Crying it out, how hard it is to watch…
Last autumn when our baby, M, was 6 months old, we visited people we knew with a little girl and a 4 month old. It was awful, one of the worst weekends ever. Why? because they’d chosen the cry-it-out method with their children.
I managed to get through it by thinking it would soon be over. The worst was not being able to say or do anything. I didn't actually know them very well. The husband was someone F had met at work and got on with and we didn't really know much about their opinions on child care. Anyway, they had two children so as you can imagine we, with our 6 month old, couldn't really question their methods. And although I was itching to pick the baby up and hold her a little, I just held our baby a little closer to me and held my breath.
So we couldn’t say anything about what they were doing but we did answer their questions about what we did and assumed the fact that M stayed up all through dinner and until we went to bed. The mother asked me 'what would happen if you just put her in bed on her own' and I replied, 'well she wouldn't go to sleep and she'd cry' and left it at that. I could tell she was itching to tell me to do it and they really saw the whole crying out thing as something to be proud of having got through, like a sacrifice you have to make to be a good parent, not an over indulgent one like us being the implication. The mother was breastfeeding and said she enjoyed it although she was a bit taken aback by my on demand approach (yes on demand really means every time). When we talked about how long and I said I wanted to continue as long as M wanted she said it made her think it might be worth carrying on longer and she was really impressed by the wrap, M slept for 2hours in it while we were out walking.
It was just so sad, the baby, V, smiled once over two days and F was saying to me, 'do you think it's just her age' and I was replying 'no, I think it's because she's only picked up to be fed, and even then only when her mother thinks she should be hungry'. It was like in the continuum concept; I only saw them interact with her once. The room we slept in was the coldest in the house and the furthest from downstairs and they told us that was where they’d put her in the beginning so they wouldn’t hear her. At one point when we were eating she was crying in her bouncy seat. The mother said, ‘oh she’s probably tired’ and so the father lifted her out, she stopped crying, and put her in her pram, she started crying again. His reaction? He placed the pram as far away from the table as possible so she wouldn’t disturb us.
It was really hard not to say anything but we were staying at their place, 2.5hr drive from Paris and I would have found it rude to comment, but at the same time it's hard. We wouldn't go and stay with them again and both agreed the weekend was awful. What I found particularly hard was that it upset M to experience parents not responding to their baby's needs, she seemed to want me to respond to the other baby and I found myself explaining to her that the baby's mummy would respond, that it would be okay. In fact since then, whenever another baby cries I watch her reaction and always explain to her what that baby's mummy or carer is doing and why the baby's crying.
The whole thing made me realise that I couldn't really be friends with someone whose opinions on parenting are so alien to my own. In the end parenting ends up being a philosophy and one that's very divisive. I like to keep an open mind and to remember that all parents are doing what they really believe is best for their baby but I also tend to spend time with those people whose ideas are closer to my own. I think I need that support to nurture my own fragile tentative at parenthood, to keep me going when it’s hard and I need reminding why I’m doing it this way, attachment parenting or whatever you want to call it.
HG.
Sunday 6 April 2008
Becoming an attachment parent. Education support confidence strength politics
Becoming an Attachment Parent. Education, Support, Confidence, Strenth, Politics.
Again, another colleague has decided not to breast feed. I felt lost and sad. I asked why. She said that it did not work. The bottle is much easier. Why do the people like the easier way? Another friend lets her baby cry because it's easier. All babies cry so why care? She said. I am always looking after my baby. I am always taking care of my baby. I do not want to let my baby cry. My friend keeps saying you must be separated from your bb. You are too close to her. All those comments and critcisms lower my motivation and confidence.
Why do I continue to breast feed? Because it's best for my bb.
Why did I start to breast feed? Becuase it was normal for me.
Why do I care for my bb so much? Because I love her so much.
Why do I not let her cry? Because I want to understand her.
Why do I sleep with her? Because I want to share everything with her.
How do I keep going? Because she smiles at me each time she sees me. She loves me. She wants me. She needs me.
So I want to ask you the same questions, to encourage me, to be sure that I am not alone.
Thank you.
S
I feel so sad when I see mothers with tiny babies shopping for bottles. I want to say something to them, to tell them that there is no better way of enjoying your child than breast-feeding, that it is such a pleasure to sleep with your baby and to cuddle them as much as you want to. How can you be too close to your baby? She came out of your body! Separation is a natural process: she came out of your body naturally and as she grows, and you grow, the separation will continue to be natural. I think that the philosophy that you will damage your baby by being too close is evil, and it has made millions and millions of lives unhappy. Your friend probably just wants what she thinks is best for you, I'm sure she believes she is right. But you know with all your heart what is right for you and your baby.
I breastfeed my baby because I can't imagine doing anything else. My whole body feels revolted if I think about giving him a bottle. He loves it, and so do I. I was recently in South Africa, and at least 3 strangers (women) asked me if I was breast-feeding, and when I said 'yes!' they said 'Well done! Good for you! Keep it up!'. They were so happy, so pleased.
I can't stand it when my baby cries. My whole world collapses into pain. I have to make it stop. I know that if I ignore it I will stop feeling my baby's pain, and a very special and sensitive part of me will die. I would be less of a woman than I was. Less of a mother. There can be nothing wrong with offering comfort when my baby needs it, or alleviating his profound fear.
But you have to be a mother to understand that. A real mother. You can't explain it to someone who doesn't feel that way anyway, in the same way as you can't describe what it's like to be a parent to a non-parent. You know what they're missing, but they don't.
I hope I've answered your questions one way or another. You're a wonderful mother! Keep going!
M
I overheard this extraordinary convesation between two male Oxford University students (Oxford University being the elite university in the UK):
Student A: my mother breastfed me until I was three years old.
Student B: my mother breastfed me until I was twelve or thirteen.
Student A: last time you told me that it was nine (!)
Not a conversation you hear every day! I think the English culture has a very different view towards breastfeeding than the French - all of the mothers I've met here in the UK breastfeed their babies, and almost all of them carry on for at least a year. Having said that, the 'health visitor' told me I should be thinking about weaning and that my baby must learn independence by putting himself to sleep. I smiled politely and didn't hit her. It seems to me the medical proffessionals are about as stupid and uninformed as in France, but breastfeeding itself is more a part of the culture. M.
Again, another colleague has decided not to breast feed. I felt lost and sad. I asked why. She said that it did not work. The bottle is much easier. Why do the people like the easier way? Another friend lets her baby cry because it's easier. All babies cry so why care? She said. I am always looking after my baby. I am always taking care of my baby. I do not want to let my baby cry. My friend keeps saying you must be separated from your bb. You are too close to her. All those comments and critcisms lower my motivation and confidence.
Why do I continue to breast feed? Because it's best for my bb.
Why did I start to breast feed? Becuase it was normal for me.
Why do I care for my bb so much? Because I love her so much.
Why do I not let her cry? Because I want to understand her.
Why do I sleep with her? Because I want to share everything with her.
How do I keep going? Because she smiles at me each time she sees me. She loves me. She wants me. She needs me.
So I want to ask you the same questions, to encourage me, to be sure that I am not alone.
Thank you.
S
I feel so sad when I see mothers with tiny babies shopping for bottles. I want to say something to them, to tell them that there is no better way of enjoying your child than breast-feeding, that it is such a pleasure to sleep with your baby and to cuddle them as much as you want to. How can you be too close to your baby? She came out of your body! Separation is a natural process: she came out of your body naturally and as she grows, and you grow, the separation will continue to be natural. I think that the philosophy that you will damage your baby by being too close is evil, and it has made millions and millions of lives unhappy. Your friend probably just wants what she thinks is best for you, I'm sure she believes she is right. But you know with all your heart what is right for you and your baby.
I breastfeed my baby because I can't imagine doing anything else. My whole body feels revolted if I think about giving him a bottle. He loves it, and so do I. I was recently in South Africa, and at least 3 strangers (women) asked me if I was breast-feeding, and when I said 'yes!' they said 'Well done! Good for you! Keep it up!'. They were so happy, so pleased.
I can't stand it when my baby cries. My whole world collapses into pain. I have to make it stop. I know that if I ignore it I will stop feeling my baby's pain, and a very special and sensitive part of me will die. I would be less of a woman than I was. Less of a mother. There can be nothing wrong with offering comfort when my baby needs it, or alleviating his profound fear.
But you have to be a mother to understand that. A real mother. You can't explain it to someone who doesn't feel that way anyway, in the same way as you can't describe what it's like to be a parent to a non-parent. You know what they're missing, but they don't.
I hope I've answered your questions one way or another. You're a wonderful mother! Keep going!
M
I overheard this extraordinary convesation between two male Oxford University students (Oxford University being the elite university in the UK):
Student A: my mother breastfed me until I was three years old.
Student B: my mother breastfed me until I was twelve or thirteen.
Student A: last time you told me that it was nine (!)
Not a conversation you hear every day! I think the English culture has a very different view towards breastfeeding than the French - all of the mothers I've met here in the UK breastfeed their babies, and almost all of them carry on for at least a year. Having said that, the 'health visitor' told me I should be thinking about weaning and that my baby must learn independence by putting himself to sleep. I smiled politely and didn't hit her. It seems to me the medical proffessionals are about as stupid and uninformed as in France, but breastfeeding itself is more a part of the culture. M.
Becoming an attachment parent. 101 reasons to breastfeed
101 REASONS TO BREASTFEED :
ProMoM Inc. - Promoting the awareness and acceptance of breastfeeding.
Written by Leslie Burby, brought to you by ProMoM.
© 1998-2001 ProMoM, Inc. All rights reserved. (Revised June 14, 2001.)
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it
According to the most recent statement of the Academy, "Human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick newborns. It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least the first 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired."
A.A.P. Breastfeeding Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk (http://www.aap.org/policy/re9729.html)
Breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and baby
The American Dietetic Association promotes breastfeeding and believes that "the bonding that occurs during breastfeeding makes it a special choice."
ADA Website: http://www.eatright.org
Breastfeeding stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin in the mother's body. "It is now well established that oxytocin, as well as stimulating uterine contractions and milk ejection, promotes the development of maternal behavior and also bonding between mother and offspring." Uvnas-Moberg, Eriksson: Breastfeeding: physiological, endocrine and behavioral adaptations caused by oxytocin and local neurogenic activity in the nipple and mammary gland.
