) Ensure sustainable federal oversight in all agencies that address maternal or child health
with funding to carry out the necessary research, services and education.

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Study shows why donor milk banks screen so carefully, and why there are concerns about informal milk sharing

Back when I was nursing my son, I wanted to become a milk donor.  I was discouraged to see that I wouldn't qualify because I'd traveled in Africa and the U.K. at different times.

I think that a lot of mothers feel a bit put off by how strict the donor milk banking screening criteria are.  But a new study shows exactly why this is important, and also makes it clear why organizations such as La Leche League discourage informal milk sharing.

A study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood examined the screening records of a U.S. donor milk bank (I assume the Mothers' Milk Bank of San Jose) over a six year period, and found that of donors screened, "3.3% were positive on screening serology, including 6 syphilis, 17 hepatitis B, 3 hepatitis C, 6 HTLV and 4 HIV."

Does this mean that mothers are trying to transmit diseases to vulnerable preterm babies?  Of course not.  What it means is that we don't always know our own status, even when it comes to diseases like HIV.  This also means that anyone who accepts milk from another mother outside the donor milk banking system needs to be extremely careful.  Knowing that a mom is healthy or "eats mostly organic" (which I've heard a few times) doesn't mean that they aren't carrying a potentially harmful disease.  They might just not know it.

This also doesn't mean that donor milk is dangerous.  Mothers who test positive for these and other diseases are obviously excluded from the donor pool, and the entire process involved verbal screening and letters from physicians, in addition to blood work.  And all milk is pasteurized and tested multiple times to ensure zero bacterial content. 

As the donor milk banks point out, in the 40 year history of modern milk banking, there hasn't been a single incident of harm done to a recipient of donor milk.  And they fully intend to keep it that way, even if it means that some mothers (like me) aren't able to donate.

Photo:  Wikimedia Commons

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Medela launches site to help moms get lactation help covered by insurance

One of the more frustrating problems breastfeeding moms run into is getting lactation support covered by insurance.  So I was happy to see this new site from Medela aimed at helping you get breastfeeding support covered.

The site covers topics including:

• Coverage Questions You Should Ask
• Tips for Communicating with Your Insurance Company
• Filing an Insurance Claim
• Lactation Consultant Coverage
• Appealing an Insurance  Claim
• Quick Coding Reference Guide

It still strikes me as a shame that the onus is on us to prove that breastfeeding support should be covered (and from reading the site it can be a lot of work), but this site is a good resource if that's what we have to do. 

Have you been able to get breastfeeding support covered by you insurance company?

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Wisconsin breastfeeding bill signed into law.

Mothers in Wisconsin now have protection from harassment while nursing in public, under a new law signed last week.

The new law reads "A mother may breast−feed her child in any public or private location where the mother is otherwise authorized to be. No person may interfere with the right of a mother to breast−feed her child as provided in this section." 

Under the general penalty provision in Wisconsin state law, a person violating this statute would be subject to a fine of up to $200.

Want to know more about breastfeeding and the law?  Check out this podcast with national expert Jake Marcus.  Want to know what your state laws say about nursing in public or pumping at work?  See this site maintained by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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Consumer Product Safety Commission warning on slings: A video response

While this isn't exactly on the topic of breastfeeding, so many nursing moms use slings that I thought it would be good to showcase this video response to the CPSC's recent sling warning.  It was made Meg, by our local babywearing expert, who a few years ago did a video for the blog on nursing in a Hot Sling.

I think that Meg does a good job of explaining which kinds of slings are the object of concern, and which positions in slings are safe.

Goodbye from a blogging colleague and friend

When I started this blog in 2006, one of the first things I did was to try to identify 'colleagues.'  I felt a little alone and unsure of what I was doing, and I thought it would help. 

I quickly found four breastfeeding bloggers - Angela at Breastfeeding 1-2-3, Andi at Mama Knows Breast, Sinead at Breastfeeding Mums, and Jen at The Lactivist.  They quickly became both colleagues and friends. 

Angela in particular became a great support and sounding board.  She edited a draft of my book and gave me by far the most detailed and thoughtful comments, she was a sounding board when I had challenges of one sort or another, and she provided great feedback about carnival submissions.  Her skills as both a La Leche League leader and a lawyer came in handy many times.  This is on top of creating a wonderful, professionally written blog which inspired a loyal following.

So I was shocked and really disappointed to hear that her blogging network terminated all of its bloggers.  As I understand it, the blog will remain up for now, but no new posts are planned at this point.  Angela wasn't permitted to post a goodbye to her readers, so I'm posting it here.  You're welcome to post your own messages in response in the comments section.

Last Friday without warning the blog network that owns Breastfeeding 1-2-3 terminated my contract along with that of every other blogger who was under contract.  I am sad to have my relationship with the blog and its faithful readers end that way, without even a chance to say goodbye.  Thanks to Tanya of the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog, I am getting this chance.

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing for Breastfeeding 1-2-3 over the last three-and-a-half years.  As my time as a breastfeeding blogger comes to a close and I move on to other endeavors, I just wanted to say goodbye and thank you for the support you have shown me and other breastfeeding mothers!  Best wishes, Angela White

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Study highlights effects of prolonged pesticide exposure on ability to breastfeed

I've mentioned this study before (in a podcast on hormonal causes of low milk supply), but it's come up again in the news, and I'm so fascinated by it that I thought I'd post about it again.  

