From: www.llli.org
Amenorrhea
Bonding
Colostrum... the perfect first food
Decreased risk of breast cancer
Easy baby care
Few allergies
Good for the whole family
Human milk is specially designed for human babies
Immunities
Jaw development
Kids get lots of attention when the new baby is breastfed
Laundry is a breeze
Mental development
Natural
Oxytocin and prolactin
Protection against many diseases
Quick weight loss for mother
Rest
Saves money
Traveling is easy
Understanding the baby's needs
Vitamins and minerals
Working goes smoothly when the nursing relationship is maintained
eXactly what baby needs
You get to take care of your baby
Zero waste
Only the Best Is Good Enough - Breastfeed!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Cold War Remnant: Cancer for Baby Boomers
"Even with a half-century’s hindsight, the
U.S. government’s willingness to risk the
health of the nation’s children seems somewhere
between unfathomable and unconscionable.
Between 1951 and 1962, the Atomic Energy
Commission detonated more than 100
nuclear bombs in the atmosphere over its
Nevada Test Site, just 65 miles from Las
Vegas. The radioactive fallout menaced not
only the ranchers and the miners unlucky
enough to live in that remote area of southern
Nevada, but — as a new study unveiled
Tuesday demonstrated — untold millions
of unsuspecting Americans as well.
The winds carried Strontium-90, Iodine-
129 and other lethal particles across a
broad swath of the country. Infants who
were bottle-fed, which was then considered
the modern approach, were particularly
vulnerable to the Strontium-90 that ended
up in cows’ milk."
(Read more...)
U.S. government’s willingness to risk the
health of the nation’s children seems somewhere
between unfathomable and unconscionable.
Between 1951 and 1962, the Atomic Energy
Commission detonated more than 100
nuclear bombs in the atmosphere over its
Nevada Test Site, just 65 miles from Las
Vegas. The radioactive fallout menaced not
only the ranchers and the miners unlucky
enough to live in that remote area of southern
Nevada, but — as a new study unveiled
Tuesday demonstrated — untold millions
of unsuspecting Americans as well.
The winds carried Strontium-90, Iodine-
129 and other lethal particles across a
broad swath of the country. Infants who
were bottle-fed, which was then considered
the modern approach, were particularly
vulnerable to the Strontium-90 that ended
up in cows’ milk."
(Read more...)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Do Nursing Moms Need Protection?
Here's an interesting video from Cambell Brown, a working, breastfeeding mom who pumps...
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2009/09/17/cb.breast.mom.cnn
(Just fyi... here's the original article about the Isotoner mom posted earlier... http://campbellbrown.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/17/mom-breastfeeding-cost-me-my-job/#more-1486 )
Yes, we certainly need more laws and protection for pumping moms.
As a mom who pumped/worked for her baby, I think more opportunities should be made to help moms in similar situations... almost like "smoking breaks," or the like, for others. :O) More positive stories and solutions should also be distributed and possibly sought...
All in all, a good, open communication with an employer is probably one of the better things to keep in mind in these type situations. And, presenting a well-thought out, positive plan *ahead* of time which shows an employer how future pumping will *not* have a negative impact on job efficiency, etc., might be another idea.
But, do we pick our battles right now while the foundations are being laid down?
I pumped in a dirty, small storage room... this was the only availability at the time. I did pump in a counselor's office with a sign on the door politely asking to "please knock, I'm breastfeeding" but was still walked in on. Of course, the "intrusion" wasn't on purpose, but it was an uncomfortable situation, to say the least. O)
Anyhow, I did survive... I just closed my eyes and thought of my little girl (probably helping my let-down reflex, too!).If needed, the art of a well-written complaint letter might also be beneficial....
Lack of current information on breastfeeding is so prevalent these days.
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2009/09/17/cb.breast.mom.cnn
(Just fyi... here's the original article about the Isotoner mom posted earlier... http://campbellbrown.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/17/mom-breastfeeding-cost-me-my-job/#more-1486 )
Yes, we certainly need more laws and protection for pumping moms.
As a mom who pumped/worked for her baby, I think more opportunities should be made to help moms in similar situations... almost like "smoking breaks," or the like, for others. :O) More positive stories and solutions should also be distributed and possibly sought...
All in all, a good, open communication with an employer is probably one of the better things to keep in mind in these type situations. And, presenting a well-thought out, positive plan *ahead* of time which shows an employer how future pumping will *not* have a negative impact on job efficiency, etc., might be another idea.
But, do we pick our battles right now while the foundations are being laid down?
I pumped in a dirty, small storage room... this was the only availability at the time. I did pump in a counselor's office with a sign on the door politely asking to "please knock, I'm breastfeeding" but was still walked in on. Of course, the "intrusion" wasn't on purpose, but it was an uncomfortable situation, to say the least. O)
Anyhow, I did survive... I just closed my eyes and thought of my little girl (probably helping my let-down reflex, too!).If needed, the art of a well-written complaint letter might also be beneficial....
Lack of current information on breastfeeding is so prevalent these days.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Beyond the Nursery: Nursing with Confidence
www.breastfeeding.com/reading_room/behrmann.html
by Barbara L. Behrmann, Ph. D.
Niesha, a young mother in Arizona, was nursing her three week-old son in the baby department of a large discount store when the manager politely asked her to nurse in the bathroom because there were male customers who were their with their wives.
Amy, enjoying a lunch out with her mother, discreetly nursed her daughter under her shirt. The waiter avoided eye contact with her and asked her mother, instead of her, for her lunch order.