Acta Paediatrica, 1996 May, 85(5):525-30
Breastfeeding satisfies baby's emotional needs
All babies need to be held. Studies have shown that premature babies are more likely to die if they are not held or stroked. There is no more comforting feeling for an infant of any age than being held close and cuddled while breastfeeding. While many bottle-feeding parents are aware of the importance of cradling their babies while offering the bottle, some are not. Even for parents with good intentions, there is always the temptation to prop up a bottle next to the child, or, when the baby is a little older, to let the child hold his/her own bottle and sit alone. This is emotionally unsatisfying to baby, and can be dangerous physically. An unsupervised child can choke. Also, propping up bottles overnight leads to tooth decay.
Breast milk provides perfect infant nutrition
"Human milk is uniquely superior for infant feeding and is species-specific; all substitute feeding options differ markedly from it. The breastfed infant is the reference or normative model against which all alternative feeding methods must be measured with regard to growth, health, development, and all other short and long-term benefits."
A.A.P. Breastfeeding Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk (RE2729)
Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of breast cancer
It's been known for several years that breastfeeding is associated with lower rates of pre-menopausal breast cancer. Now a new study from China has concluded that a woman who breastfeeds for 24 months of her life has only half the risk of developing breast cancer as a woman who breastfeeds for 1 - 6 months. Protection increases to 75% for those who breastfeed for a total of 109 months. This held true for both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal cancers.
Zheng et al, "Lactation Reduces Breast Cancer Risk in Shandong Province, China" Am. J. Epidemiol. 152 (12): 1129
Newcomb PA, Storer BE, Longnecker MP, et al. "Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer." N Engl J Med. 1994;330:81-87
Formula feeding increases baby girls' risk of developing breast cancer in later life
Women who were formula-fed as infants have higher rates of breast cancer as adults. For both premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer, women who were breastfed as children, even if only for a short time, had a 25% lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who were bottle-fed as infants.
Freudenheim, J. et al. 1994 "Exposure to breast milk in infancy and the risk of breast cancer". Epidemiology 5:324-331
Formula Feeding is associated with lower I.Q.
Human breast milk enhances brain development and improves congnitive development in ways that formula can not. One study has found that the average I.Q. of 7 and 8 year children who had been breastfed as babies was 10 points higher than their bottle fed piers. All of the children involved had been born prematurely and tube fed the human milk, indicating that the milk itself, not the act of breastfeeding, caused this difference in I.Q. level.
Another study to support this statement was done in New Zealand. An 18-year longitudinal study of over 1,000 children found that those who were breastfed as infants had both higher intelligence and greater academic achievement than children who were infant-formula fed.
Horwood and Fergusson, "Breastfeeding and Later Cognitive and Acadenic Outcomes", Jan 1998 Pediatrics Lucas, A., "Breast Milk and Subsequent Intelligence Quotient in Children Born Preterm." Lancet, 1992; 339:261-262Vol. 101, No. 1
Morrow-Tlucak M, Haude RH, Ernhart CB. "Breastfeeding and cognitive development in the first 2 years of life". Soc Sci Med. 1988:26;635-639
Lucas A., "Breast Milk and Subsequent Intelligence Quotient in Children Born Preterm". Lancet 1992;339:261-62
Wang YS, Wu SY. "The effect of exclusive breastfeeding on development and incidence of infection in infants." J Hum Lactation. 1996; 12:27-30
Breast milk is always ready and comes in a nicer package than formula does
Need we say more?
Breast milk helps pass meconium
Babies are born with a sticky tar-like substance called meconium in their intestines. Colostrum, or early milk, is uniquely designed to help move this substance through the infant's body.
Breast milk contains immunities to diseases and aids in the development of baby's immune system.
Formula provides neither of these benefits. "Breastfed babies have fewer illnesses because human milk transfers to the infant a mother's antibodies to disease. About 80% of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Breastfed babies are protected in varying degrees from a number of illnesses including, pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and German measles. Furthermore, mothers produce antibodies to what ever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight diseases their babies are exposed to as well."
Williams RD, "Breast-Feeding Best Bet for Babies", U.S. Food and Drug Administration Statement: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/895_brstfeed.html
Koutras, A.K., "Fecal Secretory Immunoglobulin A in Breast Milk vs. Formula Feeding in Early Infancy". J. Ped Gastro Nutr 1989.
Breast milk is more digestible than formula
"Babies can digest human milk more easily than the milk of other animals, probably because human milk contains an enzyme that aids in this process. Breast milk forms softer curds in the infant's stomach than cow's milk (the basis for most formulas) and is more quickly assimilated into the body system. While it contains less protein than does cow's milk, virtually all the protein in breast milk is available to the baby. By contrast, about half the protein in cow's milk passes through the baby's body as a waste product. Similarly, iron and zinc are absorbed better by breastfed babies."
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
Baby's suckling helps shrink mother's uterus after childbirth
"Nursing will help you to regain your figure more quickly, since the process of lactation causes the uterus (which has increased during pregnancy to about 20 times its normal size) to shrink more quickly to its pre-pregnancy size. "
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc. 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
The uterus of the non-breastfeeding mother will never shrink back to its pre-pregnant size. It will always remain slightly enlarged.
Chua S, Arulkumaran S, Lim I et al. "Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity." Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1994; 101:804-805
Baby's suckling helps prevent post-partum hemorrhage in mother
Nursing her baby causes the mother's body to release oxytocin, which stimulates contractions which help shrink the uterus back to pre-pregnancy size while expelling the placenta. These contractions also shut off the maternal blood vessels that formerly fed the baby and discourage excessive bleeding. Women who choose not to breastfeed must be given synthetic oxytocin to insure against hemorrhaging.
Chua S, Arulkumaran S, Lim I et al. "Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity." Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1994; 101:804-805
Nursing helps mom lose weight after baby is born
Breastfeeding requires an average of 500 extra calories per day.
Dewey KG, Heinig MJ, Nommwen LA. "Maternal weight-loss patterns during prolonged lactation. "Am J Clin Nutr 1993;58:162-166
Breastfeeding mothers generally lose weight faster than bottle feeding moms. "They experience quicker slimming of the abdoment, and decreased risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer, as well as osteoporosis."
Statement by American Dietetic Association
Mothers who breastfed exclusively or partially had significantly larger reductions in hip circumference and were less above their pre-pregnancy weights at 1 month postpartum than mothers who fed formula exclusively."
Kramer, F., "Breastfeeding reduces maternal lower body fat." J. Am Diet Assoc 1993; 93(4):429-33
Pre-term milk is specially designed for premature infants
"Milk produced by women who deliver prematurely differs from that produced after a full-term pregnancy. Specifically, during the first month after parturition, pre-term milk maintains a composition similar to that of colostrum.."
Hamosh, Margit, PhD, Georgetown University Medical Center "Breast-feeding: Unraveling the Mysteries of Mother's Milk".
The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend it
"...breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; ... it forms a unique biological and emotional basis for the health of both mother and child; ...the anti-infective properties of breast milk help to protect infants against disease; and ... there is an important relationship between breastfeeding and child spacing".(Emphasis added)
(See The WHO/UNICEF International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes).
Breastfeeding protects against Crohn's disease (intestinal disorder)
Crohn's Diease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation extending into the deeper layers of the intestinal wall. It is difficult to treat, but several studies have shown that breastfeeding may help babies avoid developing the disease.
Koletzko S, Sherman P, Corey M, et al. "Role of infant feeding practices in development of Crohn;s disease in childhood." Br Med J. 1989;298:1617-1618
Rigas A, Rigas B, Blassman M, et al. "Breast-feeding and maternal smoking in the etiology of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in childhood." Ann Epidemiol. 1993;3387-392
Formula feeding increases risk of baby developing type I (juvenile, insulin-dependent) diabetes
There are many studies linking development of juvenile diabetes to lack of breastfeeding. The results of a recent study in Finland suggest that at introduction of dairy products at an early age, and high milk consumption during childhood increase the level of cow's milk antibodies in the children's systems. This factor is independently associated with increased risk of insulin dependent diabetes.
Virtanen et al: "Diet, Cow's milk protein antibodies and the risk of IDDM in Finnish children." Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group. Diabetologia, Apr 1994, 37(4):381-7
Mayer, EJ, Hamman RF, Gay EC, et al. "Reduced risk of IDDM among breast-fed children". Diabetes, 1988;37:1625-1632
Virtanen SM, Rasanen L, Aro A, et al. "Infant feeding in Finnish children <7 yr of age with newly diagnosed IDDM" Diabetes Care, 1991;14:415-417
Gerstein HC. "Cow's milk exposure and type 1 diabetes mellitus". Diabetes Care. 1994;17:13-19
Borch-Johnson, K., et al., "Relation between breastfeeding and incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus". Lancet 2:1083-86 (1984)
Breastfeeding baby helps decrease insulin requirements in diabetic mothers
Reduction in insulin dose postpartum was significantly greater in those who were breastfeeding than those who were bottle feeding.
Davies, H.A., "Insulin Requirements of Diabetic Women who Breast Feed." British Medical Journal, 1989
Breastfeeding may help stabilize progress of maternal endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease in which the endometrial tissue in a woman's body begins to form in places other than her uterus, such as on her ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the outer surface of the uterus. This tissue continues to function like uterine tissue would in the uterus, and sheds once a month during the woman's menstrual cycle. Since there is no vaginal outlet for this blood and tissue, painful complications, including sterility, may result. There is much clinical research showing that pregnancy temporarily stops the progress of this disease. Many women say that the disease also seems to be alleviated by breastfeeding. It certainly makes sense that the delay in the return of a woman's menstrual cycle would be desirable in preventing the endometriosis from starting up again. Some women even claim a permanent cure. After nursing her children for a total of 27 months, one woman stated, "Even today, my periods are still regular, my ovulation normal and predictable, and I have forgotten that pain, like a fist in the stomach that used to keep me awake at night so often".
Annie Havard, "Breastfeeding - a cure for endometriosis", Allaiter ajourd'hui, Quarterly Bulletin of LLL France, No. 25, Oct. - Dec. 1995
Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing ovarian cancer
Based on the research, for every 1.6 women who do not breastfeed, only one woman who does will develop ovarian cancer.
Gwinn ML, "Pregnancy, breastfeeding and oral contraceptives and the risk of Epithelial ovarian cancer." J. Clin. Epidemiol. 1990; 43:559-568
Rosenblatt KA, Thomas DB, "Lactation and the risk of Epithelial ovarian cancer". Int J Epidemiol. 1993;22:192-197
Schneider, AP "Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer". New England Journal of Medicine, 1987.
Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing endometrial cancer
A World Health Organization study has shown that the longer a woman breastfeeds, the less likely she is to get endometrial cancer.
Rosenblatt, KA et al "Prolonged lactation and endometrial cancer" Int. J. Epidemiol. 1995; 24:499-503
Petterson B, et al. "Menstruation span- a time limited risk factor for endometrial carcinoma". Acta Obstst Gyneocol Scand 1986;65:247-55
Formula feeding increases chances of baby developing allergies
"Breastfed babies have fewer allergies than artificially fed babies, This is especially important if your family has a history of allergies. Many babies are allergic to cow's milk formulas. some babies are even allergic to soy formulas. Breastfeeding protects against other allergies, such as atopic eczema, food allergies , and respiratory allergies."
Wiggins, PK , Dettwyler, KA" Breastfeeding: A Mother's Gift", July 1, 1998 ed., Chapter 1, L.A. Publishing Co.
Merrett, TG, et al., "Infant Feeding and Allergy: Twelve Month Prospective Study of 500 Babies Born in allergic Families." American Allergy, 1988; 13-20
Lucas A, Brooke OG, Morley R, et al. "Early diet of preterm infants and development of allergic atopic disease: randomized prospective study". Br Med J. 1990:300:837-840
Halken S, Host A, Hansen LG, et al. "Effect of an allergy prevention programme on incidence of atopic symptoms in infancy". Ann Allergy. 1992;47:545-553
Saarinen UM, Kajossari M. "Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease: prospective follow-up study until 17 years old." Lancet. 1995;346:1065-1069
Breast milk lowers risk of baby developing asthma
Breastfed babies have lower risk for developing recurrent wheezing when they are older (age 6 or more).
Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Med., July 1995
Formula feeding increases baby's risk of otitis media (ear infections)
"Otitis media is up to 3-4 times more prevalent in formula-fed infants".
Aniansson G, Alm B, Andersson B, et al. "A prospective cohort study on breast-feeding and otitis media in Swedish infants". Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1994; 13:183-188
Duncan, B et al "Exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months protects against Otitis Media", Pediatrics 91(1993): 897-872
Kovar MG, Serdula MK, Marks JS, et al. "Review of the epidemiologic evidence for an association between infant feeding and infant health." Pediatrics. 1984:74:S615-S638
Saarinen UM. "Prolonged Breast Feeding as prophylaxis for recurrent otitis media." Acta Paediatr Scand. 1982;71:567-571
Formula feeding may increase risk of sudden infant death syndrome (S.I.D.S.)
There are a number of studies showing a link between lack of breastfeeding and S.I.D.S. It has been found that for each month of breastfeeding, the chance of S.I.D.S. is reduced by 50% compared to formula fed babies.
Fredrickson, DD et al., "Relationship between Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Breastfeeding Intensity and Duration." Am. Journal of Diseases in Children, 1993: 147:460
Ford RPK, et al ."Breastfeeding and the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome." International Journal of Diseases in Children, 1993, 22(5):885-890
Taylor BJ, Mitchell EA, et al. "Breastfeeding and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Int J. Epidemiol. 1993;22:885-890
Mitchell EA, Taylor BJ, Ford RPK, et al. "Four modifiable and other major risk factors for cot death: the New Zealand Study"J Paediatr Child Health. 1992;28:S3-S8
Scragg LK, Mitchell EA, Tonkin SL, et al. "Evaluation of the cot death prevention programme in South Auckland." NZ Med J. 1993;106:8-10
Breastfeeding protects baby against diarrheal infections
Numerous studies have shown that diarrheal infections are much more common in formula-fed babies. This is true throughout the world, despite a common misconception that only people living in areas with contaminated water need be concerned with this issue. Such infections are more likely to be fatal in developing nations, but all formula-fed infants are at greater risk than their breastfed peers.
Kovar MG, Serdula MK, Marks JS, et al. "Review of the epidemiologic evidence for an association between infant feeding and infant health." Pediatrics. 1984:74:S615-S638
Dewey KG, Heinig MJ, Nommsen-Rivers LA. Differences in morbidity between breast-fed. "Differences in morbidity between breast-fed and formula-fed infants." Pediatr. 1995;126:696-702
Howie PW, Forsyth JS, Ogston SA, et al. "Protective effect of breast feeding against infection." Br Med J. 1990;300:11-16
Popkin BM, Adair L, Akin JS, et al. "Breast-feeding and diarrheal morbidity." Pediatrics. 1990;86:874-882
Beaudry M, Dufour R, Marcoux S. "Relation Between infant feeding and infections during the first six months of life." J Pediatr. 1995; 126:191-197
Breastfeeding protects baby against bacterial meningitis
Meningitis is an infection which causes the inflammation of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by a type of bacteria called Hemophilus influenzae type b (HiB). Breastfeeding is protective against infections caused by this bacteria, and the meningitis which may result.
Cochi SL, Fleming DW, Hightower AW, et al. "Primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease: a population-based assessment of risk factors." J Pediatr. 1986;108:997-896
Istre GR, Conner JS, Broome CV, et al. "Risk factors for primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease: increased risk from day care attendance and school-aged household members." J Pediatr. 1985;106:190-198
Breastfeeding protects baby against respiratory infections
These include "infections caused by rotaviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses."
Grover M et al "Effect of human milk prostaglandins and lactoferrin on respiratory syncytial virus and rotavirus" Acta Paediatr. 1997; 86: 315-316
"Breastfed babies were less than half as likely to be hospitalized with pneumonia or bronchiolitis."
Piscane A, et al "Breastfeeding and acute lower respiratory infections" Acta Paediatr. 1994; 83: 714-718
"Breastfed babies had one-fifth the number of lower respiratory tract infections compared to formula-fed infants."
Cunningham, Allan S. MD "Breastfeeding, Bottle-feeding and Illness - An Annotated Bibliography", 1996.
Frank Al, Taber LH, Glezen WP, et al. "Breast-feeding and respiratory virus infection." Pediatrics 1982;70:239-245
Wright AI, Holberg DJ, Martinez FD, et al. " Breast feeding and lower respiratory tract illness in the first year of life." Br Med J. 1989;299:935-949
Chen Y. "Synergistic effect of passive smoking and artificial feeding on hospitalization for respiratory illness in early childhood." Chest. 1989;95:1004-1007
Wright AL, Holberg CH, Taussig LM, et al. "Relationship of infant feeding to recurrent wheezing at age 6 years." Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995;149:758-763
Formula fed babies have a higher risk of developing certain childhood cancers
In a study done by researchers at the University of Minnesota it was found that babies who were breast fed for at least one month had a 21% less chance of getting leukemia than formula fed babies. The risk was 30% for children breast fed for 6 months.
"Breastfeeding May Lower Risk For Leukemia In Children", c. 1999, Mediconsult.com
Davis MK, Savitz DA, Graubard BI. "Infant feeding and childhood cancer." Lancet. 1988;2:365-368
Shu X-O, Clemens H, Zheng W, et al. "Infant breastfeeding and the risk of childhood lymphoma and leukemia". Int J Epidemiol. 1995;24:27-32
Breastfeeding decreases chances of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Preliminary data from U. of North Carolina/Duke University researchers indicates breastfed children were only 40% as likely to develop JA.
"Mother's Milk: An Ounce of Prevention?" Arthritis Today May-June 1994
Breastfeeding decreases child's chances of contracting Hodgkins disease
Hodgkins disease is a type of lymphoma, or cancer of the lymph system. It can develop in children, although it is less likely to do so in children who were breastfed as infants.
"An Exploratory Study of Environmental and Medical Factors Potentially Related to Childhood Cancer." Medical & Pediatric Oncology, 1991; 19(2):115-21
Breastfeeding protects baby against vision defects
In a study in Bangladesh, breastfeeding was a protective factor for night blindness among preschool-aged children in both rural and urban areas. Breast milk is generally the main, if not the only source, of vitamin A during a child's first 24 months of life (or for the duration of breastfeeding).
Bloem, M. et al. "The role of universal distribution of vitamin A capsules in combating vitamin A deficiency in Bangladesh.: Am J Epidemiol 1995; 142(8): 843-55
Birch E, et al. "Breastfeeding and optimal visual development." J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1993;30:33-8
Breastfeeding decreases chances of osteoporosis
According to the studies below, both breastfeeding mothers and their children will be less at risk for development of this disease.
The odds that a woman with osteoporosis did not breastfeed her baby was 4 times higher than for a control woman.
Blaauw, R. et al. "Risk factors for development of osteoporosis in a South African population." SAMJ 1994; 84:328-32
Dr. Alan Lucas, MRC Childhood Nutrition Research Center of London, found that 8-year-olds who were fed formula rather than breast fed as infants, had less developed bone mineralization than those fed breast milk.
"Bone mineral density decreases during lactation, but after weaning showed higher bone mineral density than those who did not breastfeed."
Kalwart HJ and Specker BL "Bone mineral loss during lactation and recovery after weaning." Obstet. Gynecol. 1995; 86:26-32
Melton LJ, Bryant SC, Wahner HW, et al. "Influence of breastfeeding and other reproductive factors on bone mass later in life." Osteoporos Int. 1993;22:684-691
Cumming RG, Klineberg RJ. "Breastfeeding and other reproductive factors and the risk of hip fractures in elderly woman." Int J Epidemiol 1993;22:684-691
Breast milk is aids in proper intestinal development
"...certain hormones in milk (such as cortisol) and smaller proteins (including epidermal growth factor, nerve growth factor, insulin-like growth factor and somatomedin C) act to close up the leaky mucosal lining of the newborn, making it relatively impermeable to unwanted pathogens and other potentially harmful agents. Indeed, animal studies have demonstrated that postnatal development of the intestine occurs faster in animals fed their mother's milk. And animals that also receive colostrum, containing the highest concentrations of epidermal growth factor, mature even more rapidly."
Newman, J, MD, FRCPC "How Breast milk Protects Newborns" http://www.promom.org/bf_info/sci_am.htm
Cows milk is an intestinal irritant
According to Dr. William Sears, MD, cow's milk should not be given as a beverage to infants under one year of age. "Cow's milk can irritate the lining of your infant's intestines, causing tiny losses of iron. This can contribute to iron-deficiency anemia."
The Baby Book - Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby From Birth to Age Two. c. 1993 Little, Brown & Co.
