The BRC Blog

Buy the Ergo (at the BRC)!

Wed, 09 May 2012 20:13:00 GMT

This guest post was provided by BRC volunteer Anna Kuechler. Pop into the BRC to try on an Ergo for yourself.

I have tried to convince total strangers in the store that they should purchase an Ergo baby carrier. I wish someone had mentioned it to me before I registered for and received a BabyBjorn. As she grew I soon discovered that it would not suit us for very long. That is when I discovered the Ergo. Here is a comparison of the two:

Nursing on the Go:

I fell in love with my Ergo at the post office. No sooner had I dragged a box of Christmas presents into the crowed post office that my daughter loudly decided it was time for a snack. I tucked into a corner and discreetly nursed her in the Ergo; all the while everyone thought I was studying America’s Most Wanted. Had I had the Bjorn, it would not have been as easy to nurse.

Comfort:

The Bjorn sort of hangs on your shoulders, even with the lumbar support. As my baby became heavier, carrying her for extended periods of time became rough on my shoulders and back. The Ergo is supported by the lower back, much the way the baby is when you are pregnant. Since it works with your body, the Ergo is much more comfortable.

My baby is on the chunkier side and the Bjorn became pretty tight. I find that the Ergo has more space and gives her room to move around. Also, I would think the sitting position of the Ergo is more comfortable for her than hanging from her crotch like in the Bjorn.

Baby Positioning:

The Ergo allows the baby to ride in front, back and hip positions. The Bjorn only allows the front position but the baby can face towards you or away. With the Ergo, the baby can only face towards you. Although I would like her to be able to face the same direction as me so she can see what is coming, she still sees plenty facing me. She can also turn her head pretty easily to interact with people if she wants.

Resale Value:

Ergos are like Hondas, they hold their value. Ergos are easy to consign for close to what you paid for it. Bjorns do not do as well on the second hand market, probably because the word is out on Ergos.

Pictured: BRC moms and babies with their Ergo's.

The “Tainted” View

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:33:00 GMT

I watched a clip from the show, The View yesterday. The ladies were discussing the latest public push to stop hospitals from marketing formula to all new mothers. There are two large groups working towards this goal. Ban the Bags is one and The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is another. Ban the Bags is the national campaign to stop formula marketing in hospitals. Research has found that giving the formula company’s fancy discharge bags affect breastfeeding rates. They suggest that hospitals stop giving these “free” gifts to new mothers because they are ultimately marketing a product which is decreasing breastfeeding rates. The BFHI is a designation hospitals can receive if they show they are following 10 simple steps that help improve breastfeeding rates and encourage more exclusivity. The designation requires that hospitals purchase the formula they use at the hospital and that they don’t give out free samples to mother. The hosts of the View all agreed this was a horrible idea. Here are a few of the reasons they gave:

1. A mother’s decision on how to feed should be respected.
2. Those who choose to formula feed NEED these gifts.
3. There are mothers who can’t produce breastmilk.
4. “Formula is a lifesaver. It saved my child’s life.”
5. It’s not up to anyone else to tell you what to do. This group should not be telling mothers what to do.

Once again, the ladies of The View missed the boat entirely! Ban the Bags and the BFHI is NOT:

1. Stopping hospitals from giving formula to formula feeding mothers.
2. Forcing women to breastfeed their babies.
3. A method to make formula feeding mothers guilty.

Ban the Bags and BFHI ARE:

1. Organizations that bring to light that the hospitals who are giving out fancy gift bags from the formula companies are helping the company MARKET a product.
2. Informing hospitals that research shows giving these gifts to breastfeeding mothers decreases how long they breastfeed which is currently a public health issue in our country.
3. Informing the nation that marketing products is not the job of the hospital. Promoting health is.

The formula companies are awesome marketers! If you’re studying marketing, you need to check out their methods. They know that:

1. Mothers will have product loyalty. The formula they use in the hospital is the one they’ll keep using, so getting their product in the door of the hospitals is a great marketing move.
2. Giving the hospitals the more expensive formula to give to mothers will make it more likely that the mothers continue to purchase the expensive options.
3. Putting formula in the “breastfeeding” discharge gift bags will encourage mothers to use it when they’re feeling a little overwhelmed by motherhood. The discharge gift bags for formula feeding mothers do not contain formula. Why would they? They know those mothers are going to purchase it!
4. Mothers will trust the formula brand used at their hospital because their trusted healthcare facility gave it to them. Mothers will believe that their hospital believes this brand of formula is the best for her baby.

Let’s go over some of the statements from the View.