Patti, a modest woman in Washington, used to nurse in public bathrooms. She would put a lot of toilet seat covers on the seat and nurse on the toilet completely dressed. This kind of judgment, however, is not universal. Originally from Jamaica, Opal compared nursing in the US to her experiences overseas: "I remember going to Mexico when Shola was a baby and sitting on the side of the road, nursing. I didn't cover my breast and nobody said anything to me. Nor did anyone say anything to me in Jamaica and St. Croix."
In a culture that encourages us to show cleavage but god forbid, our nipples, we typically try to be as discrete as possible. Ironically this means that the less visible we become and the more we hide the early work of mothering, the more approval we earn. We sling blankets over our shoulders, purchase special nursing tops, turn our backs to others, and ultimately try to disguise what we are doing. These, of course, may be good personal solutions, but they don't help us change the culture.
The challenge we face is to nurse discreetly, but not invisibly. This way, we not only meet out babies' all-important needs, but we also help each other; that is, the more others see mothers nursing publicly, the easier it will be for the next nursing mom.
Increase Your Confidence
Chances are, nobody will give you a hard time about nursing in public. But just in case, here are a few things to remember to boot your confidence.
You may start out feeling awkward and insecure, but over time you are likely to develop confidence and become more assertive.
This is what happened with Stephanie. A first-time mother in Pennsylvania, she practiced nursing discreetly in front of mirrors and her husband. "I wanted to go places and do things but was so nervous that someone might get a glimpse of my bra as I opened it or god forbid, a flash of skin," she recalls. Her attitude changed after a few weeks and she became resentful and angry. "I never intended to fully disrobe in the mall but I hated the fact that I couldn't focus on my daughter's needs - I had to focus on whether somebody might be seeing more than they should." Stephanie became increasingly defiant and after a few months would actually seek out places "That might ruffle a few feathers."
The law is on your side! In fact over 20 states have enacted legislation to clarify that women have the right to nurse in public without being accused of indecent exposure, lewd behavior or obscenity. : So...if anyone suggests you move to the bathroom to nurse, simply ask them if they'd like to eat their meal in a toilet stall and share with them this link: Http://www.lalecheleague.org/LawMain.html
Don't feel pressured to feed your baby expressed milk in a bottle. Not only is a pump less effective than a baby at removing milk form the breast, but lactation works on the principle of supply and demand. In some cases, pumping, instead of nursing, can diminish your milk supply. Besides, if you baby is nursing for comfort - or any other "non-nutritional" reason, he or she doesn't want a bottle when your warm body is right there!
If you're nurslings past the baby-in-arms stage, he or she won't care if you're at home or in a shopping mall. You may want to nurse ahead of time and eventually you may be able to explain to your child that there are places where it's ok to nurse and places where you have to wait. But again, know that you have the legal right to breastfeed. And international health organizations recommend nursing a child for at least two years. So if someone gives you a hard time, gently inform them that nurslings suckle for reasons beyond the milk. It calms them, comforts them, and meets their emotional needs. Humor may help. You can be pretty sure that by the time your child starts college he or she will be off the breast. In short, there is no reason to feel embarrassed for meeting your child's nutritional and emotional needs.
Generally, the more comfortable you are, the less likely others will challenge you. Remember the words of Nina, a first-time mother in upstate New York. "I love nursing in public and I don't put a ton of effort into hiding it," she admits. "I'm not saying breastfeeding should be about shock value, but I feel strongly about nursing and am proud of it. I don't look down, I don't feel embarrassed, and I look people right in the eye."
Remember, be discreet, but not invisible, confident but not aggressive. Use a blanket as a cover up, if you like, but if your baby won't tolerate warm flannel over his head, who can blame him? Remember that nursing in public not only meets your baby's needs, but does a public service.
by Barbara L. Behrmann, Ph. D.
Niesha, a young mother in Arizona, was nursing her three week-old son in the baby department of a large discount store when the manager politely asked her to nurse in the bathroom because there were male customers who were their with their wives.
Amy, enjoying a lunch out with her mother, discreetly nursed her daughter under her shirt. The waiter avoided eye contact with her and asked her mother, instead of her, for her lunch order.
Patti, a modest woman in Washington, used to nurse in public bathrooms. She would put a lot of toilet seat covers on the seat and nurse on the toilet completely dressed. This kind of judgment, however, is not universal. Originally from Jamaica, Opal compared nursing in the US to her experiences overseas: "I remember going to Mexico when Shola was a baby and sitting on the side of the road, nursing. I didn't cover my breast and nobody said anything to me. Nor did anyone say anything to me in Jamaica and St. Croix."
In a culture that encourages us to show cleavage but god forbid, our nipples, we typically try to be as discrete as possible. Ironically this means that the less visible we become and the more we hide the early work of mothering, the more approval we earn. We sling blankets over our shoulders, purchase special nursing tops, turn our backs to others, and ultimately try to disguise what we are doing. These, of course, may be good personal solutions, but they don't help us change the culture.
The challenge we face is to nurse discreetly, but not invisibly. This way, we not only meet out babies' all-important needs, but we also help each other; that is, the more others see mothers nursing publicly, the easier it will be for the next nursing mom.
Increase Your Confidence
Chances are, nobody will give you a hard time about nursing in public. But just in case, here are a few things to remember to boot your confidence.
You may start out feeling awkward and insecure, but over time you are likely to develop confidence and become more assertive.
This is what happened with Stephanie. A first-time mother in Pennsylvania, she practiced nursing discreetly in front of mirrors and her husband. "I wanted to go places and do things but was so nervous that someone might get a glimpse of my bra as I opened it or god forbid, a flash of skin," she recalls. Her attitude changed after a few weeks and she became resentful and angry. "I never intended to fully disrobe in the mall but I hated the fact that I couldn't focus on my daughter's needs - I had to focus on whether somebody might be seeing more than they should." Stephanie became increasingly defiant and after a few months would actually seek out places "That might ruffle a few feathers."