Formula-fed babies are more at risk for obesity in later life
A recent German study concluded "in industrialized countries, promoting prolonged breastfeeding may help decrease the prevalence of obesity in childhood. Since obese children have a high risk of becoming obese adults, such preventative measures may eventually result in reduction in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and other disease related to obesity." The study found that 4.5% of formula fed children are obese, while only 0.8% of breastfed children have this condition.
von Kries, R et al, "Breastfeeding and obesity: cross sectional study." BMJ 1999; 319:147-150 (July 17)
Breastfed babies have less chance of cardiopulmonary distress while feeding
Bottle-fed babies are at increased risk of cardiopulmonary disturbances, including prolonged airway closure and obstructed respiratory breaths due to repeated swallowing.
Koenig HS, Davies Am, Thach BT. "Coordination of breathing, sucking and swallowing during bottle feedings in human infants." J Appl Physiol 69: 1629: 1623-1629, 1990.
Infants can experience oxygen saturation below 90% when bottle feeding. Nine of 50 healthy term infants in one study experienced bradycardia during bottle feeding. Six of these episodes were preceded by apnea, three showed hypopnea (marked reduction in ventilation) and one had certral apnea (no respiratory efforts).
Matthew O, Clark ML, Ponske MH. Apnea, bradycardia, and cyanosis during oral feeding in term neonates." J Pediatr 106:857, 1985
Breastfed babies have less chance of developing ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulceration and inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and rectum. A number of studies have shown that breastfed babies are less likely to develop this disease.
Whorwell PJ, et al., "Bottle-feeding, Early Gastroenteritis, and inflammatory Bowel Disease." British Med. Jour. 1 (1979):382
Rigas A, Rigas B, Blassman M, et al. "Breast-feeding and maternal smoking in the etiology of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in childhood." Ann Epidemiol. 1993;3387-392
Breast milk protects against hemophilus b. bacteria
Hemophilus influenzae type b is a bacteria which can grow in the respiratory tract with no symptoms, but may spread into the throat, ears or blood and cause grave illness. Breastfed babies are much less vulnerable to such an overgrowth.
Cochi SL, Fleming DW, Hightower AW, et al. "Primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease: a population-based assessment of risk factors." J Pediatr. 1986;108:997-896
Takala AK, Eskola J, Palmgren J, et al. "Risk factors of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease among children in Finland. J Pediatr. 1980;115:695-701
Istre GR, Conner JS, Broome CV, et al. "Risk factors for primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease: increased risk from day care attendance and school-aged household members." J Pediatr. 1985;106:190-198
Breastfed babies require shorter pre and post-surgical fasting
Breastfeeding may continue until three hours before arrival time at the hospital in healthy children having elective surgery.
Schreiner, M.S. "Preoperative and Postoperative fasting in children." Ped Clinics N Amer 41 (1); 111-20 (1994)
Breastfeeding results in less sick days for parents
Since breastfed babies are statistically healthier than their formula fed peers, the parents of breastfed babies spend less time out of work taking care of sick children.
Breastfeeding enhances vaccine effectiveness
Breastfed infants showed better serum and secretory responses to oral and parenteral vaccines than those formula-fed.
Han-Zoric, M., "Antibody responses to parenteral and oral vaccines are impaired by conventional and low protein formulas as compared to breastfeeding." Acta Paediatr Scand 1990; 79:1137-42
Breastfed babies have less chance of developing necrotizing enterocolitis
This disease occurs most commonly in premature or sick newborns. In NEC the lining of the intestinal wall dies and sloughs off. Premature infants fed their own mother's milk or banked human milk are one sixth to one tenth as likely to develop NEC. An Australian study has estimated that 83% of NEC cases may be attributed to lack of breastfeeding.
Drane, D. "Breastfeeding and formula feeding: a preliminary economic analysis" Breastfeed Rev 1997; 5:7-15
Lucas A, Cole TJ. "Breast milk and neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis." Lancet. 1990; 336:519-1523
Convert RF, Barman N, Comanico RS, et al. "Prior enteral nutrition with human milk protects against intestinal perforation in infants who develop necrotizing enterocolitis." Pediatr Res. 1995; 37:305A. Abstract
Breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive
This is true only if you are exclusively breastfeeding, and have not yet gotten your period back following childbirth. Night nursing encourages longer amenorrhoea (periodlessness). If you really don't want to get pregnant again, use some back up birth control even if you haven't gotten your period again. Unless you are carefully following a natural family planning program, you will have no way of knowing when your first ovulation will occur, and by the time you figure it out you may be expecting! Still, generally speaking, breastfeeding contributes to optimum child spacing.
Kennedy KI, Visness CM. "Contraceptive efficacy of lactational amenorrhoea." Lancet. 1992; 339:227-230
Gray RH, Campbell OM, Apelo R, et al. "Risk of ovulation during lactation." Lancet. 1990; 335:25-29
Labbock MH, Colie C. "Puerperium and breast-feeding." Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 1992; 4:818-825
Breastfeeding is easier than using formula
After the initial start up period, breastfeeding is very easy. All you have to do is raise your shirt and let the little one latch on. No shopping for formula, bottles, and other supplies. No mixing, heating, refrigerating and cleaning up of formula. If you sleep with your baby, or sleep the baby next to your bed, you can forget about all the disturbing night time rituals associated with formula use. All you have to do is roll over, let the baby latch on, and go back to sleep!
Breast milk is free
Any way you look at it, you'll spend a lot more money if you choose to formula feed. The added calories a nursing mother must take in are a negligible expense, and nursing clothes are optional. If you need to pump, excellent pumps are available for between $50 and $225. A good pump can be used for more than one child, so they are really an investment. Do be sure to buy a pump manufactured by a company specializing in their manufacture. Beware of pumps made by formula companies. Many woman report these pumps to be inefficient at best, and painful at worst.
Formula is expensive
The cost of feeding a baby on formula for one year was estimated to be around $1000 in 1990. It has certainly gotten more expensive since. If you factor in the added medical cost you are statistically likely to incur, that brings the cost up to around $2,300 per year. If your baby happens to require a hypo-allergenic formula, you will have to considerably more.
Batten W. Hirschman J. Thomas C. Impact of the special supplemental food program on infants. J Pediatr 117 II:SIOI-109, 1990
Formula costs the government (and taxpayers) millions of dollars
The U.S. government spends over $500 million a year to provide formula for its WIC supplemental food program.
Batten W. Hirschman J. Thomas C. Impact of the special supplemental food program on infants. J Pediatr 117 II:SIOI-109, 1990
Breast milk is always the right temperature
Severe burns to babies' mouths have occurred due to improper heating of artificial milks. Even when it's done correctly, it's never fun to try to warm a bottle for a fussing baby.
Breast milk always has the right proportions of fat, carbohydrates and protein
Formula companies are constantly adjusting these proportions looking for the best composition. The reality is that a mother's milk composition changes from feeding to feeding depending on the needs of her child. No formula can do that!
Breast milk acts like a natural tranquilizer for baby
Mother's milk contains chemicals that seem to work like "knock-out drops" for tired babies. Even if baby doesn't fall asleep, he/she will certainly calm down and become more agreeable. If you choose to breastfeed into toddlerhood, you may find that the "terrible twos" never materialize.
Breastfeeding acts like a natural tranquilizer for mom
Nursing mothers often joke about falling asleep on the job. The sleep inducing qualities of nursing a baby are remarkable. In fact, new mothers have to be careful to hold a nursing baby in such a way that they will not drop the child when they inevitably nod off. Nursing in bed is a great solution. Even pumping at work can be a great way to calm down and get refocused during a stressful day. All this relaxation is caused by the hormone oxytocin, which is released each time a mother breastfeeds. It decreases blood pressure and clams the mother. Interestingly, one study found that there were far fewer incidences of domestic violence and sexual abuse in breastfeeding families.
Acheston, L, "Family violence and breastfeeding" Arch. Fam. Med. 1995, 4:650-652
Breast milk tastes better than formula
Human breast milk is remarkably sweet and light. Formula is pasty and bland. Which would you rather eat?
Breastfed babies are healthier over-all
Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest HMOs in the U.S. recently conducted internal research to determine the value of the company lactation support program. This research found that breastfed babies had many health advantages over formula-fed babies, including better over-all health.
(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program)
Breastfed babies are less likely to die before their third birthday
Not only are breastfed babies less liekly to contract life-threatening diseases, they are better able to combat any illnesses that may develop.
Van Den Bogaard, C. "Relationship Between Breast Feeding in Early Childhood and Morbidity in a general Population."Fan Med, 1991; 23:510-515
Breastfed babies require fewer doctor visits
Since breastfed babies are statistically healthier, they see the doctor less often.
(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program)
Breastfeeding mothers spend less time and money on doctor visits
In 1995 Kaiser-Permanente Health Maintenance Organization in North Carolina found that formula-fed babies averaged over $1,400 more per year in additional health care costs than breastfed infants.
(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program)
Fewer waste packaging products
No wrappers, canisters, disposable bottles etc...
"If every child in America were bottle-fed, almost 86,000 tons of tin would be needed to produce 550 million cans for one year's worth of formula. If every mother in Great Britain breastfed, 3000 tons of paper (used for formula labels) would be saved in a year. But formula is not the only problem. Bottles and nipples require plastic, glass, rubber, and silicon; production of these materials can be resource-intensive and often leads to end-products that are not-recyclable. All these products use natural resources, cause pollution in their manufacture and distribution and create trash in their packaging, promotion, and disposal."
"Mother Nature Loves Breastmilk" D. Michels, Pub. various periodicals, available on Internet at http://members.aol.com/diamichels/greenbm.htm
No bottles to tote
Unless you're pumping and transporting the milk for later. Even then there are fewer bottles to deal with.
Less cow induced global greenhouse gasses
Ridiculous as it may sound, bovine flatulence is a huge contributor to the greenhouse gas problem. Aside from producing vast quantities of methane, cows also contribute their manure and urine to our rivers and ground water.
No need to refrigerate
Of course, breast milk stays fresh because it's made on demand. Even pumped breast milk keeps for a long time outside of the fridge.
Medela guidelines for storing breast milk: http://www.medela.com
Cows milk is designed for baby cows
Human milk contains completely different proportions of protein, fat, carbohydrates. Cows milk is designed to help put on weight quickly, grow amazingly fast, and develop only as much brain power as a cow needs. The natural hormones in cows milk are geared toward cows, not humans. The fact that human beings can even drink the milk of another species in sort of amazing when you stop to think about it.
Human milk is designed for baby humans
Baby cows probably wouldn't do very well on it. It's designed to build brains, and to foster gradual physical growth.
