The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog

And now a message from 1914.

I was just reading The Nursing Mother's Guide to Weaning, which has an interesting introductory section on the age of weaning through history.  This quote put the poster in context:

"...by 1915 [the recommended age of weaning] had declined to seven to eight months.  Several trends coincided, moreover, to make many women wean earlier than recommended and others fail at breastfeeding or never even attempt it.  First, women spent more time away from home; while the Industrial Revolution sent poor women into factories, some wealthy women entered professions, and even more joined volunteer organizations...At the same time, the extreme prudishness of Victorian culture made public breastfeeding inconceivable...

Thanks to Amanda for this one!

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Nursing mothers get bad information at the pharmacy counter.

Last year a study proved something many of us have found out the hard way:  much of the information nursing mothers get at the pharmacy counter is inaccurate.  According to the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition:

The study's authors examined the safety information used by two large retail pharmacy chains on the East Coast, looking at 14 commonly-prescribed medications. For 75 percent of drugs that are considered unequivocally safe for breastfeeding, pharmacies were inappropriately advising mothers to stop nursing.

"We were surprised by the results, when we looked at all the resources systematically," said lead author, Monica Akus, PharmD, a pharmacist at Cambridge Health Alliance and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at University of Rhode Island. Several well-respected sources used out of date information, most commonly resulting in inappropriate advice to stop breastfeeding. "As pharmacists, our training in drugs and lactation is often limited, so it's critical to spread the word to other pharmacists. Our knowledge is only as good as our resources," notes Akus.

The authors consider two resources to be the most reliable:

• LactMed, is a website run by the National Institutes of Health which you can use to look up medications and their impact on breastfeeding.
• Medications and Mothers Milk, by Dr. Thomas Hale (2008 edition coming out soon).  I use this book a lot and find its "L1 to L5" scale of rating drugs very helpful. 

Have you received bad information at the pharmacy counter?  Were you told that a medication was unsafe when it wasn't, or safe when it was unsafe?  Tell us about it below.

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Breastfeeding reduces mothers' risk of metabolic syndrome.

A study just published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology reports that breastfeeding is associated with a decrease in risk for metabolic syndrome in mothers. 

What's metabolic syndrome?  According the American Heart Association, it's a combination of factors including abdominal obesity, high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, high inflammatory state.  These factors significantly increase the risk of heart attack and Type II diabetes.

The findings also showed that the duration of lactation was associated with significance of the risk reduction.  It also found that this reduction waned after the fourth child. 

Medwire News reports:

[Out of the 2,516 participants,] there were 536 (21.3 percent) cases of metabolic syndrome, with rates among women who breastfed of 18.3 percent, compared with 26.7 percent among those who did not.

After adjusting for age, current smoking, parity, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, study site, physical activity, caloric intake, and high school body mass index, women who breastfed were 23 percent less likely to develop the metabolic syndrome than those who did not.

The researchers also report that the duration of lactation was significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome, with the risk decreasing by 20 percent for each year of lactation.

In a way this isn't too surprising, given that previous studies have shown that breastfeeding is associated with lower levels of several of the components of metabolic syndrome.  I've written before about the effect breastfeeding has on reducing the risk of heart attack, and controlling levels of cholesterol, insulin, and weight.

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I donated milk for this research.

A few years ago, when we were living in California, I donated milk for this research, which was being conducted through UC Berkeley and UC Davis.  I pumped at work, and then met the researcher on a street corner outside of the State Capitol building - we both joked that it felt like a drug deal!

From what I recall, the researchers took my milk, infected it with HIV, and then conducted the flash pasteurization method you see in the video.  They knew at that point that this method would kill the HIV, but were testing to see how much of the nutrition remained stable in the milk after the pasteurization. 