The law is on your side! In fact over 20 states have enacted legislation to clarify that women have the right to nurse in public without being accused of indecent exposure, lewd behavior or obscenity. : So...if anyone suggests you move to the bathroom to nurse, simply ask them if they'd like to eat their meal in a toilet stall and share with them this link: Http://www.lalecheleague.org/LawMain.html
Don't feel pressured to feed your baby expressed milk in a bottle. Not only is a pump less effective than a baby at removing milk form the breast, but lactation works on the principle of supply and demand. In some cases, pumping, instead of nursing, can diminish your milk supply. Besides, if you baby is nursing for comfort - or any other "non-nutritional" reason, he or she doesn't want a bottle when your warm body is right there!
If you're nurslings past the baby-in-arms stage, he or she won't care if you're at home or in a shopping mall. You may want to nurse ahead of time and eventually you may be able to explain to your child that there are places where it's ok to nurse and places where you have to wait. But again, know that you have the legal right to breastfeed. And international health organizations recommend nursing a child for at least two years. So if someone gives you a hard time, gently inform them that nurslings suckle for reasons beyond the milk. It calms them, comforts them, and meets their emotional needs. Humor may help. You can be pretty sure that by the time your child starts college he or she will be off the breast. In short, there is no reason to feel embarrassed for meeting your child's nutritional and emotional needs.
Generally, the more comfortable you are, the less likely others will challenge you. Remember the words of Nina, a first-time mother in upstate New York. "I love nursing in public and I don't put a ton of effort into hiding it," she admits. "I'm not saying breastfeeding should be about shock value, but I feel strongly about nursing and am proud of it. I don't look down, I don't feel embarrassed, and I look people right in the eye."
Remember, be discreet, but not invisible, confident but not aggressive. Use a blanket as a cover up, if you like, but if your baby won't tolerate warm flannel over his head, who can blame him? Remember that nursing in public not only meets your baby's needs, but does a public service.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Finding A Breastfeeding Support Person
from Dr. Jack Newman
Finding a Lactation Consultant or breastfeeding-support person may seem like a daunting task but it is well worth the effort. First, a few things to know:
(click here to go to article)
La Leche League is an international group of women who give mother-to-mother peer support. They are a wonderful resource for support and information and run support groups in cities all around the world. http://www.lalecheleague.org/
La Leche League Canada
Mother to mother information and support by phone & email
Community Groups for pregnant and nursing mothers.
Website information and publications for families and health professionals....
Lactation Consultants are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants this means they are registered Lactation Consultants, IBCLC, RLC who are required to keep current with breastfeeding information and must recertify every five years. We provide hands-on clinical support and are trained to work with all breastfeeding-related problems. In order to certify we must have many thousands of hours of practical hands-on training and must have completed many education credits to write the international exam in the first place.
To find a Lactation Consultant, contact http://www.ilca.org/ for a worldwide search or IBLCE http://www.iblce.org/international%20registry.htm or your local Lactation Consultant association: or, in Canada, the Canadian Lactation Consultants Association is also a good resource: http://www.clca-accl.ca/. In the USA, http://www.uslcaonline.org/
Breastfeeding Clinics may be found in many hospitals. Most clinics are staffed by IBCLCs, though not always.
Of course, getting the best start is the way to go, and having as few interventions during labour and delivery will help a mother to get that best start. Having a Midwife and/or Doula as support during labour is usually a good assurance that the labour will go as naturally as possible.
Midwives: though experts in pregnancy and labour support, they are also trained to counsel mothers in getting a good breastfeeding start.
In Ontario: Association of Ontario midwives: www.aom.on.ca (“find a midwife” function).
In Canada: Canadian Association of Midwives: www.canadianmidwives.org
Doulas may also be trained in breastfeeding support. A Doula is a labour-support person. Doulas may be found through DONA at http://www.dona.org or through CAPPA at http://www.cappa.net or in Canada: http://www.cappacanada.ca .
HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD and HELPFUL BREASTFEEDING-SUPPORT PERSON
1. When you seek help from a Lactation Consultant (LC), you should not feel that she is mainly trying to rent or sell you some product. The Lactation Consultant is there to help you with your breastfeeding problem, and very often help does not require any products. Even if you do need to rent a pump, for example, you should not feel that the lactation consultant is focussing on sales or rentals. Certainly, if she does sell you a pump or product, this sale time should not be included in her hourly fee.
2. No matter what your problem, a good LC should not be telling you that you cannot breastfeed. We hear of some Lactation Consultants and doctors telling mothers they cannot breastfeed. Do not believe them. If you have nipples you can breastfeed. Women are often told they must stop or interrupt breastfeeding due to illness or a medication they are taking or a test they must undergo--this is only very rarely true. See handouts You Should Continue Breastfeeding 1 and 2.
3. No LC or breastfeeding-support person should ever bring formula with her to your home. LCs are not allowed to distribute formula samples or recommend a formula by name. Ask her ahead of time if she intends to bring some formula samples with her. This may be an indication of her true support for breastfeeding.
4. Nipple shields and bottles are being used much too often to try to fix breastfeeding problems, even though they can, very occasionally, be useful. Nipple shields should never be used for the baby who refuses to latch on before the mother's milk 'comes in' on day three or four (or sometimes later). Once the milk 'comes in', many babies will latch on easily without a nipple shield. There are usually better ways of supplementing or feeding babies than using a bottle. Be sceptical if you LC is quick to use a nipple shield. Patience, perseverance, and good technique are almost always good enough to get any baby latched. See handout When Baby Refuses To Latch On.