Natural pain relief for baby
Breast milk actually contains chemicals that suppress pain (endorphins). Aside from this, the comfort a baby derives from being held close and suckling is remarkable. Many a bruise or scrape has been soothed away almost instantly by a few moments of nursing. If you choose to have your child vaccinated, it is a good idea to nurse immediately after he/she receives a vaccination. This soothes the hurt, as well as enhancing the vaccine's effectiveness.
Perfect food for sick baby
When a formula fed baby gets a gastrointestinal ailment they are usually put on an artificial electrolyte solution because formula is too hard for them to digest. Breast milk, however, is easily digested, and soothing to the intestines, so there is no need for artificial and expensive electrolyte solutions. If a baby gets a respiratory illness, formula may cause even more mucus. In contrast, breast milk contains antibodies to these ailments, as well as being highly digestible and not contributing to excess mucous formation.
More sleep for mom
Especially if she sleeps with baby, but even if she doesn't. No bottles to prepare and warm. Less time comforting a crying baby suffering from gas and allergies.
More sleep for baby
A baby that gets its night time needs met quickly is more likely to get right back to sleep than a baby who has to wait for a bottle while crying and swallowing air.
More sleep for dad
Again, even if he helps with baby burping, diapering, and baby toting, there are no bottles to deal with. Also, breastfed babies tend to need much less burping after the first few months.
Less equipment to maintain and store
Those bottles, measuring devices, sterilizing equipment and other gadgets take up valuable shelf space and they all require cleaning.
Less equipment to buy
If you don't need or want to pump your milk, you will not need to purchase a single thing: your body has all the equipment build-in. Even if you do have to buy a pump and the basic bottle kit, the savings in cost of formula and additional medical attention make breastfeeding financially well worth trying.
Breast milk has never been recalled
Formula has been, sometimes after causing injury or death. There were 22 "significant" recalls of formula including 7 potentially life threatening situations.
Babbit, V, "FDA Recalls Baby Formula, 1998", Breastfeeding.com, Inc.
Fresh breast milk is never contaminated with bacteria
In fact, it has antibacterial properties.
No need to worry about which brand is better
Each artificial breast milk formula is different from all its competitors, but none of them come close to duplicating the real thing. It can be very stressful for formula feeding mothers to try to determine which brand is the best of the lot. No matter which formula is used "it is increasingly apparent that infant formula can never duplicate human milk. Human milk contains living cells, hormones, active enzymes, immunoglobulins and compounds with unique structures that cannot be replicated in infant formula."
(Quoted from FDA pediatric-nutrition researchers at Abbott Laboratories, writing in March, 1994 issue of Endocrine Regulations.)
No need to worry about adding contaminated water
Even in the U.S. our water can contain dangerous elements like arsenic, lead and aluminum. These contaminants can become concentrated if water is boiled to sterilize it before being added to formula.
Breastfeeding helps reduce cruelty to farm animals
Less use of cow's milk equals fewer cows equals less opportunity for animal abuse.
Facilitates proper dental and jaw development
"Suckling at the breast is good for a baby's tooth and jaw development. Babies at the breast have to use as much as 60 times more energy to get food than do those drinking from a bottle...As [the babies jaw] muscles are strenuously exercised in suckling, their constant pulling encourages the growth of well-formed jaws and straight, healthy teeth."
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
"Among breastfed infants, the longer the duration of nursing the lower the incidents of malocclusion."
Labbok, M.H. "Does Breastfeeding Protect against Malocclusion? An Analysis of the 1981 Child Health Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey" American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 1987
Breastfed babies get fewer cavities
Breast milk contains bacteria fighting cells that may help kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Furthermore, bottle-fed babies "are at increased risk for baby bottle caries, a destructive dental condition which occurs when a baby is put to bed with a bottle containing formula, milk, juice or other fluids high in carbohydrates. Extensive dental repair may be required at a cost of thousands of dollars." Furthermore, breast milk contains bacteria fighting cells that may help kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Loesche WJ, "Nutrition and dental decay in infants." Am J Clin Nutr 41; 423-435, 1985
Lucas, A, Cole T, "Is Breast Feeding a Likely Cause of Dental Caries in young Children?" Journal of American Dental Assoc., 1979; 98:21-23
Less money spent on corrective orthodontia
The longer you breastfeed, the more likely the babies teeth will come in properly. If the teeth come in straight, there's no need to fix them.
Better speech development
Tongue thrust problems often develop among bottle-fed babies as they try to slow down the flow of milk coming from the artificial nipple. This can lead to speech problems, as well as "mouth breathing, lip biting, gum disease, and a generally unattractive appearance."
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc. 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
Broad, Frances E., "The Effects of Infant Feeding on Speech Quality." New Zealand Medical Journal, 1976; 76:28-31
Less chance of baby getting eczema
"We conclude that breastfeeding is prophylactic against atopic disease (eczema), the effect extending into early adulthood. Breastfeeding for longer than 1 month without other milk supplements offers significant prophylaxis against food allergy at 3 years of age, and also against respiratory allergy at 17 years of age. Six months of breastfeeding is required to prevent eczema during the first 3 years, and possibly also to prevent substantial atopy in adolescence." The differences by infant feeding method were so pronounced that they "suggested an influence of early milk feeding that may exceed the heredity burden.
Saarinen UM, Kajosaari M. "Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease: prospective follow-up study until 17 years of age." Lancet. 1995; 346:1065-69.
Eczema was less common and milder in babies who were breast fed (22%) and whose Mothers were on a restricted diet (48%). In infants fed casein hydrolysate, soymilk, or cows milk, 21%, 63% and 70% respectively, developed atopic eczema.
Chandra R.K., "Influence of Maternal Diet During Lactation and the Use of Formula Feed an Development of Atopic Eczema in the High Risk Infants". Br Med J. 1989
Breastfed babies have great skin
You don't have to refer to the many studies showing that breastfed babies have less eczema and fewer rashes. Check out the skin of a breastfed baby and see what you think.
Less gastrointestinal reflux (Spit-up)
Breastfed neonates demonstrate gastroesophageal reflux episodes of significantly shorter duration that formula fed neonates.
Heacock, H.J. "Influence of Breast vs Formula Milk in Physiologic Gastroesophageal Reflux in Healthy Newborn Infants". Jour. Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1992 January; 14(1): 41-6
Easier to clean spit-up stains
O.K. This is only based on a casual survey of a lot of breastfeeding mothers. We notice that the hand-me-down clothes we receive from bottle-fed babies have nasty brown staining all over the collars and fronts. Our breastfed babies never seemed to create these sorts of spit-up stains. In fact, after the first month or so, they don't spit up much anyway. How many newborn breastfed babies do you see wearing bibs all the time?
Breast milk contains no genetically engineered materials
Most consumers are completely unaware of how much genetically engineered food they are consuming because the U.S. government does not require this food to be labeled as such. Genetic ID, a company in Fairfield, Iowa, tested four soy-based baby formulas for genetically engineered ingredients. All four, Carnation Alsoy, Similac Neocare, Isomil and Enfamil Prosobee, tested positive.
(See "Biotechnology's Bounty", M.Burros, N.Y. Times 05/21/97
Breast Milk contains no synthetic growth hormones
Since many cows in the U.S. are now routinely ingesting synthetic growth hormones to artificially increase their milk production, it stands to reason that these hormones are also getting into the U.S. formulas.
Lack of breastfeeding associated with multiple sclerosis in later life
Although thought to be multifactorial in origin, and without a clearly defined etiology, lack of breastfeeding does appear to be associated with an increased incidence of multiple sclerosis.
Dick, G. "The Etiology of Multiple Sclerosis." Proc Roy Soc Med 1989;69;611-5
Less chance of inguinal hernia
The inguinal canal brings down the spermatic cord and certain vessels to the groin area . A hernia is a defect in the opening where these things pass through from the abdomen to the groin because the canal opening gets too big or tears off. The hernia allows abdominal contents to get down into the groin area.
Breastfeeding is protective against inguinal hernias. For unknown reasons breastfed babies experience significantly fewer of them. Human milk contains gonadotropin releasing hormone, which may affect the maturation of neonatal testicular function. One recent case control study showed breastfed infants had a significant dose response reduction in inguinal hernia.
Pisacane, A. "Breast-feeding and inguinal hernia" Journal of Pediatrics 1995: Vol 127, No. 1, pp 109-111
Better cognitive development
In 771 low birth weight infants, babies whose mothers chose to provide breast milk had an 8 point advantage in mean Bayley's mental developmental index over infants of mothers choosing not to do so.
Morley, R., "Mothers Choice to provide Breast Milk and Developmental Outcome". Arch Dis Child, 1988
Better social development
The psychomotor and social development of breastfed babies clearly differs from that of bottle fed ones and leads at the age of 12 months to significant advantages of the psychomotor and social capabilities.
Baumgartner, C.,"Psychomotor and Social Development of Breast Fed and Bottle Fed babies During their First year of Life". Acta Paediatrica Hungarica, 1984
Decreased risk of baby developing urinary tract infections
(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program)
Suckling optimizes hand-to-eye coordination
Baumgartner, C., "Psychomotor and Social Development of Breast Fed and Bottle Fed babies During their First year of Life". Acta Paediatrica Hungarica 1984; 25(4): 409-17
Protects mothers against anemia (iron deficiency)
Since many exclusively breastfeeding mothers do not begin to menstruate for a year or longer their iron stores are not depleted by monthly bleeding during this time.
Less money spent on menstrual supplies for mom
Many breastfeeding moms do not begin to menstruate again until 14 or more months after giving birth. " Multiply this by the four million US births each year to see that over one billion sanitary products annually could be kept out of our nation's landfills and sewers. To compound the scenario, because breast milk is absorbed by babies more efficiently, breastfed babies excrete less and thus require fewer diaper changes than formula-fed babies."
"Mother Nature Loves Breastmilk" D. Michels, Pub. various periodicals, available on Internet at http://members.aol.com/diamichels/greenbm.htm
Self confidence booster for mom
There is nothing more amazing than looking at a plump six month old baby and knowing that the only nutrition this happy little creature has received has come from your own body.
Breast milk may help combat eye infections
Breast milk contains natural antibiotic qualities, and many mothers swear that a squirt in the irritated eye of their baby has cleared up the problem in short order.
Breast milk may be a good natural antibiotic for wounds
No one is suggesting you throw away that tube of triple antibiotic cream just yet, but bacteria cannot survive long in fresh breast milk. Some mothers swear it helps prevent scrapes and scratches from getting infected.