Many of you probably know about the complex issue of HIV and breastfeeding in the developing world.  Breastfeeding is a key route of transmission of HIV, but for women living in areas with unclean water supplies, not breastfeeding is an even more dangerous proposition.  The risk of death in the early months of life from diarrhea and other infections is considered greater than risk of HIV infection.  For that reason, the World Health Organization and UNICEF recommends not breastfeeding only "when replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe."  A key appears to be exclusive breastfeeding, as recent studies have confirmed.  One theory is that the use of supplements creates tiny fissures in the baby's gastrointestinal tract, which allow the HIV virus to enter the baby's system via breastmilk.   

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The wonders of breastmilk: Cancer therapy and source of stem cells.

A couple of articles in the past week have highlighted the amazing properties of breastmilk. 

One, a nightly news segment from Texas, shows how increased demand for donor milk has left some cancer patients unable to obtain it.  But the parts that got me a little choked up were interviews with a cancer survivor and the mother of a premature baby born at 2 lbs.  Some comments are below, but it's really worth watching this clip.

[Dr. Don] Bauer had a cancerous tumor in his right vocal chord, severe enough to cut off his airway. Surgeons removed it, leaving him with a hole in his neck to talk and breathe.

"So I was bent on getting better. No matter what," he said, wiping his eyes.  But he didn't get better.

Bauer lost 35 pounds in one week, and his diabetes made recovery almost impossible. Then he discovered a new remedy: a mother's breast milk.

"It's just a boost of energy, and it's not like drinking an energy drink or a couple cups of quick coffee, but a slow process of feeling good," he said...

Dr. June Meymand runs a cancer center and says breast milk protects her patients' healthy cells, while killing the cancer at same time.

"What actually causes the damage to the body will be carried out through the intestine and will not become active," she said.

The second is a report from Australia documenting the presence of stem cells in breastmilk.  I remember reading a discussion of this in an article in 2006, in which breastmilk stem cells were described as "an important but so far unappreciated live, functional component of breast milk."  Looks like they're getting their due now:

[Dr. Mark Kregan and] his team cultured cells from human breast milk and found a population that tested positive for the stem cell marker, nestin. Further analysis showed that a side population of the stem cells were of multiple lineages with the potential to differentiate into multiple cell types. This means the cells could potentially be “reprogrammed” to form many types of human tissue...

“We have shown these cells have all the physical characteristics of stem cells. What we will do next is to see if they behave like stem cells,” he says.

If so, they promise to provide researchers with an entirely ethical means of harvesting stem cells for research without the debate that has dogged the harvesting of cells from embryos.

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How to choose a nursing necklace.

Today I'm happy to share some thoughts from Raelynn (shown to the left), owner of Mommy and Me nursing necklaces, and creator of some beautiful designs, on choosing a nursing necklace.  If you'd like to create your own, check out Angela's post for instructions.  At the bottom I've posted a picture of my old nursing necklace, which is a great reminder of those days.

The twisting, the pinching, the pull -- ouch!  How in the world can you alleviate the hair pulling and distracted twisting of a nursing baby?  Nursing necklaces can be a great solution.

Whether you're in the market for a bright, whimsical design or you'd rather go with something a little more subdued and stylish, there is something out there for everyone.  After making nursing necklaces for over three years, here are some recommendations I'd offer when you're ready to give one a try:

1.  Safety first.  You're probably feeling as though you can't take one more scratch, but it's important to buy something that will do its job and won't pose a choking hazard.  Make sure you are purchasing from a reputable company that has a proven track record and has invested the time and thought into their safety features and designs.  Look for their safety information, read through their purchase policies, and try to find a company that offers a breakage guarantee.

2.  Invest in quality.  Most moms are on a budget and are drawn to lower prices.  However, most nursing necklaces offered at cheaper prices use weaker beads and won't give you an all-around bang for your buck.  Try to find a retailer who makes an effort to offer good prices but also doesn't skimp when it comes to necklace composition and safety.  Compare photos from various vendors, really look at the nitty-gritty parts of the necklaces.  Invest in safety and functionality. 