5. REMEMBER to Get the best Start: Try to ensure and aim for the most natural labour possible. A good Midwife or Doula may be an invaluable way to achieve that goal.
BE WARY IF:
1. You are told to feed x number of minutes per side
•Babies can feed well being on the breast short periods of time, and can feed poorly being on the breast all day
•Timing is meaningless and tells us nothing about what the baby is actually getting and whether or not it is enough
2. You are told to feed x number of times per day
•A baby who feeds well 6 times a day is better off than a baby who feeds poorly 12 times a day
•There are no studies to support the claim that a baby must feed 8-12 x/24 hour period. None whatsoever.
3. You are told to wake the baby every x number of hours
•A baby who feeds well will wake up when he's ready; if a baby feeds so poorly that he won't wake up on his own, there is no point in waking him up so he feeds poorly more times a day; the point is to get the baby feeding well.
4. Your breastfeeding-support person weighs the baby before and after each feeding
•What does this tell us? Even if the scales could be relied on as always accurate—so what? A 15 gm gain, for example, may mean baby consumed 15 mls of breastmilk—but what kind of breastmilk? 10 am breastmilk? 3pm breastmilk? Tuesday’s breastmilk? The beginning of the feeding breastmilk? The end? What? Ensure baby is actually drinking instead of just sucking, and follow our Protocol to Increase Intake of Breastmilk. Watch the video clips at www.drjacknewman.com. That’s how you will know baby has had enough.
•Test weighs have been known to show many false negatives. See Handout Is my Baby Getting Enough?
5. Your breastfeeding-support person tells you that sore nipples are normal and you need to endure it, or that your nipples need to “toughen” up or that your skin is overly sensitive, or, if you are a red-head, that you are supposed to have overly-sensitive nipples
•A good latch prevents and fixes sore nipples
•Pain that endures for many weeks may mean there is something else going on—please see a Lactation Consultant to get this checked out
•Nipple shields are not usually an appropriate remedy for sore nipples
•Skin colour is irrelevant
6. Your breastfeeding support person asks you to finger feed after you breastfeed your baby
•If a baby needs supplementation then that baby should be supplemented at the breast as long as the baby is latching. Finger feeding is not an appropriate method of feeding a latching baby. See Handout Finger and Cup Feeding
How Much Should An IBCLC Charge For A Home Visit?
There really is no set rate for IBCLCs and the fees for home visits range dramatically. In Toronto, there are some support people doing home visits for $35/hr and some going as high as $180/hr. Please do not let price fool you—the most expensive IBCLC is not necessarily the best. Do a little home work and research and ask her over the phone about some of the points listed above. An average rate is probably around $100/150 for a visit lasting around 2 hours. This may seem excessive but it is not—keep in mind that a good IBCLC will save you money in the long run by keeping you and baby breastfeeding and off expensive formula.
Questions?
First look at the website nbci.ca or drjacknewman.com. If the information you need is not there, go to Contact Us and give us the information listed there in your email. Information is also available in Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding (called The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers in the USA); and/or our DVD, Dr. Jack Newman’s Visual Guide to Breastfeeding (available in French or with subtitles in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian); and/or The Latch Book and Other Keys to Breastfeeding Success; and/or L-eat Latch and Transfer Tool; and/or the GamePlan for Protecting and Supporting Breastfeeding in the First 24 Hours of Life and Beyond.
To make an appointment online with our clinic please visit www.nbci.ca. If you do not have easy access to email or internet, you may phone (416) 498-0002.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Advice regarding breastfeeding for mothers with possible H1N1 infection
http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/aapnews.20091012-1v1
I wish more health professionals agreed with this statement from the article...
While recently in the hospital, during my entire stay it was suggested that I not nurse for 14 days. Hu? 14 days would mean possibly having my daughter wean. Would she be better off if her immature immune system tried fighting any type of virus on her own? Weighing the pros and cons in this situation can certainly be helpful! Information can be powerful!
Read more...
I wish more health professionals agreed with this statement from the article...
"Although the most effective way to prevent influenza transmission is complete
separation from her infant when a mother is receiving antiviral treatment,
separation may create more long-term problems in breastfeeding success and
mother-infant bonding than any potential benefit achieved from avoiding
infection in the newborn infant."
While recently in the hospital, during my entire stay it was suggested that I not nurse for 14 days. Hu? 14 days would mean possibly having my daughter wean. Would she be better off if her immature immune system tried fighting any type of virus on her own? Weighing the pros and cons in this situation can certainly be helpful! Information can be powerful!
Read more...
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Parents of "chunky" infant weigh in on health insurance reform
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13530098
Oh, my! Crazy, Crazy!! My babies have been over 95% in height and weight. I can only imagine what our weight conscience society might do.... I'm afraid someone just might "put their baby on the Slim Fast diet" (or just withhold food) when they start solids.
Ay, Caramba!!
GRAND JUNCTION — Alex Lange is a chubby, dimpled, healthy and happy 4-month-old.
But in the cold, calculating numbered charts of insurance companies, he is fat. That's why he is being turned down for health insurance. And that's why he is a weighty symbol of a problem in the health care reform debate.
Insurance companies can turn down people with pre-existing conditions who aren't covered in a group health care plan.
Alex's pre-existing condition — "obesity" — makes him a financial risk. Health insurance reform measures are trying to do away with such denials that come from a process called "underwriting."