No worry about latest ingredient discovered to be missing from formula
"Formula" is really a formula for synthetic human milk. There is no real formula that can duplicate human milk because, as the FDA recognized in a recent statement, "...the exact chemical makeup of breast milk is still unknown."
"Formula-fed infants depend on products which can be quite different from each other, but which are continually being found deficient in essential nutrients... These nutrients are then added, usually after damage has occurred in infants or overwhelming market pressure forces the issue."
M. Walker, R.N., International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, The Journal of Human Lactation, Sept 1993
Much nicer diaper changes
The bowel movements of breastfed babies smell mild and inoffensive. The same can not be said about those of formula fed babies. Try changing a few formula fed babies if you are uncertain about wanting to try breastfeeding!
Breastfed babies smell fantastic
No scientific study needed here. There is something almost magical about the scent of your own breastfed baby, whether you're the mother or father involved. Try it, you'll like it!
It's what breasts were designed for!
This information is furnished to you by Leslie Burby and ProMoM, Inc. as a public service. It is in no way intended as medical advice, or meant to replace the services of a licensed medical professional.
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ProMoM Inc. - Promoting the awareness and acceptance of breastfeeding.
Written by Leslie Burby, brought to you by ProMoM.
© 1998-2001 ProMoM, Inc. All rights reserved. (Revised June 14, 2001.)
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it
According to the most recent statement of the Academy, "Human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick newborns. It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least the first 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired."
A.A.P. Breastfeeding Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk (http://www.aap.org/policy/re9729.html)
Breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and baby
The American Dietetic Association promotes breastfeeding and believes that "the bonding that occurs during breastfeeding makes it a special choice."
ADA Website: http://www.eatright.org
Breastfeeding stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin in the mother's body. "It is now well established that oxytocin, as well as stimulating uterine contractions and milk ejection, promotes the development of maternal behavior and also bonding between mother and offspring." Uvnas-Moberg, Eriksson: Breastfeeding: physiological, endocrine and behavioral adaptations caused by oxytocin and local neurogenic activity in the nipple and mammary gland.
Acta Paediatrica, 1996 May, 85(5):525-30
Breastfeeding satisfies baby's emotional needs
All babies need to be held. Studies have shown that premature babies are more likely to die if they are not held or stroked. There is no more comforting feeling for an infant of any age than being held close and cuddled while breastfeeding. While many bottle-feeding parents are aware of the importance of cradling their babies while offering the bottle, some are not. Even for parents with good intentions, there is always the temptation to prop up a bottle next to the child, or, when the baby is a little older, to let the child hold his/her own bottle and sit alone. This is emotionally unsatisfying to baby, and can be dangerous physically. An unsupervised child can choke. Also, propping up bottles overnight leads to tooth decay.
Breast milk provides perfect infant nutrition
"Human milk is uniquely superior for infant feeding and is species-specific; all substitute feeding options differ markedly from it. The breastfed infant is the reference or normative model against which all alternative feeding methods must be measured with regard to growth, health, development, and all other short and long-term benefits."
A.A.P. Breastfeeding Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk (RE2729)
Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of breast cancer
It's been known for several years that breastfeeding is associated with lower rates of pre-menopausal breast cancer. Now a new study from China has concluded that a woman who breastfeeds for 24 months of her life has only half the risk of developing breast cancer as a woman who breastfeeds for 1 - 6 months. Protection increases to 75% for those who breastfeed for a total of 109 months. This held true for both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal cancers.
Zheng et al, "Lactation Reduces Breast Cancer Risk in Shandong Province, China" Am. J. Epidemiol. 152 (12): 1129
Newcomb PA, Storer BE, Longnecker MP, et al. "Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer." N Engl J Med. 1994;330:81-87
Formula feeding increases baby girls' risk of developing breast cancer in later life
Women who were formula-fed as infants have higher rates of breast cancer as adults. For both premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer, women who were breastfed as children, even if only for a short time, had a 25% lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who were bottle-fed as infants.
Freudenheim, J. et al. 1994 "Exposure to breast milk in infancy and the risk of breast cancer". Epidemiology 5:324-331
Formula Feeding is associated with lower I.Q.
Human breast milk enhances brain development and improves congnitive development in ways that formula can not. One study has found that the average I.Q. of 7 and 8 year children who had been breastfed as babies was 10 points higher than their bottle fed piers. All of the children involved had been born prematurely and tube fed the human milk, indicating that the milk itself, not the act of breastfeeding, caused this difference in I.Q. level.
Another study to support this statement was done in New Zealand. An 18-year longitudinal study of over 1,000 children found that those who were breastfed as infants had both higher intelligence and greater academic achievement than children who were infant-formula fed.
Horwood and Fergusson, "Breastfeeding and Later Cognitive and Acadenic Outcomes", Jan 1998 Pediatrics Lucas, A., "Breast Milk and Subsequent Intelligence Quotient in Children Born Preterm." Lancet, 1992; 339:261-262Vol. 101, No. 1
Morrow-Tlucak M, Haude RH, Ernhart CB. "Breastfeeding and cognitive development in the first 2 years of life". Soc Sci Med. 1988:26;635-639
Lucas A., "Breast Milk and Subsequent Intelligence Quotient in Children Born Preterm". Lancet 1992;339:261-62
Wang YS, Wu SY. "The effect of exclusive breastfeeding on development and incidence of infection in infants." J Hum Lactation. 1996; 12:27-30
Breast milk is always ready and comes in a nicer package than formula does
Need we say more?
Breast milk helps pass meconium
Babies are born with a sticky tar-like substance called meconium in their intestines. Colostrum, or early milk, is uniquely designed to help move this substance through the infant's body.
Breast milk contains immunities to diseases and aids in the development of baby's immune system.
Formula provides neither of these benefits. "Breastfed babies have fewer illnesses because human milk transfers to the infant a mother's antibodies to disease. About 80% of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Breastfed babies are protected in varying degrees from a number of illnesses including, pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and German measles. Furthermore, mothers produce antibodies to what ever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight diseases their babies are exposed to as well."
Williams RD, "Breast-Feeding Best Bet for Babies", U.S. Food and Drug Administration Statement: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/895_brstfeed.html
Koutras, A.K., "Fecal Secretory Immunoglobulin A in Breast Milk vs. Formula Feeding in Early Infancy". J. Ped Gastro Nutr 1989.
Breast milk is more digestible than formula
"Babies can digest human milk more easily than the milk of other animals, probably because human milk contains an enzyme that aids in this process. Breast milk forms softer curds in the infant's stomach than cow's milk (the basis for most formulas) and is more quickly assimilated into the body system. While it contains less protein than does cow's milk, virtually all the protein in breast milk is available to the baby. By contrast, about half the protein in cow's milk passes through the baby's body as a waste product. Similarly, iron and zinc are absorbed better by breastfed babies."
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
Baby's suckling helps shrink mother's uterus after childbirth
"Nursing will help you to regain your figure more quickly, since the process of lactation causes the uterus (which has increased during pregnancy to about 20 times its normal size) to shrink more quickly to its pre-pregnancy size. "
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc. 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
The uterus of the non-breastfeeding mother will never shrink back to its pre-pregnant size. It will always remain slightly enlarged.
Chua S, Arulkumaran S, Lim I et al. "Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity." Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1994; 101:804-805
Baby's suckling helps prevent post-partum hemorrhage in mother
Nursing her baby causes the mother's body to release oxytocin, which stimulates contractions which help shrink the uterus back to pre-pregnancy size while expelling the placenta. These contractions also shut off the maternal blood vessels that formerly fed the baby and discourage excessive bleeding. Women who choose not to breastfeed must be given synthetic oxytocin to insure against hemorrhaging.
Chua S, Arulkumaran S, Lim I et al. "Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity." Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1994; 101:804-805
Nursing helps mom lose weight after baby is born
Breastfeeding requires an average of 500 extra calories per day.
Dewey KG, Heinig MJ, Nommwen LA. "Maternal weight-loss patterns during prolonged lactation. "Am J Clin Nutr 1993;58:162-166
Breastfeeding mothers generally lose weight faster than bottle feeding moms. "They experience quicker slimming of the abdoment, and decreased risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer, as well as osteoporosis."
Statement by American Dietetic Association
Mothers who breastfed exclusively or partially had significantly larger reductions in hip circumference and were less above their pre-pregnancy weights at 1 month postpartum than mothers who fed formula exclusively."
Kramer, F., "Breastfeeding reduces maternal lower body fat." J. Am Diet Assoc 1993; 93(4):429-33
Pre-term milk is specially designed for premature infants
"Milk produced by women who deliver prematurely differs from that produced after a full-term pregnancy. Specifically, during the first month after parturition, pre-term milk maintains a composition similar to that of colostrum.."
Hamosh, Margit, PhD, Georgetown University Medical Center "Breast-feeding: Unraveling the Mysteries of Mother's Milk".
The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend it
"...breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; ... it forms a unique biological and emotional basis for the health of both mother and child; ...the anti-infective properties of breast milk help to protect infants against disease; and ... there is an important relationship between breastfeeding and child spacing".(Emphasis added)
(See The WHO/UNICEF International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes).
Breastfeeding protects against Crohn's disease (intestinal disorder)
Crohn's Diease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation extending into the deeper layers of the intestinal wall. It is difficult to treat, but several studies have shown that breastfeeding may help babies avoid developing the disease.
Koletzko S, Sherman P, Corey M, et al. "Role of infant feeding practices in development of Crohn;s disease in childhood." Br Med J. 1989;298:1617-1618
Rigas A, Rigas B, Blassman M, et al. "Breast-feeding and maternal smoking in the etiology of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in childhood." Ann Epidemiol. 1993;3387-392
Formula feeding increases risk of baby developing type I (juvenile, insulin-dependent) diabetes
There are many studies linking development of juvenile diabetes to lack of breastfeeding. The results of a recent study in Finland suggest that at introduction of dairy products at an early age, and high milk consumption during childhood increase the level of cow's milk antibodies in the children's systems. This factor is independently associated with increased risk of insulin dependent diabetes.
