ACOG Releases New Statement on BF

[JessasMilkMama]

http://www.breastfeedingtaskforla.or...%20on%20BF.pdf

Highlights:

1) ACOG recognizes that “breastfeeding and human milk provide
benefits to infants, women, families, and societies.”

2) ACOG calls for breastfeeding education and support for all women, during “preconception, prenatal, postpartum, and interconception care.”

3) ACOG recognizes that “nearly every woman can breastfeed her child.”

4) ACOG calls for its “Fellows, other health care professionals who care for women and their infants, hospitals, and employers to support women in choosing to breastfeed their infants.”

5) ACOG urges obstetrician-gynecologists to “provide supportive clinical care” and “be in the forefront of fostering changes in the public environment” (e.g., hospital practices,
community efforts, supportive legislation).

6) ACOG recognizes that formula “gift bags” commonly deter breastfeeding continuation.

[Caden's Mom]

Well, hopefully this will change something. But the pessimist in me doubts it.

[annekevdbroek]

That actually sounds pretty good - particularly the recognition that formula "gift bags" cause problems. I HATE that both hospitals that I delivered at gave me the bags even though I BF and was clear about that from the get-go. I mean, I think the perception is that you are doing a favor by bestowing this "gift bag" when in reality it is so harmful for BF moms.

[MelKnee]

Originally Posted by JessasMilkMama

1) ACOG recognizes that “breastfeeding and human milk provide
benefits to infants, women, families, and societies.”

This isn't good enough! Human milk does not provide benefits, it is normal. Formula presents risks. Until they look at it this way, nothing is ever going to change.

[formerluddite]

Originally Posted by JessasMilkMama

2) ACOG calls for breastfeeding education and support for all women, during “preconception, prenatal, postpartum, and interconception care.”

does "interconception" mean they'll still try to discourage women from tandem nursing?

i guess, as usual, it's better than before, but still not as good as it can get.

[cal195]

This is my first post ever on MDC. I'm still nursing my 2.6 yo dd, and plan to keep right on until she decides she's ready to move on.
Something bugs me about the ACOG's statement. In both of the following points, they mention infants as benefiting from bm, and they mention the mothers of infants as needing the support of health professionals in order to continue bfing. They don't mention anywhere that older babies or toddlers can benefit from bfing too. This is a good statement as far as it goes, but it doesn't go far enough. It's known that the longer a mother bfs, the better for her and for her child. This is mentioned in the AAP's policy paper on bfing, as well as the AAFP's, and the WHO's. And the ADA's. And the CDC's... etc., etc.. However, it's also widely known that even among people who do recognize the benefits of bfing infants, there is in general a HUGE stigma attached to bfing an older baby or toddler. So I think they should have addressed that in this new statement.

Catherine

1) ACOG recognizes that “breastfeeding and human milk provide
benefits to infants, women, families, and societies.”

4) ACOG calls for its “Fellows, other health care professionals who care for women and their infants, hospitals, and employers to support women in choosing to breastfeed their infants.”

[SashaBear]

I can't get the link to work.

[laurdsed]

It's nice that they've come out with a statement, but it won't do anything to solve the problems that women are having perinatally b/c of all the intervention done at birth. This is a big problem why there are breastfeeding issues.

Stop giving unnecessary antibiotics.
Stop deep suctioning newborns without cause.
Stop the high c/s rates.

Ohhhh, the list goes on and on. IMO, this statement doesn't convince me at all that they (ACOG) are serious about supporting breastfeeding.

Laurel

[JessasMilkMama]

Originally Posted by formerluddite

does "interconception" mean they'll still try to discourage women from tandem nursing?

i guess, as usual, it's better than before, but still not as good as it can get.

Have they specifically discouraged tandem nursing before?

[veganf]

Originally Posted by MelKnee

This isn't good enough! Human milk does not provide benefits, it is normal. Formula presents risks. Until they look at it this way, nothing is ever going to change.

Precisely.

[formerluddite]

Originally Posted by JessasMilkMama

Have they specifically discouraged tandem nursing before?

not sure if the ACOG specifically has any statements re tandem nursing, but my experience was discouragement from one of the NP's at kaiser. i did not ask any questions, but in the course of conversation i disclosed that dd1 was still nursing (she was 3 then), and she tried to convince me that it was too hard on my body, and that dd1 would be jealous of dd2 if we were still nursing when dd2 was born (which seemed crazy to me; i felt she'd be more jealous if i weaned her, then nursed the new baby). many women i know who have tandem nursed have been discouraged by their OB's as well.

[hunnybumm]

Originally Posted by formerluddite

not sure if the ACOG specifically has any statements re tandem nursing, but my experience was discouragement from one of the NP's at kaiser. i did not ask any questions, but in the course of conversation i disclosed that dd1 was still nursing (she was 3 then), and she tried to convince me that it was too hard on my body, and that dd1 would be jealous of dd2 if we were still nursing when dd2 was born (which seemed crazy to me; i felt she'd be more jealous if i weaned her, then nursed the new baby). many women i know who have tandem nursed have been discouraged by their OB's as well.

This is the case with one of the two OB practices in my area. One doesn't just discourage nursing during pregnancy and tandem nursing, they down right demand that the mother stop. EVERY woman I have talked to that went to that practice that was nursing during pregnancy end up lying to their OB and just told them they stopped so they wouldn't be bothered at EVERY visit. Thankfully the other practice is ok with it (not sure if supportive, I never went there).