"If health care reform occurs, underwriting will go away. We do it because everybody else in the industry does it," said Dr. Doug Speedie, medical director at Rocky Mountain Health Plans, the company that turned down Alex.
By the numbers, Alex is in the 99th percentile for height and weight for babies his age. Insurers don't take babies above the 95th percentile, no matter how healthy they are otherwise.
"I could understand if we could control what he's eating. But he's 4 months old. He's breast-feeding. We can't put him on the Atkins diet or on a treadmill," joked his frustrated father, Bernie Lange, a part-time news anchor at KKCO-TV in Grand Junction. "There is just something absurd about denying an infant."
Bernie and Kelli Lange tried to get insurance for their growing family with Rocky Mountain Health Plans when their current insurer raised their rates 40 percent after Alex was born. They filled out the paperwork and awaited approval, figuring their family is young and healthy. But the broker who was helping them find new insurance called Thursday with news that shocked them.
" 'Your baby is too fat,' she told me," Bernie said.
Up until then, the Langes had been happy with Alex's healthy appetite and prodigious weight gain. His pediatrician had never mentioned any weight concerns about the baby they call their "happy little chunky monkey."
His 2-year-old brother, Vincent, had been a colicky baby who had trouble putting on pounds.
At birth, Alex weighed a normal 8 1/4 pounds. On a diet of strictly breast milk, his weight has more than doubled. He weighs about 17 pounds and is about 25 inches long.
"I'm not going to withhold food to get him down below that number of 95," Kelli Lange said. "I'm not going to have him screaming because he's hungry."
Speedie said not many people seeking individual health insurance are turned down because of weight. But it does happen. Some babies less hefty than Alex have had to get health endorsements from their pediatricians. Adults who have a body-mass index of 30 and above are turned down because they are considered obese.
The Langes, both slender, don't know where Alex's propensity for pounds came from. Their other child is thin. No one in their families has a weight problem.
The Langes are counting on the fact that Alex will start shedding pounds when he starts crawling. He is already a kinetic bundle of arm- and leg-waving energy in a baby suit sized for a 9-month-old.
They joked that when he is ready for solid food, they will start him on Slim-Fast.
Meanwhile, they made Alex's plight public on KKCO this week. They plan to appeal Rocky Mountain's denial.
If that doesn't work, they plan to take their case to the Colorado Division of Insurance.
"My gripe is not with Rocky Mountain," Bernie said. "It's with the general state of the health care system."
Nancy Lofholm: 970-256-1957 or nlofholm@denverpost.com
Oh, my! Crazy, Crazy!! My babies have been over 95% in height and weight. I can only imagine what our weight conscience society might do.... I'm afraid someone just might "put their baby on the Slim Fast diet" (or just withhold food) when they start solids.
Ay, Caramba!!
GRAND JUNCTION — Alex Lange is a chubby, dimpled, healthy and happy 4-month-old.
But in the cold, calculating numbered charts of insurance companies, he is fat. That's why he is being turned down for health insurance. And that's why he is a weighty symbol of a problem in the health care reform debate.
Insurance companies can turn down people with pre-existing conditions who aren't covered in a group health care plan.
Alex's pre-existing condition — "obesity" — makes him a financial risk. Health insurance reform measures are trying to do away with such denials that come from a process called "underwriting."
"If health care reform occurs, underwriting will go away. We do it because everybody else in the industry does it," said Dr. Doug Speedie, medical director at Rocky Mountain Health Plans, the company that turned down Alex.
By the numbers, Alex is in the 99th percentile for height and weight for babies his age. Insurers don't take babies above the 95th percentile, no matter how healthy they are otherwise.
"I could understand if we could control what he's eating. But he's 4 months old. He's breast-feeding. We can't put him on the Atkins diet or on a treadmill," joked his frustrated father, Bernie Lange, a part-time news anchor at KKCO-TV in Grand Junction. "There is just something absurd about denying an infant."
Bernie and Kelli Lange tried to get insurance for their growing family with Rocky Mountain Health Plans when their current insurer raised their rates 40 percent after Alex was born. They filled out the paperwork and awaited approval, figuring their family is young and healthy. But the broker who was helping them find new insurance called Thursday with news that shocked them.
" 'Your baby is too fat,' she told me," Bernie said.
Up until then, the Langes had been happy with Alex's healthy appetite and prodigious weight gain. His pediatrician had never mentioned any weight concerns about the baby they call their "happy little chunky monkey."
His 2-year-old brother, Vincent, had been a colicky baby who had trouble putting on pounds.
At birth, Alex weighed a normal 8 1/4 pounds. On a diet of strictly breast milk, his weight has more than doubled. He weighs about 17 pounds and is about 25 inches long.
"I'm not going to withhold food to get him down below that number of 95," Kelli Lange said. "I'm not going to have him screaming because he's hungry."
Speedie said not many people seeking individual health insurance are turned down because of weight. But it does happen. Some babies less hefty than Alex have had to get health endorsements from their pediatricians. Adults who have a body-mass index of 30 and above are turned down because they are considered obese.
The Langes, both slender, don't know where Alex's propensity for pounds came from. Their other child is thin. No one in their families has a weight problem.
The Langes are counting on the fact that Alex will start shedding pounds when he starts crawling. He is already a kinetic bundle of arm- and leg-waving energy in a baby suit sized for a 9-month-old.
They joked that when he is ready for solid food, they will start him on Slim-Fast.
Meanwhile, they made Alex's plight public on KKCO this week. They plan to appeal Rocky Mountain's denial.
If that doesn't work, they plan to take their case to the Colorado Division of Insurance.
"My gripe is not with Rocky Mountain," Bernie said. "It's with the general state of the health care system."