First there’s Whoopi’s comment about how no one should be telling mothers what to do. I agree with Whoopi. Parenting is difficult and we all do the best that we can. Healthcare professionals working in OB/GYN and midwifery offices have the job of giving mothers all the information they need to make the decision regarding their infant feeding practices. The best decision is an informed decision. Once moms have all the information they need regarding breastfeeding and formula feeding, it is up to them to make the best decision for their family and the rest of the world to support them. I do not agree that BFHI is forcing women to breastfeed or making them feel guilty and I don't agree with Whoopi's desire to spit on them.

Let’s move on to Sherri Shephard. Sherri states that she did not make milk and that she and her baby NEEDED those free samples. Are you trying to tell me that Sherri Shephard of the View does not make enough money to buy her own formula once home??? Give me a break.

Elsabeth Hasselback states that formula saved her baby’s life! Again, we are not suggesting that a baby is refused formula during medical necessities such as jaundice. This does not mean the hospital needs to give out discharge bags marketing a certain formula brand!

Apparently Joy Behar did not have an opinion on this subject as she was unusually quiet.

So, ladies of the View, stop feeling attacked by breastfeeding advocates. They are trying to protect breastfeeding mothers not convert or deny formula to formula feeding mothers. Get your facts straight!

Watch the Clip!

We Need A New Mantra!

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:24:00 GMT

Why do health groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) say to nurse for at least a year? And why is it that so few women are doing it? We keep hearing it over and over. Breast is best… breast is best. Sometimes I think this message of “breast is best” is kind of lame and doesn’t really tell the whole story. When it comes to our health, do we always do what’s best? Is everyone eating their recommended daily allowance of vegetables? Are we all eating organic? Are we exercising ½ hour every day? Let’s see, while typing this I just scarfed down a small package of cookies. Why aren’t we doing the best thing for our nutrition and health? Because, we’re not perfect. I feel like new mothers are thinking… well, breastmilk is the BEST, but formula is good enough. This, I believe, is one of the reasons moms don’t nurse or stop early.

What if we change the way we’re sending the message? Try this on for size. There is NO benefit to breastfeeding, but actual risks of formula feeding. Breastmilk is what is designed for the human body to give it a natural protection. Each mammal’s milk is specifically designed for their young. If you breastfeed will your child never get sick? NO! If you breastfeed will your child never have an ear infection? NO! If you nurse for over a year does it guarantee that you’ll never get breast cancer? NO! So, we need to start looking at how formula affects the babies. If you look at all the babies that are exclusively formula fed, they have a 100% greater chance of ear infections, a 178% greater chance of a GI infection, a 64% greater chance of diabetes and 56% greater chance of dying from SIDS. Do those statistics change your perspective? I’m not making this stuff up. This is in the research and is well documented. These exact stats and more were quoted by the US Surgeon General earlier this year.

These are the statistics that need to be out in public and we need to change our breast is best mantra so everyone starts seeing the real picture! New mantra… breastfeeding is normal.

Supporting Breastfeeding… More than a bra is needed!

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:26:00 GMT

Can you picture this conversation in a doctor’s office?

Physician: “I’m afraid you need to take a medication that you can’t take while breastfeeding. You’re going to have to wean.”

Mom: “Doctor, I really want to continue providing my milk for my twins. I’ve breastfed for a year which is a real accomplishment. They’re not ready to wean and there is still such a great health benefit to nursing. Can we see if there is some other way to protect breastfeeding while treating my illness? I’ve done some research on my own and found some resources to help find us the answers we need.”

Physician: “No. The one reference I checked said you can’t nurse and I am unwilling to look into this any further for you.”

This couldn’t be real, could it? Yes, it is. Last year I worked with a mother of twins. Those early months are always a whirlwind for twin moms, but she worked hard and is still nursing the twins successfully. They are a year old and nurse 4-5 times a day and mom is happy to continue doing this. She completely understands that a child’s need for his mother’s milk doesn’t abruptly end at 1 year, but that’s an entirely different blog topic!

She recently was diagnosed with a thyroid condition and was sent to an endocrinologist. It was suggested that she have a CAT scan with dye. Her physician told her that she needed to “pump and dump” her milk for 48 hours for the scan and that the medication she needed to take was not compatible with breastfeeding, therefore she would have to wean. Mom left the office and was obviously very distraught, so called the BRC. Mom didn’t know the name of the dye being used nor did she know the name of the medication, so I gave her the number for the Infant Risk Center. This call center was developed by Tom Hale, PhD (the leader in the field of medications and how they affect baby and milk supply). Anyone is welcome to use the call center (including moms and healthcare professionals) to get the most up to date research on medications and their effect on breastfeeding. Mom’s endocrinologist REFUSED to call. She stated that her PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference) said breastfeeding mothers should not take this medication and she wasn’t willing to look into it further. In my experience, the PDR indicates that most medications aren’t compatible with breastfeeding, but the most current research is not used! Mom again called me. But really, what could I do at this point? I still didn’t know the name of the medications and the physician apparently did not wish to do a little research to protect breastfeeding. So I say, “I’m not sure what I can do, but it seems that you have three choices. Ask your current physician if there is an alternative medication for your condition that IS compatible with breastfeeding (not sure this is great choice), OR, ask to speak to another physician within the practice, OR go to another practice.”

