Help me talk my SIL into BF - and looking for an article on BF

[mom2jack]

I'm looking for a list I've read before of the benefits of breastfeeding. It was separated into stages and listed all the benefits of breastfeeding for the first few days, after a month, after 6 months, a year... I've been searching everywhere and can't remember where I saw it.

It's for my SIL who had her first baby yesterday afternoon and she has decided to not even try breastfeeding her baby. I just found this out yesterday (I just figured she would at least try). My MIL really wanted me to try and talk to her about the benefits. I could go on and on about benefits to mom and baby but am trying to not overwhelm her. Any other helpful links would be great also. Any advice on talking a new mom into at least attempting to breastfeed. I was trying to tell her to just attempt it while in the hospital and to ask the nurses for help and to request a consult with a LC. Sorry if this is confusing - this kept me up all night worrying

[sg784]

http://www.lightlink.com/hilinda/Diane/weanbaby.html

i think this is what you are looking for! It took some digging! If its not what you had in mind its good anyway! Good luck.

[sunnysideup]

I would talk about how much easier bfing can be, especially for those night feedings with a newborn. I can't imagine getting up to fix bottles! Tell her that it is not too late for her to start now. Talk about what a great experience bfing has been for you. I've never heard of a mom regretting nursing her baby, but many that do not bf have regrets. By the time a mom has had her baby she has probably heard about all of the benefits of breastmilk. If she is not going to try bfing it is probably because she has bought into the idea that breastfeeding is more difficult than ff. For lots of us that's not true!

[mom2jack]

Thank you Sera!! That is the information I was looking for I had actually seen it in a list before - but this has all the information.

momoffour - you know I just don't know that she does know all the benefits of bfing. This was an unplanned pregnancy and she never read any books or took any classes. Her mom did not breastfeed either. I never thought to even bring it up when she was pregnant. I breastfed my son until he was 2 and she was his caretaker 2 days a week. I do really think she will regret it if she doesn't try - I know it's one of my fondest memories with my son. I also want to try and let her know that bfing can be flexible it's not all or nothing.
I feel kind of bad because I thought just seeing my son and I and the way my family does things would influence her. I wish I would have talked to her sooner.

Right now I'm looking at the promom.org website and trying to limit the bullets that really affect everyone. I'm learning a lot too. I didn't know a mom's uterus who doesn't bf NEVER returns to it's normal size - WOW! And reduced breast cancer risk for baby girls too

[MA mommy]

Originally Posted by mom2jack

And reduced breast cancer risk for baby girls too

And for mama too!


http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/mom.htm

I don't know if this would be the right approach. But I would let her know the hazards of formula feeding. Almost everyone knows there are "benefits" to breastfeeding. They think breastfeeding is best but formula is good. So not true!

http://www.breastfeedingtaskforla.org/ABMRisks.htm

[wasabi]

OT I didn't think any woman's uterus who's had a child ever returns to its original size. I did not BF my first two since they were being placed for adoption and I know my uterus was larger than a woman who had not had kids but I was never asked if I had BFed. I would just have a practioner note my uterus was a bit large and then remembering I had already had kids they would say "ah yes of course." I did BF DD and as far as I know my uterus still got down only to the normal post-baby size which is not as small as pre-baby. Does anyone have a link on that?

I hope you can get through to your SIL. My very young and sadly very shallow SIL is pg right now and I'm just praying that maybe some of the things I have done have at least affected my brother a bit to encourage her to explore natural childbirth etc. Our mom BFed so I think my brother would probably expect it but I don't really know what to do if they start talking about formula or for that matter if they have a little boy and circing comes up. It's much harder when it's a family member rather than a stranger on a bulletin board.

[mom2jack]

I found the information on the uterus shrinking on www.promom.org/101

Baby's suckling helps shrink mother's uterus after childbirth
"Nursing will help you to regain your figure more quickly, since the process of lactation causes the uterus (which has increased during pregnancy to about 20 times its normal size) to shrink more quickly to its pre-pregnancy size. "
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc. 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
The uterus of the non-breastfeeding mother will never shrink back to its pre-pregnant size. It will always remain slightly enlarged.
Chua S, Arulkumaran S, Lim I et al. "Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity." Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1994; 101:804-805

But from the other reading I've done I think you're right about no one who has been pregnant will have the same size uterus as pre-pregnancy.