Nancy Lofholm: 970-256-1957 or nlofholm@denverpost.com
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
NADA COMO MAMÁ, NADA COMO MAMAR
Click here to watch this wonderfully inspiring YouTube video made in Spain.
Literally, this translates to "Nothing like mommy, nothing like breastfeeding." What a beautiful video about breastfeeding! One doesn't necessarily need to understand Spanish to understand the message being sent. I love the nursing toddlers and insightful thoughts from fathers, too. Worth watching! Can't wait to share this with my Spanish speaking breastfeeding group.
Just in case, here's the translation:
"If I told you a new formula has been released that increases your baby's
defenses, would you give it to your baby?
If I told you we can have free nourishment for the first six months of your
baby's life, would you believe me?
If I told you a company has patented packaging that keeps food ready 24hrs a
day, keeping all its properties, would you buy it?
That formula exists. That food exists. That company exists.
Breastmilk is the best nourishment for your baby. It adapts to suit all your
baby's needs, increasing his/her immune system. And besides, it is free.
Nothing like mom. Nothing like breastfeeding."
Literally, this translates to "Nothing like mommy, nothing like breastfeeding." What a beautiful video about breastfeeding! One doesn't necessarily need to understand Spanish to understand the message being sent. I love the nursing toddlers and insightful thoughts from fathers, too. Worth watching! Can't wait to share this with my Spanish speaking breastfeeding group.
Just in case, here's the translation:
"If I told you a new formula has been released that increases your baby's
defenses, would you give it to your baby?
If I told you we can have free nourishment for the first six months of your
baby's life, would you believe me?
If I told you a company has patented packaging that keeps food ready 24hrs a
day, keeping all its properties, would you buy it?
That formula exists. That food exists. That company exists.
Breastmilk is the best nourishment for your baby. It adapts to suit all your
baby's needs, increasing his/her immune system. And besides, it is free.
Nothing like mom. Nothing like breastfeeding."
Friday, October 2, 2009
An open letter to the attendees of the Nestle Family blogger event
http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/09/29/an-open-letter-to-the-attendees-of-the-\
nestle-family-blogger-event/
Some interesting quotes from the blog (let us know your thoughts, too!):
"Let me be clear. This is not about what you chose to feed your babies. If you
formula fed, whether by choice or by necessity, that is none of my business.
That said, the marketing and advertising of formula has been linked to the
deaths of millions of babies every year... In developing countries, the
difference between being breastfed and being bottle fed truly is life or death."
My main qualm:
"Advertising formula and providing free samples to women in developing countries
could be likened to advertising free c-sections with a dirty knife and untrained
medical staff."
Here's the rest of the blog...
An open letter to the attendees of the Nestle Family blogger event
by phdinparenting on September 29, 2009
Dear bloggers,
I learned about the Nestle Family blogger event with dismay when a friend e-mailed me about it. I was happy to hear that she had declined their invitation and hoped that many of the other mommy bloggers that I hold in high regard would follow suit. When I later saw the list of people who were attending, I was distressed to see women who I respect and women who are breastfeeding advocates had accepted the invitation. I wanted to believe that they must just not be aware of Nestle’s unethical business practices and that once they found out that they would, of course, decline the invitation and boycott the event. That was not the case. Some of you heard the concerns and said that you didn’t care. Some of you heard the concerns and said you would go anyways because you felt a dialogue with Nestle would be more productive. You are all skilled communicators. But having followed the Nestle fiasco for a long time, I know how ineffective dialogue has been in the past and I know that their public relations people will tell you a good story and try to take you for a ride.
That said, you are going. I can’t change that now. Many of you were tweeting this morning about packing your bags and heading off to the airport. So, in a last ditch effort to help you make a difference, I am writing you a letter outlining the things I would like you to know.
How formula marketing kills
Let me be clear. This is not about what you chose to feed your babies. If you formula fed, whether by choice or by necessity, that is none of my business. That said, the marketing and advertising of formula has been linked to the deaths of millions of babies every year. According to the World Health Organization:
The protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding rank among the most effective interventions to improve child survival. It is estimated that high coverage of optimal breastfeeding practices could avert 13% of the 10.6 million deaths of children under five years occurring globally every year. Exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life is particularly beneficial, and infants who are not breastfed in the first month of life may be as much as 25 times more likely to die than infants who are exclusively breastfed.
In developing countries, the difference between being breastfed and being bottle fed truly is life or death. When women choose to formula feed in developing countries, their babies are at significant risk. They do not have the financial means to keep buying formula, so they water it down and give their babies less than they really need. There is often a lack of clean water, so formula gets mixed with dirty water, which can lead to infections, disease and death. In the developed world, formula feeding isn’t as likely to kill a child, but not breastfeeding does come with a whole host of health risks for both the baby and the mother. It can lead to deaths as well as increased health problems and increased health costs (whether you have a public system or a private insurance system, you do pay for other people’s health care to some extent). Around 1.4 million lives could be saved every year with improved breastfeeding .
Advertising formula and providing free samples to women in developing countries could be likened to advertising free c-sections with a dirty knife and untrained medical staff. Infant formula and c-sections can both be life saving under specific circumstances. But marketing them to the general public as an equal, better, or even close to as good alternative is dangerous, especially in countries where they do not have the means to use it safely.