3.  Consider your needs.  Depending on your baby's age and personality, you may need a totally different nursing necklace than me.  Do you have a gripper or a pincher?  A grabber or a twiddler?  Watch your baby while he nurses.  What does he do with his hands?  If your baby is a gripper or grabber, some of the more elegant, fixed-pendant designs may work for you, but if you have an extreme twiddler on your hands, you may want to look for a necklace that has moveable, engaging beads and will really keep him busy.  Plus, it's really great for tactile development! 

Whether you purchase a stylish Mommy Inspired Design or a playful Baby Inspired Design, wear it proudly!  Even after your nursing relationship has ended, your necklace can serve as a special reminder of that time you two shared.  Good luck on your search! 

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Motherwear Podcast: Postpartum depression, breastfeeding, and why you need your Omega 3s.

I'm very pleased to bring you another Motherwear Podcast!  This one was very eye-opening for me, and I hope you'll learn as much as I did.

My guest is Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, a psychologist and professor at the University of New Hampshire.  She is also a lactation consultant and La Leche League leader.  She has written several books and articles on postpartum depression in new mothers.

This interview was long, so I've divided it up into two parts.  Both address the growing recognition that depression is related to inflammation.

The first part can be heard above or downloaded as an mp3.  This part answers these questions:

• What are the causes of postpartum depression and post traumatic stress disorder following birth?
• Why is postpartum depression unheard of in some cultures?
• Is there such a thing as depression during pregnancy? 
• Is a mother has been depressed with one child, will she be depressed with subsequent children?
• What is the relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum depression?
• What is the depression risk for mothers who are having breastfeeding difficulty?

The second part can be heard above or downloaded as an mp3.  It answers these questions:

• Is there a paradigm shift happening in our understanding of the causes of postpartum depression?
• What are the treatment options for breastfeeding mothers with postpartum depression?
• Why do Omega-3 fatty acids work in the treatment of depression, and how much are women recommended to take?  Which brands are recommended?  Why are pregnant and breastfeeding mothers likely to be deficient?
• Are anti-depressants truly safe for use during breastfeeding?  What are the medications of choice?
• Are there effective and safe alternative treatments for treating depression?
• How can women advocate for a breastfeeding-friendly treatment plan?

Here are a few more resources from Dr. Kendall-Tackett on breastfeeding and postpartum depression:

• The breastfeeding and depression page on Breastfeeding Made Simple.  It includes the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale - a quiz you can take to see if you are having depressive symptoms.
• "Can Fats Make You Happy?"  A handout explaining the relationship between Omega-3s and depression, with a list of recommended brands.
• A handout on how other cultures prevent postpartum depression by creating a distinct postpartum period.
• A curriculum for health care providers on breastfeeding and postpartum depression from Dr. Kendall-Tackett and the New Hampshire Breastfeeding Coalition.  You may want to print this out and ask your health care provider to read it.
• Dr. Kendall-Tackett's article on inflammation, depression, and breastfeeding in the International Breastfeeding Journal.
• Two books mentioned in the podcast:  Medications and Mother's Milk (note: this book is updated every two years and the current edition is 2006), and A Medications Guide for Breastfeeding Moms.

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2007 brought more studies, more reasons to breastfeed.

Like last year, I'm taking a look back at the year's breastfeeding research.  As always, there is yet more evidence of the importance of breastfeeding in protecting the health of mothers and babies.

The big news in breastfeeding research was a giant federal study which looked at over 9,000 breastfeeding related studies from developed countries and quantified the "risk reduction" associated with breastfeeding.  A few of their conclusions:  breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS by 36 percent, and reduces your risk of breast cancer by 28%.

In addition, research showed this year that, for babies, breastfeeding:

• Reduces your baby's risk of heart disease in adulthood
• Doesn't cause dental caries
• Helps your baby sleep better
• Reduces your child's risk of sleep apnea and other sleep disordered breathing
• Protects children from obesity
• Develops your baby's vision
• Reduces your baby's risk of Type II diabetes later in life
• Helps babies develop a taste for vegetables
• Reduces allergy risk
• Makes your baby smarter (if they have the right genes?)

