What do you think of this comment?

[Lisoula]

: How should I respond to this??

I'm a nurse in a birth center and was discussing BFing with a male OB resident the other day. He knows I have BF'd all my dc's and tandem nursed, which he thinks is unusual. When I quoted the WHO recommendations to provide breastmilk for a minimum of 2 years, as opposed to the AAP 1 year minimum, he said "This isn't a third world country. I don't care what the WHO says."

: : : : :

[aprilushka]

"Wow, they let you into med school!?"

[annettemarie]

Originally Posted by aprilushka

"Wow, they let you into med school!?"

Yeah, that would be perfect.

I loved the comeback someone had on another thread--how is the biological makeup of a child in a third world country any different than a child in our own?

[Mackenzie]

Ewww......I feel for his patients

[Clarinet]

You should tell him you don't understand why he wouldn't want mothers in developed countries to care as much about their baby's health as mothers in third world countries.

[Arwyn]

Ugh. And doctors wonder why they're perceived as arrogant? ("I don't have to listen to them, I'm too rich, male, white, American, educated...")

They're the World Health Organization, not the Third World HO...

[ColoradoMama]

Originally Posted by Lisoula

: How should I respond to this??
"This isn't a third world country. I don't care what the WHO says."

"Wow! I didn't realize you were smarter than the World Health Organization! I am so privileged to be working for you. Thanks for enlightening me. I SO TOTALLY missed the part in their statement that said 'only nurse past a year in third world countries' (I thought they weren't called that any more - boy, I guess I'm really out of touch). Gosh - learn something new every day."

Of course, if you want to keep your job.......

[mama24-7]

"No baby I've ever met knows the difference between third world and your world!"

Babies today aren't much different than those born hundreds of thousands, millions of years ago. Same needs, same babies. Biology dictates thier needs not culture.

[MelanieMC]

:

I'm in nursing school and I hear crap like this all the time. This is a parphrased quote from one of my instructors in response to the diff. in WHO and AAP recs:

"Those ppl over there don't have the baby cereal, baby food, and formula that we have, so they need to give breastmilk b/c it's all they've got." :

[Benji'sMom]

"You're not a pediatrician, I don't care what you say." Geez, if he wants to give an opinion about vaginas, okay, but who cares what an OB thinks about children's nutrition?

[Arwyn]

Women who go to their OBs to find out they're pregnant, and get told to wean, for one...

[siobhang]

Me, I quote studies.

From
http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/Posit...esity-Conf.pdf

In keeping with the deep concern about increases in childhood obesity in the
United States, the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) wishes to emphasize
that breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life and
extended breastfeeding into the toddler years, may exert a small but positive influence in reducing the risk for obesity in childhood and later in life and thereby be of considerable
importance in the role of nutrition in public health.

[siobhang]

and from the CDC

When should a baby start eating solid foods such as cereals, vegetables, and fruits?
Breast milk alone is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months after birth. For these very young infants, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that water, juice, and other foods are generally unnecessary. Even when babies enjoy discovering new tastes and textures, solid foods should not replace breastfeeding, but merely complement breast milk as the infant’s main source of nutrients throughout the first year. Beyond one year, as the variety and volume of solid foods gradually increase, breast milk remains an ideal addition to the child’s diet.

[siobhang]

And here is a nice article about how to support extended breastfeeding
Parental Concerns About Extended Breastfeeding in a Toddler*
Eyla G. Boies, MD

University of California
Children's Hospital San Diego
San Diego, California

http://pediatrics.aappublications.or.../114/5/S2/1506

[the_lissa]

Well, the WHO would state tat it was for third world countries only if that were the case. Not to mention Canadian Paediatrics Society, Health Canada, and Dieticians Canada recommend bf for a minimum of two years, and Canada is not a third world country.

[elanorh]

There is of course the unfortunate fact that for some people living here, the conditions aren't that different from the Developing World anyway, and he's pretty arrogant to forget that he may have patients who are dealing with the same issues per housing, income, food, etc.

The other responses are all good. If I were you, I'd follow up with him. He's still "just a resident," and if you give him some cited research and let him know that you are concerned that he have accurate information to share with his patients when he has his own practice or etc. .... Maybe that will make a difference.

Or you can ask him *what research has he ever found which shows harm done* in bf beyond a year of age, and maybe he should do some more research. : Because he won't find anything showing harm, and will in fact find plenty about benefits.

(Since when is breast cancer only an issue in the Developing World, for instance? IIRC the most benefit occurs when bf beyond a year? And that is a definite OB issue).

[Susuhound]

The Australian Paed association recommendation is in line with the WHO recommendation.

[lissabob]

Originally Posted by Lisoula

: How should I respond to this??

I'm a nurse in a birth center and was discussing BFing with a male OB resident the other day. He knows I have BF'd all my dc's and tandem nursed, which he thinks is unusual. When I quoted the WHO recommendations to provide breastmilk for a minimum of 2 years, as opposed to the AAP 1 year minimum, he said "This isn't a third world country. I don't care what the WHO says."

: : : : :

How about:

Funny how the AAFP recommends a minimum of two years, and even the AAP states that there is no harm to nursing to 3 yo OR BEYOND. Not to mention the study last year that showed that the fat content increases as time goes by and weaning occurs. Then of course there's Canada and Australia who agree with the WHO recommendations.. must have missed the memo saying they were 3rd world countries. : But of course- YOU know better than all those PhD's who did the research involved in making the recommendations don't you?

[Mama Poot]

Originally Posted by aprilushka

"Wow, they let you into med school!?"

It seems like they let anyone into med school nowadays. The things I've heard people talk about on these boards regarding doctors comments.... just UGH : I've been pretty lucky to not have come into contact with anyone like that yet.

[bullfrog]

How about something just really straight up, like: "Wow, you're really ignorant."

Then he can ask for more information if he's interested in not coming across that way.