I hope I can get through to my SIL too. I just really want her to be making an informed decision and to know that bfing and ffing are not equal. I also want her to know that bfing can be as "convenient" as ffing. We are going to visit her tonight so I will bring it up and give her the info. Here is what I have put together so far:

Cons of formula feeding
·INCREASES baby girls risk of developing breast cancer. Breastfeeding for a short time decreases baby’s risk of developing breast cancer later in life by 25%.
·Lower IQ
·Increases risk of baby developing type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes
·Increases chances of baby having allergies. Breast fed babies have fewer allergies.
·Increases risk of ear infections. Formula fed babies have 3 – 4 times more ear infections.
·May increase risk of SIDS
·Higher risk of developing certain childhood cancers
·More at risk for obesity later in life.
·Costs approximately $200 per month – accounts for increased doctor visits but not for baby needing special formula


Benefits of breastfeeding to mother
·Decreases risk of developing breast cancer
·Helps shrink uterus.
·Helps lose weight – burns an extra 500 calories a day.
·Natural relaxant
·Decreases risk of developing ovarian cancer
·Decreases risk of developing endometrial cancer
·Decreases chance of osteoperosis


Benefits of breastfeeding to the baby
·Promotes bonding
·Helps pass merconium
·Better skin
·Enhances Vaccine effectiveness
·Natural tranquilizer
·Tastes better
·Fewer doctor visits
·Natural pain relief – breastmilk contains chemicals that suppress pain
·Fewer cavities
·More likely teeth will come in straight
·Better speech development
·Easier to clean spit up stains
·Less offensive poops



Breastfeeding Lowers risk of baby developing:
1.Asthma
2.diarrhea
3.respiratory infections
4.crohns disease
5.juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
6.hodgkins disease
7.vision defects
8.osteoporosis
9.multiple sclerosis
10.urinary tract infections
11.ear infections
12.reflux
13.eczema
14.breast cancer
15.diabetes
16.allergies
17.SIDS
18.certain childhood cancers
19.obesity
20.cavities
21.speech problems

Any other good info I'm missing?

[MA mommy]

Originally Posted by mom2jack

Any other good info I'm missing?

I strongly suggest printing out info on the risks of formula feeding. I'm sure she wouldn't doubt any of those things about breastfeeding. But she probably thinks formula feeding is preety good too.. right?

[wasabi]

Yes BFing definitely does help the uterus shrink back down faster. No question of that. : I was just questioning that it would ultimately make you go back to pre-pg size.

[velcromom]

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/in...a.html#formula

[MA mommy]

How did it go?

[mom2jack]

Well, we didn't get to the hospital that night - DH didn't home from work until late and it's a 45 minute drive But MIL relayed a bunch of my info to SIL and I guess yesterday SIL's dr. came in and was told baby was really sleepy and not taking much of a bottle. The doctor told SIL to take baby's clothes off and get her on the breast So, I guess the baby latched on fine When she went home last night I brought her some lanolin and some books that show mamas nursing and different positions. She was BFing when we left last night and there is no formula in the house - except a small can the hospital gave her.

Oh, and I guess the night she gave birth one of the nurses told her she couldn't BF because she had to have magnesium sulfate because of really high blood pressure

[luvtjones]

Oh, that is soooo wonderful!!!

I really take it to heart and get so disappointed when someone I know who is pregnant doesn't breastfeed. I know I shouldn't because I have no control over the situation but I just get so heartsick.

I have a girlfriend who just had a baby in Jan. and last month while I was on a road trip I dropped in to see her. She wasn't there and her mom was taking care of the baby and the baby was bottlefeeding. The mom told me that the baby had "colic" and was on the special formula (Nutramigen?) and it cost $22 per can. I asked her how long a can lasted and she said 4 days! :

When she was pregnant, I sent her links and breastfeeding info, I even looked up her local LLL chapter and sent her that info, and told her to call me if she had any questions since I nursed two myself. Never got a response (first hint). I guess I also should have figured it out from the bottles and related paraphernalia she had registered for.