A few days later mom called again. There was a positive tone in her voice. She had switched practices and her new physician stated that mom didn’t need the CAT scan! The results would tell them whether mom had Graves’ disease or hypothyroidism and in either case she would prescribe the same medication. Secondly, she said the medication IS compatible with breastfeeding, so there was no need for her to wean.

Ok, I understand there are physicians who are more breastfeeding friendly than others, but to outright REFUSE to do further research? I don’t consider this breastfeeding unfriendly, I call this unethical!

Have a question about medications? Call the Infant Risk Center at 806-352-2519

"Your bra's bigger than mine!"

Pushy Advocates – Is it really us?

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:49:00 GMT

I’ve been a lactation consultant for 13 years. I love my work and I’m proud of it. I take special care to treat each mother in a non-judgmental way. Part of the reason I am so careful about this is because I hate being labeled as a lactavist or a breastfeeding fanatic and have even heard people use the term “Breastfeeding Nazi” when talking about lactation consultants. Nor would I ever want to be described as “pushy.” All I ever wanted to do was help mothers reach their breastfeeding goals. I’d like to share a story with you and then ask, “Who are the true pushy advocates?”

A colleague/friend of mine is 8 months pregnant. We’ll call her Lisa to protect her anonymity. She is a well-educated, articulate, vibrant woman who works as a pediatrician in a large practice. This will be her third child. She developed H1N1 which progressed to pneumonia. Lisa became so ill, she required hospitalization. So let me paint you a picture… She’s admitted into her hospital room, she lies in her bed, sick as a dog, barely able to breathe. Her nurse cheerily enters the room with a giant sample of formula which she offers to Lisa. The nurse states that she should start stock piling now since Lisa will be returning to work full time. Lisa declines the formula stating that she exclusively breastfed her first two children and plans to do the same with the third. The nurse then launches into a tirade of how hard it is when you go back to work and how most women aren’t successful at pumping and work and that she should take the formula. The nurse then stated that Lisa should “be more realistic” and again encouraged her to take the formula. Poor Lisa, who would typically begin a lengthy, informative rant right back at her, did not have the lung capacity to do so.

So, who do you consider the pushy advocate in this scenario? And why aren’t people calling them formula fanatics, bottle pushers, or “Formula Nazis”? And why isn’t this healthcare professional doing everything she can to encourage this mother to breastfeed, especially when Lisa stated that was her goal? I think it’s fair to say that there are extremists in every walk of life. Can I just ask that when I state that I’m a lactation consultant, you get to know me before rolling your eyes and saying, “Oh, you’re one of them…”?

Flashers - I don't like them either!

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:37:00 GMT

When I was breastfeeding my own children, I felt like I had an awareness of what was socially acceptable. When nursing in public, I usually would turn and hide us while my baby latched. I didn’t want people to see my breast anymore than they did! Once baby was latched, I pulled my shirt down to reduce skin exposure and happily nursed. As they got older and more curious, my babies pulled off if they heard or saw something interesting, but I was quick to grab my shirt and tug it down appropriately. Now, as a lactation consultant, people have said to me “Well it’s fine to nurse in public as long as you’re not one of those women who flashes EVERYTHING!” I thought to myself… Who are these women? I’ve never seen them and I hang around A LOT of nursing mothers. I decided to ask friends and neighbors if they’ve seen any of these women who “flash”. No one could recollect a time where a crazed breastfeeding mother was flashing. My husband assured me that if there were a lot of women out there doing this, he would have surely noticed. He has a kind of radar for these things!

So, I think it’s the thought of what is going on under that shirt that may be freaking people out. Keep in mind, this is the method of feeding that has kept our species on this planet since the beginning of time. The problem is, we forgot what breastfeeding looked like when formula feeding became popular in the 50s. Now we know all the health benefits, so woman are choosing to breastfeed again. In fact, 75% of mothers in our great nation start breastfeeding. Unfortunately, because of lack of support, many moms stop early. Don’t let breastfeeding in public be one of those obstacles for moms. It’s normal! If you’re reading this and thinking that you’re a little embarrassed because you may be one of those who think a mom should nurse in the privacy of her own home, don’t be! There are so many people who think like this, we had to make a law. Yep, by law, a mother in PA (as well as 43 other states) can breastfeed anywhere and anytime. So, next time you see a mom nursing in public, give her a thumbs up instead of a blanket! She needs your support and the more we are exposed to it, the more normal it will seem.