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I can agree with what you say here but I have another gripe about
the hospital system that never seems to be adressed by anyone -
FOOD!
The hospital food for maternity ward is not really breast milk
friendly - women have a choice of generally tea or coffee - what about
Milo?
I know different hospitals are different but from my experience the
diet was low fat - lots of salad and nice and spicy foods.
For me I was craving chocolate milk and on day 4 my milk was not
in. I asked a visitor to bring in a Big M and within an hour of
drinking it my boobs were about to explode. I needed milk!
All the meals had been so low fat that they didn't give me any
fat to make milk with.
Yes water makes milk but the body also needs some fat in the diet
and I am sure that diet is a hugely important factor. I am sure
that we are not looking closely enough at what the hospital is feeding
women after the birth of their baby. This has a direct impact on
the milk they produce.
Just my thoughts!
Regards
Rhonda
-------Original
Message-------
Date: Sunday, June
02, 2002 23:35:54
Subject: RE:
Melbourne's Child article
As a recent consumer, I can say that the (over)
emphasis on technique and
latch, although it is important, is very
confusing. When I had my daughter,
in a baby friendly hospital, every
midwife had a different idea about what I
was meant to be doing.
Confusion is not the word. My mind was in chaos!!!
This baby friendly
hospital recommended formula to me. So much for the 10
steps!!! Also,
their LCs were very limited in their advice. For low
supply, I was
told on more than 10 different occasions over 3 months to just
keep
expressing. I agree with the baby friendly initiative, but seeing
it
1st hand, I dont think its working. Some staff are just not
committed
enough. Friends and family who are also recent consumers
have sited that
the MCHN and midwifes in hospital (rural VIC) told
them their milk did not
have enough nutrients in it, and that it
wasnt strong enough. I think the
whole situation is worse than we
think, and I am surprised that anyone is
breastfeeding at all,
considering the current climate....in my
humble
opinion!!!
Regards, Macha.
-----Original
Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
Behalf Of Johnston
Sent: Sunday, 2 June 2002 8:04 PM
To:
ozmidwifery
Subject: RE: Melbourne's Child article
Dear
Liz
While I agree wholeheartedly with most of the discussion on this,
and I
have seen the article in question, I feel I need to make a
comment about
your statement :
<
The 'baby friendly
initiative' I believe, was aimed at developing countries
whose
children were dying of diarrhoeal disease through contaminated
water,
incorrect formula and lack of hygiene. >
This is a not
uncommon response, and it worries me greatly - I believe it's
wrong.
I was involved in both the Victorian and the national BFHI set-up.
I
am not actively involved in it now, but I support the
underlying
principles wholeheartedly.
I know of no reason why
every maternity service in Australia should not
implement the '10
steps to successful breastfeeding', and seek external
assessment
through the Baby Friendly Hospital accreditation process. This
has
very little to do with dirty water - babies die unnecessarily
in
Australia too because they are not breastfed. The reasons for
failure of
breastfeeding (most are willing to initiate breastfeeding,
but the drop-off
rates are alarming) are many. There is reliable
evidence that practices
which have for many years been common in
maternity services across the
developed world, such as separation of
mother and baby, timing of feeds,
use of artificial supplements, use
of dummies and teats, advertising of
alternatives to breastfeeding
... all contribute to early weaning. These
are the issues that are
dealt with in the global Baby Friendly Hospital
Initiative. Sally's
comments about babies who are brought into this world
doped up to
their eyeballs in narcotics are also relevant here. These
babies and
their mothers require special skilled support, and it can all be
done
within the baby friendly process. There's nothing daunting,
or
excessively focused on technique in the baby friendly initiative
that I
know about. (I'm a realist - not everyone gets it right all
the time, but
that's life!)
Finally, we all agree that most
mothers, most of the time, want what's best
for their babies.
Midwives who seek to provide woman centred care will do
all that they
can to support the mother-baby bond, working with the
natural
process, and only interfering when we have a good reason.
That's being
mother-friendly too.
Protecting, promoting and
supporting breastfeeding doesn't come easily.
There are many
deterrents in our society. Our work should be underpinned
by reliable
evidence, and I would ask anyone who knows of evidence contrary
to
the BFHI '10 steps' to speak up now.
With my best wishes
Joy
Johnston
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