The International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes
In order to reduce the negative effect of formula marketing and save lives, the World Health Organization developed the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (World Health Organization), which restricts marketing and related practices of the following products:
breast-milk substitutes, including infant formula, other milk products, foods and beverages, including bottle-fed complementary foods
feeding bottles
teats, like bottle nipples and pacifiers
Governments in more than 60 countries have adopted the Code and made it law. Some countries have gone a step further by making formula available only by prescription or requiring warnings on labels. In the absence of legislation, the Code encourages manufacturers and distributors to comply with its provisions. Some do so voluntarily. Some pretend that they do, but instead blatantly lie (Nestle), do not fully disclose ownership (Lanisoh), or make other choices that compromise their compliance. Others just don’t care at all about compliance and care only about profits.
How Nestle lies, cheats and deceives
What is Nestle’s role in this problem? According to INFACT Canada, Nestle controls 40% of the worldwide market for baby food and is active in 80 countries. It is the biggest player in this market. Other companies are unethical too, but the size and reach of Nestle makes its violations of the Code especially problematic and especially risky for moms and babies. Nestle has been characterized by experts in the field as the worst of the baby food companies in terms of its breaches of international standards.
Some illustrations of Nestle’s unethical practices include:
Nestle has an Infant Formula Marketing Policy that it says complies with the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, but its scope is much narrower, covering only infant formula (instead of all breast milk substitutes) and covering only developing countries (instead of all countries). Read more here and check out a detailed chart comparing the two here.
Nestle invests in public relations initiatives to divert criticism, instead of making changes to bring its practices in line. Read more.
Monitoring of the baby food industry by NGOs has found many areas where Nestle’s advertising and promotion practices violate the Code. Look here for 13 pages of illustrated and annotated examples of violations.
Nestle systematically violates its own policies as brought to light by a senior Nestle employee in Pakistan who resigned and then wrote a scathing, detailed and well-documented whistleblower report on all of the violations that were both allowed, encouraged and ordered by his superiors. He is pursuing legal action against the company. His family has been threatened.
It is important to note that Nestle will try to tell you that all of this is in the past. That has been their approach all along. According to Baby Milk Action’s report on Nestle’s PR machine, “Nestle’s strategy is to admit to malpractice only years in the past, even though it denied it at the time“.
Beyond the marketing issue, there are other business practices related to its infant formula that have come into question. For example, apparently Nestle is purchasing 1 million litres of milk per year from Grace Mugabe, the wife of the President Robert Mugabe, despite sanctions due to human rights violations by his government and despite the fact that these farms were seized from farmers by Grace Mugabe. As per its usual practice, Nestle came up with some weak excuses for why this was not a problem.
There is so much to say. I feel like there is no way I can do it justice in a few short paragraphs.
What I would like Nestle to do
I think there is an opportunity for Nestle, as a leader in the food industry, to take a leadership role on this issue. At a minimum it should start abiding by the law in all countries where it operates and not just the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law. But ideally, in order to rectify some of the damage that its past practices have caused, it should go above and beyond what the law requires. Nestle should:
Commit to abiding by the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes in all countries worldwide for all products covered by the Code
Ensure that all of its packaging includes information on:
The risks of formula
Where people can go for breastfeeding help from trained lactation professionals (not Nestle staff)
Provide funding for lactation programs in developing countries and in low income neighbourhoods in the United States as part of its corporate social responsibility program
I think a complete about face is required here. Nestle should shift from trying to circumvent the law and the Code to proactively trying to encourage the safest nutrition for infants.
What I would like you to do
At a minimum, while you are there, I hope you’ll listen with a critical ear and not take everything at face value. Nestle’s public relations machine is well oiled and they will find a way to “address” your concerns without really doing so. I would like you to tell Nestle in no uncertain terms that you do not support its unethical business practices. I would like you to tell them that you will not be using your blog, your twitter presence, or any other platform you are on to help market their products. I would like you to tell Nestle that you are going to boycott its products and ask your friends and family to do so too. Above all, I would like you to ask yourself how you feel about supporting a company that puts profits ahead of the lives and health of babies.
I’ll be watching your blogs with interest and a critical eye following this event.
Safe travels,
Annie
nestle-family-blogger-event/
Some interesting quotes from the blog (let us know your thoughts, too!):
"Let me be clear. This is not about what you chose to feed your babies. If you
formula fed, whether by choice or by necessity, that is none of my business.
That said, the marketing and advertising of formula has been linked to the
deaths of millions of babies every year... In developing countries, the
difference between being breastfed and being bottle fed truly is life or death."
My main qualm:
"Advertising formula and providing free samples to women in developing countries
could be likened to advertising free c-sections with a dirty knife and untrained
medical staff."
Here's the rest of the blog...
An open letter to the attendees of the Nestle Family blogger event
by phdinparenting on September 29, 2009
Dear bloggers,
I learned about the Nestle Family blogger event with dismay when a friend e-mailed me about it. I was happy to hear that she had declined their invitation and hoped that many of the other mommy bloggers that I hold in high regard would follow suit. When I later saw the list of people who were attending, I was distressed to see women who I respect and women who are breastfeeding advocates had accepted the invitation. I wanted to believe that they must just not be aware of Nestle’s unethical business practices and that once they found out that they would, of course, decline the invitation and boycott the event. That was not the case. Some of you heard the concerns and said that you didn’t care. Some of you heard the concerns and said you would go anyways because you felt a dialogue with Nestle would be more productive. You are all skilled communicators. But having followed the Nestle fiasco for a long time, I know how ineffective dialogue has been in the past and I know that their public relations people will tell you a good story and try to take you for a ride.
That said, you are going. I can’t change that now. Many of you were tweeting this morning about packing your bags and heading off to the airport. So, in a last ditch effort to help you make a difference, I am writing you a letter outlining the things I would like you to know.