Virtanen et al: "Diet, Cow's milk protein antibodies and the risk of IDDM in Finnish children." Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group. Diabetologia, Apr 1994, 37(4):381-7
Mayer, EJ, Hamman RF, Gay EC, et al. "Reduced risk of IDDM among breast-fed children". Diabetes, 1988;37:1625-1632
Virtanen SM, Rasanen L, Aro A, et al. "Infant feeding in Finnish children <7 yr of age with newly diagnosed IDDM" Diabetes Care, 1991;14:415-417
Gerstein HC. "Cow's milk exposure and type 1 diabetes mellitus". Diabetes Care. 1994;17:13-19
Borch-Johnson, K., et al., "Relation between breastfeeding and incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus". Lancet 2:1083-86 (1984)
Breastfeeding baby helps decrease insulin requirements in diabetic mothers
Reduction in insulin dose postpartum was significantly greater in those who were breastfeeding than those who were bottle feeding.
Davies, H.A., "Insulin Requirements of Diabetic Women who Breast Feed." British Medical Journal, 1989
Breastfeeding may help stabilize progress of maternal endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease in which the endometrial tissue in a woman's body begins to form in places other than her uterus, such as on her ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the outer surface of the uterus. This tissue continues to function like uterine tissue would in the uterus, and sheds once a month during the woman's menstrual cycle. Since there is no vaginal outlet for this blood and tissue, painful complications, including sterility, may result. There is much clinical research showing that pregnancy temporarily stops the progress of this disease. Many women say that the disease also seems to be alleviated by breastfeeding. It certainly makes sense that the delay in the return of a woman's menstrual cycle would be desirable in preventing the endometriosis from starting up again. Some women even claim a permanent cure. After nursing her children for a total of 27 months, one woman stated, "Even today, my periods are still regular, my ovulation normal and predictable, and I have forgotten that pain, like a fist in the stomach that used to keep me awake at night so often".
Annie Havard, "Breastfeeding - a cure for endometriosis", Allaiter ajourd'hui, Quarterly Bulletin of LLL France, No. 25, Oct. - Dec. 1995
Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing ovarian cancer
Based on the research, for every 1.6 women who do not breastfeed, only one woman who does will develop ovarian cancer.
Gwinn ML, "Pregnancy, breastfeeding and oral contraceptives and the risk of Epithelial ovarian cancer." J. Clin. Epidemiol. 1990; 43:559-568
Rosenblatt KA, Thomas DB, "Lactation and the risk of Epithelial ovarian cancer". Int J Epidemiol. 1993;22:192-197
Schneider, AP "Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer". New England Journal of Medicine, 1987.
Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing endometrial cancer
A World Health Organization study has shown that the longer a woman breastfeeds, the less likely she is to get endometrial cancer.
Rosenblatt, KA et al "Prolonged lactation and endometrial cancer" Int. J. Epidemiol. 1995; 24:499-503
Petterson B, et al. "Menstruation span- a time limited risk factor for endometrial carcinoma". Acta Obstst Gyneocol Scand 1986;65:247-55
Formula feeding increases chances of baby developing allergies
"Breastfed babies have fewer allergies than artificially fed babies, This is especially important if your family has a history of allergies. Many babies are allergic to cow's milk formulas. some babies are even allergic to soy formulas. Breastfeeding protects against other allergies, such as atopic eczema, food allergies , and respiratory allergies."
Wiggins, PK , Dettwyler, KA" Breastfeeding: A Mother's Gift", July 1, 1998 ed., Chapter 1, L.A. Publishing Co.
Merrett, TG, et al., "Infant Feeding and Allergy: Twelve Month Prospective Study of 500 Babies Born in allergic Families." American Allergy, 1988; 13-20
Lucas A, Brooke OG, Morley R, et al. "Early diet of preterm infants and development of allergic atopic disease: randomized prospective study". Br Med J. 1990:300:837-840
Halken S, Host A, Hansen LG, et al. "Effect of an allergy prevention programme on incidence of atopic symptoms in infancy". Ann Allergy. 1992;47:545-553
Saarinen UM, Kajossari M. "Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease: prospective follow-up study until 17 years old." Lancet. 1995;346:1065-1069
Breast milk lowers risk of baby developing asthma
Breastfed babies have lower risk for developing recurrent wheezing when they are older (age 6 or more).
Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Med., July 1995
Formula feeding increases baby's risk of otitis media (ear infections)
"Otitis media is up to 3-4 times more prevalent in formula-fed infants".
Aniansson G, Alm B, Andersson B, et al. "A prospective cohort study on breast-feeding and otitis media in Swedish infants". Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1994; 13:183-188
Duncan, B et al "Exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months protects against Otitis Media", Pediatrics 91(1993): 897-872
Kovar MG, Serdula MK, Marks JS, et al. "Review of the epidemiologic evidence for an association between infant feeding and infant health." Pediatrics. 1984:74:S615-S638
Saarinen UM. "Prolonged Breast Feeding as prophylaxis for recurrent otitis media." Acta Paediatr Scand. 1982;71:567-571
Formula feeding may increase risk of sudden infant death syndrome (S.I.D.S.)
There are a number of studies showing a link between lack of breastfeeding and S.I.D.S. It has been found that for each month of breastfeeding, the chance of S.I.D.S. is reduced by 50% compared to formula fed babies.
Fredrickson, DD et al., "Relationship between Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Breastfeeding Intensity and Duration." Am. Journal of Diseases in Children, 1993: 147:460
Ford RPK, et al ."Breastfeeding and the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome." International Journal of Diseases in Children, 1993, 22(5):885-890
Taylor BJ, Mitchell EA, et al. "Breastfeeding and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Int J. Epidemiol. 1993;22:885-890
Mitchell EA, Taylor BJ, Ford RPK, et al. "Four modifiable and other major risk factors for cot death: the New Zealand Study"J Paediatr Child Health. 1992;28:S3-S8
Scragg LK, Mitchell EA, Tonkin SL, et al. "Evaluation of the cot death prevention programme in South Auckland." NZ Med J. 1993;106:8-10
Breastfeeding protects baby against diarrheal infections
Numerous studies have shown that diarrheal infections are much more common in formula-fed babies. This is true throughout the world, despite a common misconception that only people living in areas with contaminated water need be concerned with this issue. Such infections are more likely to be fatal in developing nations, but all formula-fed infants are at greater risk than their breastfed peers.
Kovar MG, Serdula MK, Marks JS, et al. "Review of the epidemiologic evidence for an association between infant feeding and infant health." Pediatrics. 1984:74:S615-S638
Dewey KG, Heinig MJ, Nommsen-Rivers LA. Differences in morbidity between breast-fed. "Differences in morbidity between breast-fed and formula-fed infants." Pediatr. 1995;126:696-702
Howie PW, Forsyth JS, Ogston SA, et al. "Protective effect of breast feeding against infection." Br Med J. 1990;300:11-16
Popkin BM, Adair L, Akin JS, et al. "Breast-feeding and diarrheal morbidity." Pediatrics. 1990;86:874-882
Beaudry M, Dufour R, Marcoux S. "Relation Between infant feeding and infections during the first six months of life." J Pediatr. 1995; 126:191-197
Breastfeeding protects baby against bacterial meningitis
Meningitis is an infection which causes the inflammation of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by a type of bacteria called Hemophilus influenzae type b (HiB). Breastfeeding is protective against infections caused by this bacteria, and the meningitis which may result.
Cochi SL, Fleming DW, Hightower AW, et al. "Primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease: a population-based assessment of risk factors." J Pediatr. 1986;108:997-896
Istre GR, Conner JS, Broome CV, et al. "Risk factors for primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease: increased risk from day care attendance and school-aged household members." J Pediatr. 1985;106:190-198
Breastfeeding protects baby against respiratory infections
These include "infections caused by rotaviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses."
Grover M et al "Effect of human milk prostaglandins and lactoferrin on respiratory syncytial virus and rotavirus" Acta Paediatr. 1997; 86: 315-316
"Breastfed babies were less than half as likely to be hospitalized with pneumonia or bronchiolitis."
Piscane A, et al "Breastfeeding and acute lower respiratory infections" Acta Paediatr. 1994; 83: 714-718
"Breastfed babies had one-fifth the number of lower respiratory tract infections compared to formula-fed infants."
Cunningham, Allan S. MD "Breastfeeding, Bottle-feeding and Illness - An Annotated Bibliography", 1996.
Frank Al, Taber LH, Glezen WP, et al. "Breast-feeding and respiratory virus infection." Pediatrics 1982;70:239-245
Wright AI, Holberg DJ, Martinez FD, et al. " Breast feeding and lower respiratory tract illness in the first year of life." Br Med J. 1989;299:935-949
Chen Y. "Synergistic effect of passive smoking and artificial feeding on hospitalization for respiratory illness in early childhood." Chest. 1989;95:1004-1007
Wright AL, Holberg CH, Taussig LM, et al. "Relationship of infant feeding to recurrent wheezing at age 6 years." Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995;149:758-763
Formula fed babies have a higher risk of developing certain childhood cancers
In a study done by researchers at the University of Minnesota it was found that babies who were breast fed for at least one month had a 21% less chance of getting leukemia than formula fed babies. The risk was 30% for children breast fed for 6 months.
"Breastfeeding May Lower Risk For Leukemia In Children", c. 1999, Mediconsult.com
Davis MK, Savitz DA, Graubard BI. "Infant feeding and childhood cancer." Lancet. 1988;2:365-368
Shu X-O, Clemens H, Zheng W, et al. "Infant breastfeeding and the risk of childhood lymphoma and leukemia". Int J Epidemiol. 1995;24:27-32
Breastfeeding decreases chances of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Preliminary data from U. of North Carolina/Duke University researchers indicates breastfed children were only 40% as likely to develop JA.
"Mother's Milk: An Ounce of Prevention?" Arthritis Today May-June 1994
Breastfeeding decreases child's chances of contracting Hodgkins disease
Hodgkins disease is a type of lymphoma, or cancer of the lymph system. It can develop in children, although it is less likely to do so in children who were breastfed as infants.
"An Exploratory Study of Environmental and Medical Factors Potentially Related to Childhood Cancer." Medical & Pediatric Oncology, 1991; 19(2):115-21
Breastfeeding protects baby against vision defects
In a study in Bangladesh, breastfeeding was a protective factor for night blindness among preschool-aged children in both rural and urban areas. Breast milk is generally the main, if not the only source, of vitamin A during a child's first 24 months of life (or for the duration of breastfeeding).
Bloem, M. et al. "The role of universal distribution of vitamin A capsules in combating vitamin A deficiency in Bangladesh.: Am J Epidemiol 1995; 142(8): 843-55
Birch E, et al. "Breastfeeding and optimal visual development." J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1993;30:33-8
Breastfeeding decreases chances of osteoporosis
According to the studies below, both breastfeeding mothers and their children will be less at risk for development of this disease.