Research from this year also showed that, for mothers, breastfeeding:

• Reduces your risk of rheumatoid arthritis
• Doesn't cause your breasts to sag
• Reduces breast cancer risk for "older" mothers (over 25, ahem)
• Reduces your risk of heart attack
• Helps you keep weight off
• Maintains your insulin and cholesterol levels
• Is considered a top ten way preventing cancer (recommendation, not a study)

And a few more studies revealed new information on breastfeeding:

• Drinking organic milk while pregnant and nursing may reduce the risk of allergies
• Newborns show the same rooting behaviors when fathers hold them skin to skin
• Smoking while breastfeeding makes your baby sleep less
• Kangaroo care for full term babies helps them self attach, yields better vital signs

I'm creating a new category for silly breastfeeding research this year.  According to these studies, breastfeeding:

• Is an aphrodisiac - the smell of it, that is
• Reduces your child's risk of excema - if you laugh first
• Causes upward social mobility - a tad far fetched, don't you think?

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How breastmilk can train your baby to eat her vegetables.

About a year ago I wrote about my favorite benefit of breastfeeding:  how breastfed babies get a taste of the foods in the mother's diet, and perhaps as a result are less likely to resist these foods when they're older. 

At the time we were eating our way through the San Francisco Bay Area, and I was reflecting on how well my son can tolerate spicy foods - foods which I ate through my pregnancy and breastfeeding.  Now, I know that this doesn't necessarily work for every baby, but I do think it's remarkable how breastfeeding can affect a child's food preferences.

A study released last week in Pediatrics confirms that breastfeeding affects "food acceptance," though only if the mother eats the food regularly.  As reported in the press:

“Flavours from the mother’s diet are transmitted through amniotic fluid and mother’s milk. A baby learns to like a food’s taste when the mother eats that food on a regular basis,” said Julie Mennella, of Monell Chemical Senses Center, a research institute in Philadelphia, who did the study.

The technique can work for a variety of vegetables. In one experiment Mennella gave carrot juice to a group of pregnant women and to a separate group of breast-feeding women. Their babies were subsequently keener on carrots than those born to women who had not been given carrot juice.

[Another study] involved feeding green beans to women with older babies who were being breast-fed but also eating solids.  Initially the babies rejected the vegetables but after their mothers began eating beans, the children acquired a taste for them too.

“Babies are born with a dislike for bitter tastes,” said Mennella. “If mothers want their babies to learn to like to eat vegetables, especially green vegetables, they need to provide them with opportunities to taste these foods.”

Sound familiar - or unfamiliar - to any of you?

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A crazy-making list of breastfeeding news.

I'm having trouble keeping up with all of the breastfeeding news of the last few weeks. 

So, in addition to the sagging study and the nursing mom's food pyramid, here are a few of the headlines.  Grouped together they look absolutely goofy.

Breastfeeding reduces your baby's risk of heart disease in adulthood.

Eat more fish.  No, wait, it's a plot by Big Fish.

Breastfeeding makes your baby smarter - if they have the right gene.  Can't wait for the next generation of formulas - "Now with gene FADS2!"

Universal Studios apologizes to Canadian mother over nursing in public incident.  Don't they warn them at the border?

Mother takes out ad to sell breastmilk.

Check out these two headlines, based on the same study:  Asthmatic moms shouldn't breastfeed.  Breastfed babies shielded from asthma.  More on this one later.

Evenflo buys breastpump company Ameda, agrees to become WHO code compliant.  They will be the first baby bottle manufacturer in the U.S. to meet this standard.

The smell of breastfeeding is an aphrodisiac.  No comment.

The American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund name breastfeeding as one of their top ten recommendations for cancer prevention.

Breastfeeding Manifesto releases new t-shirts.  I want one.

And finally, the hospital where I delivered is awesome.

Any questions?

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