How formula marketing kills
Let me be clear. This is not about what you chose to feed your babies. If you formula fed, whether by choice or by necessity, that is none of my business. That said, the marketing and advertising of formula has been linked to the deaths of millions of babies every year. According to the World Health Organization:
The protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding rank among the most effective interventions to improve child survival. It is estimated that high coverage of optimal breastfeeding practices could avert 13% of the 10.6 million deaths of children under five years occurring globally every year. Exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life is particularly beneficial, and infants who are not breastfed in the first month of life may be as much as 25 times more likely to die than infants who are exclusively breastfed.
In developing countries, the difference between being breastfed and being bottle fed truly is life or death. When women choose to formula feed in developing countries, their babies are at significant risk. They do not have the financial means to keep buying formula, so they water it down and give their babies less than they really need. There is often a lack of clean water, so formula gets mixed with dirty water, which can lead to infections, disease and death. In the developed world, formula feeding isn’t as likely to kill a child, but not breastfeeding does come with a whole host of health risks for both the baby and the mother. It can lead to deaths as well as increased health problems and increased health costs (whether you have a public system or a private insurance system, you do pay for other people’s health care to some extent). Around 1.4 million lives could be saved every year with improved breastfeeding .
Advertising formula and providing free samples to women in developing countries could be likened to advertising free c-sections with a dirty knife and untrained medical staff. Infant formula and c-sections can both be life saving under specific circumstances. But marketing them to the general public as an equal, better, or even close to as good alternative is dangerous, especially in countries where they do not have the means to use it safely.
The International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes
In order to reduce the negative effect of formula marketing and save lives, the World Health Organization developed the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (World Health Organization), which restricts marketing and related practices of the following products:
breast-milk substitutes, including infant formula, other milk products, foods and beverages, including bottle-fed complementary foods
feeding bottles
teats, like bottle nipples and pacifiers
Governments in more than 60 countries have adopted the Code and made it law. Some countries have gone a step further by making formula available only by prescription or requiring warnings on labels. In the absence of legislation, the Code encourages manufacturers and distributors to comply with its provisions. Some do so voluntarily. Some pretend that they do, but instead blatantly lie (Nestle), do not fully disclose ownership (Lanisoh), or make other choices that compromise their compliance. Others just don’t care at all about compliance and care only about profits.
How Nestle lies, cheats and deceives
What is Nestle’s role in this problem? According to INFACT Canada, Nestle controls 40% of the worldwide market for baby food and is active in 80 countries. It is the biggest player in this market. Other companies are unethical too, but the size and reach of Nestle makes its violations of the Code especially problematic and especially risky for moms and babies. Nestle has been characterized by experts in the field as the worst of the baby food companies in terms of its breaches of international standards.
Some illustrations of Nestle’s unethical practices include:
Nestle has an Infant Formula Marketing Policy that it says complies with the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, but its scope is much narrower, covering only infant formula (instead of all breast milk substitutes) and covering only developing countries (instead of all countries). Read more here and check out a detailed chart comparing the two here.
Nestle invests in public relations initiatives to divert criticism, instead of making changes to bring its practices in line. Read more.
Monitoring of the baby food industry by NGOs has found many areas where Nestle’s advertising and promotion practices violate the Code. Look here for 13 pages of illustrated and annotated examples of violations.
Nestle systematically violates its own policies as brought to light by a senior Nestle employee in Pakistan who resigned and then wrote a scathing, detailed and well-documented whistleblower report on all of the violations that were both allowed, encouraged and ordered by his superiors. He is pursuing legal action against the company. His family has been threatened.
It is important to note that Nestle will try to tell you that all of this is in the past. That has been their approach all along. According to Baby Milk Action’s report on Nestle’s PR machine, “Nestle’s strategy is to admit to malpractice only years in the past, even though it denied it at the time“.
Beyond the marketing issue, there are other business practices related to its infant formula that have come into question. For example, apparently Nestle is purchasing 1 million litres of milk per year from Grace Mugabe, the wife of the President Robert Mugabe, despite sanctions due to human rights violations by his government and despite the fact that these farms were seized from farmers by Grace Mugabe. As per its usual practice, Nestle came up with some weak excuses for why this was not a problem.
There is so much to say. I feel like there is no way I can do it justice in a few short paragraphs.
What I would like Nestle to do
I think there is an opportunity for Nestle, as a leader in the food industry, to take a leadership role on this issue. At a minimum it should start abiding by the law in all countries where it operates and not just the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law. But ideally, in order to rectify some of the damage that its past practices have caused, it should go above and beyond what the law requires. Nestle should:
Commit to abiding by the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes in all countries worldwide for all products covered by the Code
Ensure that all of its packaging includes information on:
The risks of formula
Where people can go for breastfeeding help from trained lactation professionals (not Nestle staff)
Provide funding for lactation programs in developing countries and in low income neighbourhoods in the United States as part of its corporate social responsibility program
I think a complete about face is required here. Nestle should shift from trying to circumvent the law and the Code to proactively trying to encourage the safest nutrition for infants.
What I would like you to do
At a minimum, while you are there, I hope you’ll listen with a critical ear and not take everything at face value. Nestle’s public relations machine is well oiled and they will find a way to “address” your concerns without really doing so. I would like you to tell Nestle in no uncertain terms that you do not support its unethical business practices. I would like you to tell them that you will not be using your blog, your twitter presence, or any other platform you are on to help market their products. I would like you to tell Nestle that you are going to boycott its products and ask your friends and family to do so too. Above all, I would like you to ask yourself how you feel about supporting a company that puts profits ahead of the lives and health of babies.
I’ll be watching your blogs with interest and a critical eye following this event.
Safe travels,
Annie
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