Comments on: What A Boob http://www.docgurley.com/2009/03/23/what-a-boob/ Posts from an Insane Healthcare System Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:17:58 +0000 hourly 1 By: Doc Gurley http://www.docgurley.com/2009/03/23/what-a-boob/#comment-5385 Doc Gurley Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:31:43 +0000 http://www.docgurley.com/?p=1448#comment-5385 Great points and I agree with both. Relactation is possible, but very rare if the mother decides in the peri-newborn period to not nurse (or if she did not ever attempt to nurse) - that is the exact group that I think this kind of negative media coverage most impacts - those moms who are ambivalent prior to giving birth and are post-partum exhausted. The concept that formula is an intervention is absolutely accurate - both clinically and epidemiologically. The norm is nursing and outcomes for formula (the intervention) are inferior in almost all studies. I really enjoyed the linked article about language - I feel the author's assessment is true about the impact of how we phrase this topic. Definitely gets you thinking! Thanks for the great comments. Great points and I agree with both. Relactation is possible, but very rare if the mother decides in the peri-newborn period to not nurse (or if she did not ever attempt to nurse) – that is the exact group that I think this kind of negative media coverage most impacts – those moms who are ambivalent prior to giving birth and are post-partum exhausted. The concept that formula is an intervention is absolutely accurate – both clinically and epidemiologically. The norm is nursing and outcomes for formula (the intervention) are inferior in almost all studies. I really enjoyed the linked article about language – I feel the author’s assessment is true about the impact of how we phrase this topic. Definitely gets you thinking! Thanks for the great comments.

]]> By: just wondering http://www.docgurley.com/2009/03/23/what-a-boob/#comment-5259 just wondering Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:09:28 +0000 http://www.docgurley.com/?p=1448#comment-5259 Ahhhh... thank you for that Dr. G! Quite cathartic. Only wanted to make two brief corrections. The first being that you absolutely can go back to breastfeeding once you've stopped. Heck women who have never breastfed (and even never been pregnant) have lactated. Relactation is quite doable with a bit of support (IBCLC, Le Leche League, a well informed friend). The second is that breastfeeding isn't best - formula is inferior. As with all science we should be comparing the biological norm (breastfeeding) with the intervention (formula feeding). IBCLC Diane Weissinger first brought this to my attention - her argument is summarized here http://breastfeeding.suite101.com/article.cfm/choosing_breastfeeding_language. Keep up the good work! Ahhhh… thank you for that Dr. G! Quite cathartic.

Only wanted to make two brief corrections. The first being that you absolutely can go back to breastfeeding once you’ve stopped. Heck women who have never breastfed (and even never been pregnant) have lactated. Relactation is quite doable with a bit of support (IBCLC, Le Leche League, a well informed friend).

The second is that breastfeeding isn’t best – formula is inferior. As with all science we should be comparing the biological norm (breastfeeding) with the intervention (formula feeding). IBCLC Diane Weissinger first brought this to my attention – her argument is summarized here http://breastfeeding.suite101.com/article.cfm/choosing_breastfeeding_language.

Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Xak http://www.docgurley.com/2009/03/23/what-a-boob/#comment-5246 Xak Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:17:27 +0000 http://www.docgurley.com/?p=1448#comment-5246 Awesome rebuttal, with one small inaccuracy--nursing CAN be resumed after weaning. It's called relactating and if more women knew about it, more babies could be getting the nutrition they biologically need after "nursing strikes" (which are when baby suddenly stops nursing, often confused for weaning, but true weaning happens gradually, over a period of several weeks to months at least) pass or mom weans and regrets it. Other than that, bravo! Awesome rebuttal, with one small inaccuracy–nursing CAN be resumed after weaning. It’s called relactating and if more women knew about it, more babies could be getting the nutrition they biologically need after “nursing strikes” (which are when baby suddenly stops nursing, often confused for weaning, but true weaning happens gradually, over a period of several weeks to months at least) pass or mom weans and regrets it.

Other than that, bravo!

]]> By: PinchingAbe http://www.docgurley.com/2009/03/23/what-a-boob/#comment-4797 PinchingAbe Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:33:48 +0000 http://www.docgurley.com/?p=1448#comment-4797 All I have to say is that God does give you an instruction manual to get you going.... breast milk. God didn't send you a baby and a case of formula with an Aloha and a shove out the door to figure it out yourself. I can't believe any sane person would refute what God gives you. It is a wonder how humankind survived (gasp) before formula. I nursed both of my kids as long as I could (or they would) and saved myself at least $1,500 in formula costs upfront, less copays for doctor visits as toddlers... etc. etc. I nursed mainly for health benefits though, not for financial reasons. But as more and more health problems get connected to formula feeding, I am more and more grateful that I nursed them. All I have to say is that God does give you an instruction manual to get you going…. breast milk. God didn’t send you a baby and a case of formula with an Aloha and a shove out the door to figure it out yourself. I can’t believe any sane person would refute what God gives you. It is a wonder how humankind survived (gasp) before formula. I nursed both of my kids as long as I could (or they would) and saved myself at least $1,500 in formula costs upfront, less copays for doctor visits as toddlers… etc. etc. I nursed mainly for health benefits though, not for financial reasons. But as more and more health problems get connected to formula feeding, I am more and more grateful that I nursed them.

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