Breastfeeding In The News

August, 2010 - New Campaign to Promote Breastfeeding

Life size posters of breastfeeding mothers and babies will be displayed throughout Racine, Wisconsin. This campaign was developed by the Racine Health Department in an attempt to "normalize" breastfeeding in public and increase awareness of the importance of breastfeeding. Click here for the full story!

June, 2010 - Breastfeeding Mom Gets $175K For Wrongful Arrest

She went to police for protection but officers arrested her instead. Now, the city of Denver is owning up to the mistake, agreeing to a settlement that will cost taxpayers thousands of dollars. Amy Shroff thought she had the law on her side when her ex-boyfriend violated a restraining order by blocking her exit from a Denver police station parking lot with his pickup.

Instead, Officer Frank Spellman arrested the Denver woman, incorrectly assuming the restraining order barred both Shroff and the ex-boyfriend from going near each other. Shroff ended up spending a night in jail in 2006, despite pleading that her 3-month-old daughter needed breast milk because a medical condition prevented the baby from drinking formula, the lawsuit said. Click here to read more...

June, 2010 - Kourtney Kardashian has a few thoughts about breastfeeding...

Reality star, Kourtney Kardashian gave birth six months ago to her son, Mason. According to her website blog, she loves breastfeeding and has just started offering solid foods to Mason at six months of age. She thinks breastfeeding is an amazingly womanly thing to do, loves the bonding time and the health benefits. She hopes to nurse until a year and encourages mothers to nurse in public. She states the only reason she covers up in public is because she has paparrazi following her! And to think the average woman thinks she has it rough nursing in public!

Breastfeeding Saves Lives and Money, but how can the US increase Their Rates?

Melissa Bartick’s article, The Burden of Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States made headlines this month when it was published in Pediatrics. It stated that the US could save 13 billion dollars a year if 90% of women breastfed their babies for the first six months. She’s been asked by US reporters how the US can increase their breastfeeding rates and why this is a problem in our country. This link will take you to Dr. Bartick’s response to the problem.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-bartick/ipeaceful-revolutioni-mot_b_536659.html?view=screen

Let’s Move!

Have you heard these words recently? The first lady, Michelle Obama is leading a campaign against childhood obesity. Well, according to the chair of the United States Breastfeeding Committee, Joan Younger Meek, MD, Multiple studies have shown that a history of not breastfeeding increases the risk of being overweight or obese in childhood and adolescence. Adolescent obesity often persists into adult life. Breastfeeding plays an important role in obesity prevention and improving overall health outcomes, and therefore is vitally important to public health."

So, what is it that reduces a person’s risk? There are two factors that play a role: satiety factors and the ratio of macronutrients. For years, research has shown that infants will stop nursing when they are full. There are two factors found in human milk, leptin and adiponectin, and each play a part in “telling” the baby they are full. Leptin is a neurotransmitter produced by fat cells and indicates the degree of hunger. It signals that plenty of fat is stored and that no more is needed. Once leptin sends the signal, babies stop eating. Adiponectin is a hormone which affects insulin sensitivity and fatty acid metabolism. It’s believed to have an effect on the body’s regulation of carbohydrates. Formula contains neither of these factors.

The ratio of protein, carbohydrates, and fat in human milk is very different than that of formula. The protein in human milk is, by design, lower than any other mammalian milk. Higher concentrations of protein stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin, leading to greater fat deposits in the body.

Of course, breastfeeding is just the start to a healthy weight later in life. Continuing healthy eating habits for your child after they are finished breastfeeding and keeping kids active is important! But, education on obesity prevention should begin during a mother’s pregnancy. Once a woman has made the choice to breastfeed, good support is vital. Currently 60% of women are NOT reaching their breastfeeding goals. The BRC is committed to working to change that number in our community to help decrease obesity along with many other health concerns!

Breastfeeding and MS

A new study put out by the American Academy of Neurology, “Breastfeeding May Reduce Multiple Sclerosis Relapses” links the benefits of breastfeeding with a reduction in Multiple Sclerosis relapse rates during the postpartum period. This study calls into question the current practice of having moms resume their MS meds during the postpartum period.

There were 32 women in the study. Fifty-two percent did not exclusively breastfeed sighting the reason being the incompatibility of MS medications with breastfeeding. Within this group, 87% of the women experienced a relapse. Only 36% of the women exclusively breastfeeding experienced a relapse. The researchers hypothesize that the suppression of menses which occurs with breastfeeding mothers may be the reason for the reduction in relapse. More studies will need to be done to in order to determine if the current practices need to be changed.

117 N. Easton Road, Glenside | 215-886-2433 | Hours: M-F, 9 am to 4 pm