A researcher at the University of Florida, Elizabeth Guillette, has been studying Yaqui communities in Mexico for years.  In the 1950's, the Yaqui split over whether to adopt 'modern' agricultural methods which involved heavy use of pesticides, or to maintain traditional farming methods.  This conflict literally divided the community in two, and the half of the group which did not want to adopt modern farming practices moved away, into the foothills.  This provided a fascinating research opportunity to study the effects of pesticide use, alongside a control group (the group that moved away and maintained traditional farming methods).

What does this have to do with breastfeeding?  Indian Country Today reports:

Long term research led by Elizabeth Guillette, Ph.D., of the University of Florida found compelling proof that pesticides acted as endocrine disruptors and produced negative health impacts over the years to the exposed Yaqui indigenous communities.

Endocrine disruptors or EDCs, endocrine disrupting chemicals, include DDT and other pesticides.

Guillette's latest research finds that some of the pre-adolescent daughters of mothers exposed to pesticide spraying will never be able to breast-feed their babies.  With others there is uncertainty.  Although there is breast growth, some daughters lacked development of the mammary gland needed to produce milk, or developed a minimal amount.

As the girls in the exposed group matured, their breast size became much larger than normal, yet they had less mammary tissue and often none at all, while the unexposed girls were normal.

"A large study using my techniques was done in India showing the exact same results," Guillette said.  She published her research findings in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

You can read part of the published article here or the full text here. 

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Breastfeeding the new baby on The Office

Did you see it? 

A few things I loved (spoiler alert): the male lactation consultant, nursing the wrong baby, hearing "nipple confusion" and "C-hold" on national TV, both moms in the room breastfeeding, and how thrilled Pam is when the baby latches.     

A few realistic, but frustrating things:  The nurse who tries twice to take the baby to the nursery, and suggests giving her a bottle several times.  And using a nursing cover in the hospital room?!?

Looks like actress and nursing mom Angela Kinsey contributed some of the breastfeeding humor.

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Book review: The Politics of Breastfeeding

The Politics of Breastfeeding, 3rd edition (Pinter and Martin, 2009),* by Gabrielle Palmer, opens with this often cited paragraph:

If a multinational company developed a product that was a nutritionally balanced and delicious food, a wonder drug that both prevented and treated disease, cost almost nothing to produce and could be delivered in quantities controlled by consumers' needs, the announcement of this finding would send its shares rocketing to the top of the stock market.  The scientists who developed the product would win prizes and the wealth and influence of everyone involved would increase dramatically.  Women have long been producing such a miraculous substance, breastmilk, since the beginning of human existence, yet they form the least wealthy and the least powerful half of humanity.

Gabrielle Palmer was one of the original founders of Baby Milk Action in the 1970's, which led the Nestle boycott and remains a force against formula marketing.  Since then she has written two editions of The Politics of Breastfeeding.

Palmer begins the preface to her book by stating:  "I wish I were not writing this preface.  There should be no need for this book.  In a world beset by overwhelming problems, here is a resolvable issue.  Twenty years ago when I was writing the first edition, more than three thousand babies were dying every day from infections triggered by lack of breastfeeding and the use of bottles, artificial milks, and other risky products.  This is still happening."

This book is a thorough and hard-hitting examination of the many forces which contributed to the decline, and struggle to reestablish, breastfeeding here and around the world.  It discusses the influence and marketing strategies of formula companies, the absence of family-friendly work policies, and the devaluing of maternal work.

It's all here in this encyclopedic book:  the biological foundations, the history of infant feeding, the marketing of formula, the development of the WHO Code, HIV and breastfeeding, fertility and ecological issues, right through the Chinese melamine scandal of 2008. 

One message of this updated edition is that as research undermines the basis of formula feeding, formula companies are using increasingly aggressive and sophisticated marketing techniques to sell their products. Another is the trend toward expanding markets into the developing world, where sales of formula are both lucrative potentially deadly.  On this point the story seems to have changed little since the days of the initial Nestle boycott, despite international agreements and increased public scrutiny.  Marketing methods may have changed, but the motive and effects remain the same.

At times it can be difficult to stomach evidence Palmer presents, and she certainly pulls no punches.  But it's also the kind of book that will make an activist out of an observer.  I'd recommend it to anyone interested in this topic.

You can read an excerpt of the book here, and here's a recently posted video of a book talk Palmer did, just after the Haiti earthquake.  *Pinter and Martin provided me a complimentary review copy of this book.

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Baby tents open for nursing moms in Haiti

I thought you'd be interested in this video from UNICEF about the baby tents set up in Haiti by Action Against Hunger.  As you'll see, the focus of the project is to support breastfeeding.  

Breastfeeding is not considered something to hide in Haiti, but because many mothers believe that they can't breastfeed or that their milk is "no good," these centers provide an opportunity for mothers to get the support and encouragement they need to continue nursing.  They also provide food and water for nursing mothers, following the principle: feed the mother, help her breastfeed her baby.