Parenting Solved

Should You Breastfeed on Facebook?

Mom Kelli Roman found herself at the center of a brewing breast milk controversy when pictures of her nursing her baby were pulled from Facebook.  Apparently the images fell into the category of inappropriate.  An impromptu Facebook group (Hey Facebook, Breastfeeding is Not Obscene) has formed to officially protest the action.  Interestingly the group page has a Polaroid of a baby nursing but one has to assume that the Big Brothers at Facebook deemed this one tastefully draped. 

While I can see Facebook's position in keeping the ‘face’ in Facebook, I have to say I side with the nursing mother here.  People of reasonable judgment can look at an image and determine if it’s a representation of a loving bond between mother and child or just an old-fashioned cheesecake shot.  Am I wrong?

Breast Milk Soup

A Swiss restaurant owner created a 'stir' last week after announcing that he’ll serve meals prepared with breast milk.  Hans Locher, Switzerland’s controversial gastronomist responded to criticism by suggesting, “We have all been raised on it.  Why should we not include it in our diet?” 

Officials at Zurich Food Control responded to questions on the safety and legality of humans as milk producers, “They are not on the list of approved species such as cows and sheep, but they are also not on the list of the banned species such as apes and primates.”  Aptly put…I think.  Or perhaps something was lost in the translation.

Either way, you can read about it in The Telegraph.  No mention of breast milk in coffee.

An Unlikely Spokesman for Breastfeeding

I’m a breastfeeding advocate but I can’t get my hands around this one.

It seems Illinois can claim to have one of America’s only male lactation specialist. Chicago’s Henry Hale was so inspired by his daughter’s NICU experience with breast milk that he became something of a self-proclaimed pied piper of the breast pump. And it seems that once this 25-year-old security guard discovered the virtues of breast milk he shelved his flashlight and never looked back. He had to share his passion with the world. You can read the story here in the Chicago Tribune (be sure to check out the part where Henry talks smack with formula-toting mothers in the grocery aisle).

A local spokesperson for La Leche league calls it “cutting edge”. As for me: I report, you decide.

Dr. V, Are You a Militant Breast-Feeding Advocate?

One of my colleagues recently joked that I was a “militant breast-feeding advocate.” I told her that this wasn’t necessarily true but it did get me thinking.

I’m not militant about much. You would think I am if you’ve read Colic Solved. Sure I’m passionate about the recognition of acid reflux in babies but I would never put the interests of a baby behind this passion. And while I advocate breastfeeding, I do so because it represents the best nutritional substrate for babies. I don’t toe the line with breast-feeding advocacy groups peddling sociopolitical agendas – my allegiance is to children, not a cause.

I guess you could say that I’m militant about advocating for children and parents. I try to make tricky things less complicated in a way that helps empower parents. It’s what got me going with Parenting Solved.

More than militant, I guess, I’m just plain passionate.

AAP Report Addresses Early Feeding and Allergy Risk

The American Academy of Pediatrics today issued a clinical report to guide early feeding for children at risk for allergy. Breast-feeding again comes out on top but contrary to advice offered in 2000, food avoidance during pregnancy is no longer a concern. The clinical report if nothing else serves as an excellent review of what’s known about early feeding and the risk for allergy.

Here are the take home points:

1. The restriction of peanuts or other foods during pregnancy or breast-feeding doesn’t lower a child’s risk of allergies.
2. For infants with a family history of allergy, exclusive breast-feeding for at least 4 months can lessen the risk of cow milk allergy early in life.
3. Among formula fed infants at risk for developing allergies there is evidence that allergy be delayed or prevented by the use of partially hydrolysed formulas (Nutramigen, Alimentum, Good Start).
4. Soy-based infant formula has no role allergy prevention.
5. There is no convincing evidence that delaying the introduction of solids beyond 4-6 months has any effect on preventing allergy.

Beyond the part about giving mom free reign to enjoy a PayDay bar, the recommendation of hydrolysed formula for non breast-feeding babies at risk for allergy is interesting. As a man on the street (or clinic in my case) I would say that this isn’t anywhere near the standard of care and it’ll be interesting to see if the pediatricians pick up on it.

Breast Milk - Manny's Secret Juice?

While some professional baseball players reach atmospheric success with the help of steroids, breast milk may be the ‘juice’ of Manny Ramirez, clutch slugger for the 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox. Unconfirmed reports in the Chicago Tribune suggest that Manny Ramirez was breast fed through four years of age. While studies linking breastfeeding duration with career grand slams are lacking, I find this more than a coincidence. Perhaps it’s not too late for the Yankees?

Tip to Mama Knows Breast

Creepy Cross-Nursing

When I heard Babble was going to lead parents off the beaten path I wasn’t quite expecting this.

Breast Friends this week details one woman’s experience cross-nursing with a friend. Cross-nursing is the practice of occasionally breast-feeding another child while nursing your own. While this type of primitive female bonding seems to have fallen out of style somewhere in the Dark Ages, the piece is written with a casual tone of flirtatious experimentation. And (hold onto your chair) cross-nursing is actually proscribed by La Leche League. And for good reason – your baby is at risk of acquiring your girlfriend’s HIV, tuberculosis, herpes, queludes, whisky, or whatever else she conveniently forgot to mention before she let down.

Put this post in the category of creepy, unhygienic moves masquerading as cute girlfriend bonding.

Via Mama Knows Breast. Photo via Hot Topic.

Hindmilk Latte

So I’m talking with a patient-friend about Nursing Under the Influence and out of nowhere she casually reports having added breast milk to her coffee … on two occasions. “Not right,” I’m thinking to myself. Like the mother I spied chewing her newborn baby’s fingernails in the nursery. Endearing and nakedly human to some. Just gross to me.

Nursing Under the Influence

After nine months of disciplined abstinence, you may be ready for that first cool glass of Chablis. And as long as you’re aware of when enough’s enough, the occasional use of alcohol shouldn’t present a problem for you or your baby. As a rule, breast-feeding mothers should avoid nursing within two hours after drinking. Peak alcohol levels are noted in milk around 30-60 minutes after drinking. This may be more prolonged when drinking with food.

What about pumping and dumping? Don’t waste your time. Milk levels match blood levels. In other words, alcohol isn’t stored in breast milk. When the blood level goes down, so goes the alcohol in the milk.

For the hypervigilant, Milkscreen, Inc. of Austin, Texas recently introduced a two-minute test that detects ethanol in breast milk. Breast milk is tested by applying to a test strip that changes color in the presence of alcohol. For the dads who haven’t figured it out, this is like a breathalizer for milk (actually Milkscreen doesn’t quantitate alcohol but simply offers a present or absent verdict).

An interesting spin on this is the fact that lactation consultants are concerned that this could potentially interfere with breast-feeding in by adding unnecessary concern.

Either way, make mine shaken, not stirred.