The odds that a woman with osteoporosis did not breastfeed her baby was 4 times higher than for a control woman.
Blaauw, R. et al. "Risk factors for development of osteoporosis in a South African population." SAMJ 1994; 84:328-32
Dr. Alan Lucas, MRC Childhood Nutrition Research Center of London, found that 8-year-olds who were fed formula rather than breast fed as infants, had less developed bone mineralization than those fed breast milk.
"Bone mineral density decreases during lactation, but after weaning showed higher bone mineral density than those who did not breastfeed."
Kalwart HJ and Specker BL "Bone mineral loss during lactation and recovery after weaning." Obstet. Gynecol. 1995; 86:26-32
Melton LJ, Bryant SC, Wahner HW, et al. "Influence of breastfeeding and other reproductive factors on bone mass later in life." Osteoporos Int. 1993;22:684-691
Cumming RG, Klineberg RJ. "Breastfeeding and other reproductive factors and the risk of hip fractures in elderly woman." Int J Epidemiol 1993;22:684-691
Breast milk is aids in proper intestinal development
"...certain hormones in milk (such as cortisol) and smaller proteins (including epidermal growth factor, nerve growth factor, insulin-like growth factor and somatomedin C) act to close up the leaky mucosal lining of the newborn, making it relatively impermeable to unwanted pathogens and other potentially harmful agents. Indeed, animal studies have demonstrated that postnatal development of the intestine occurs faster in animals fed their mother's milk. And animals that also receive colostrum, containing the highest concentrations of epidermal growth factor, mature even more rapidly."
Newman, J, MD, FRCPC "How Breast milk Protects Newborns" http://www.promom.org/bf_info/sci_am.htm
Cows milk is an intestinal irritant
According to Dr. William Sears, MD, cow's milk should not be given as a beverage to infants under one year of age. "Cow's milk can irritate the lining of your infant's intestines, causing tiny losses of iron. This can contribute to iron-deficiency anemia."
The Baby Book - Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby From Birth to Age Two. c. 1993 Little, Brown & Co.
Formula-fed babies are more at risk for obesity in later life
A recent German study concluded "in industrialized countries, promoting prolonged breastfeeding may help decrease the prevalence of obesity in childhood. Since obese children have a high risk of becoming obese adults, such preventative measures may eventually result in reduction in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and other disease related to obesity." The study found that 4.5% of formula fed children are obese, while only 0.8% of breastfed children have this condition.
von Kries, R et al, "Breastfeeding and obesity: cross sectional study." BMJ 1999; 319:147-150 (July 17)
Breastfed babies have less chance of cardiopulmonary distress while feeding
Bottle-fed babies are at increased risk of cardiopulmonary disturbances, including prolonged airway closure and obstructed respiratory breaths due to repeated swallowing.
Koenig HS, Davies Am, Thach BT. "Coordination of breathing, sucking and swallowing during bottle feedings in human infants." J Appl Physiol 69: 1629: 1623-1629, 1990.
Infants can experience oxygen saturation below 90% when bottle feeding. Nine of 50 healthy term infants in one study experienced bradycardia during bottle feeding. Six of these episodes were preceded by apnea, three showed hypopnea (marked reduction in ventilation) and one had certral apnea (no respiratory efforts).
Matthew O, Clark ML, Ponske MH. Apnea, bradycardia, and cyanosis during oral feeding in term neonates." J Pediatr 106:857, 1985
Breastfed babies have less chance of developing ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulceration and inflammation of the inner lining of the colon and rectum. A number of studies have shown that breastfed babies are less likely to develop this disease.
Whorwell PJ, et al., "Bottle-feeding, Early Gastroenteritis, and inflammatory Bowel Disease." British Med. Jour. 1 (1979):382
Rigas A, Rigas B, Blassman M, et al. "Breast-feeding and maternal smoking in the etiology of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in childhood." Ann Epidemiol. 1993;3387-392
Breast milk protects against hemophilus b. bacteria
Hemophilus influenzae type b is a bacteria which can grow in the respiratory tract with no symptoms, but may spread into the throat, ears or blood and cause grave illness. Breastfed babies are much less vulnerable to such an overgrowth.
Cochi SL, Fleming DW, Hightower AW, et al. "Primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease: a population-based assessment of risk factors." J Pediatr. 1986;108:997-896
Takala AK, Eskola J, Palmgren J, et al. "Risk factors of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease among children in Finland. J Pediatr. 1980;115:695-701
Istre GR, Conner JS, Broome CV, et al. "Risk factors for primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease: increased risk from day care attendance and school-aged household members." J Pediatr. 1985;106:190-198
Breastfed babies require shorter pre and post-surgical fasting
Breastfeeding may continue until three hours before arrival time at the hospital in healthy children having elective surgery.
Schreiner, M.S. "Preoperative and Postoperative fasting in children." Ped Clinics N Amer 41 (1); 111-20 (1994)
Breastfeeding results in less sick days for parents
Since breastfed babies are statistically healthier than their formula fed peers, the parents of breastfed babies spend less time out of work taking care of sick children.
Breastfeeding enhances vaccine effectiveness
Breastfed infants showed better serum and secretory responses to oral and parenteral vaccines than those formula-fed.
Han-Zoric, M., "Antibody responses to parenteral and oral vaccines are impaired by conventional and low protein formulas as compared to breastfeeding." Acta Paediatr Scand 1990; 79:1137-42
Breastfed babies have less chance of developing necrotizing enterocolitis
This disease occurs most commonly in premature or sick newborns. In NEC the lining of the intestinal wall dies and sloughs off. Premature infants fed their own mother's milk or banked human milk are one sixth to one tenth as likely to develop NEC. An Australian study has estimated that 83% of NEC cases may be attributed to lack of breastfeeding.
Drane, D. "Breastfeeding and formula feeding: a preliminary economic analysis" Breastfeed Rev 1997; 5:7-15
Lucas A, Cole TJ. "Breast milk and neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis." Lancet. 1990; 336:519-1523
Convert RF, Barman N, Comanico RS, et al. "Prior enteral nutrition with human milk protects against intestinal perforation in infants who develop necrotizing enterocolitis." Pediatr Res. 1995; 37:305A. Abstract
Breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive
This is true only if you are exclusively breastfeeding, and have not yet gotten your period back following childbirth. Night nursing encourages longer amenorrhoea (periodlessness). If you really don't want to get pregnant again, use some back up birth control even if you haven't gotten your period again. Unless you are carefully following a natural family planning program, you will have no way of knowing when your first ovulation will occur, and by the time you figure it out you may be expecting! Still, generally speaking, breastfeeding contributes to optimum child spacing.
Kennedy KI, Visness CM. "Contraceptive efficacy of lactational amenorrhoea." Lancet. 1992; 339:227-230
Gray RH, Campbell OM, Apelo R, et al. "Risk of ovulation during lactation." Lancet. 1990; 335:25-29
Labbock MH, Colie C. "Puerperium and breast-feeding." Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 1992; 4:818-825
Breastfeeding is easier than using formula
After the initial start up period, breastfeeding is very easy. All you have to do is raise your shirt and let the little one latch on. No shopping for formula, bottles, and other supplies. No mixing, heating, refrigerating and cleaning up of formula. If you sleep with your baby, or sleep the baby next to your bed, you can forget about all the disturbing night time rituals associated with formula use. All you have to do is roll over, let the baby latch on, and go back to sleep!
Breast milk is free
Any way you look at it, you'll spend a lot more money if you choose to formula feed. The added calories a nursing mother must take in are a negligible expense, and nursing clothes are optional. If you need to pump, excellent pumps are available for between $50 and $225. A good pump can be used for more than one child, so they are really an investment. Do be sure to buy a pump manufactured by a company specializing in their manufacture. Beware of pumps made by formula companies. Many woman report these pumps to be inefficient at best, and painful at worst.
Formula is expensive
The cost of feeding a baby on formula for one year was estimated to be around $1000 in 1990. It has certainly gotten more expensive since. If you factor in the added medical cost you are statistically likely to incur, that brings the cost up to around $2,300 per year. If your baby happens to require a hypo-allergenic formula, you will have to considerably more.
Batten W. Hirschman J. Thomas C. Impact of the special supplemental food program on infants. J Pediatr 117 II:SIOI-109, 1990
Formula costs the government (and taxpayers) millions of dollars
The U.S. government spends over $500 million a year to provide formula for its WIC supplemental food program.
Batten W. Hirschman J. Thomas C. Impact of the special supplemental food program on infants. J Pediatr 117 II:SIOI-109, 1990
Breast milk is always the right temperature
Severe burns to babies' mouths have occurred due to improper heating of artificial milks. Even when it's done correctly, it's never fun to try to warm a bottle for a fussing baby.
Breast milk always has the right proportions of fat, carbohydrates and protein
Formula companies are constantly adjusting these proportions looking for the best composition. The reality is that a mother's milk composition changes from feeding to feeding depending on the needs of her child. No formula can do that!
Breast milk acts like a natural tranquilizer for baby
Mother's milk contains chemicals that seem to work like "knock-out drops" for tired babies. Even if baby doesn't fall asleep, he/she will certainly calm down and become more agreeable. If you choose to breastfeed into toddlerhood, you may find that the "terrible twos" never materialize.
Breastfeeding acts like a natural tranquilizer for mom
Nursing mothers often joke about falling asleep on the job. The sleep inducing qualities of nursing a baby are remarkable. In fact, new mothers have to be careful to hold a nursing baby in such a way that they will not drop the child when they inevitably nod off. Nursing in bed is a great solution. Even pumping at work can be a great way to calm down and get refocused during a stressful day. All this relaxation is caused by the hormone oxytocin, which is released each time a mother breastfeeds. It decreases blood pressure and clams the mother. Interestingly, one study found that there were far fewer incidences of domestic violence and sexual abuse in breastfeeding families.
Acheston, L, "Family violence and breastfeeding" Arch. Fam. Med. 1995, 4:650-652
Breast milk tastes better than formula
Human breast milk is remarkably sweet and light. Formula is pasty and bland. Which would you rather eat?
Breastfed babies are healthier over-all
Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest HMOs in the U.S. recently conducted internal research to determine the value of the company lactation support program. This research found that breastfed babies had many health advantages over formula-fed babies, including better over-all health.
(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program)
Breastfed babies are less likely to die before their third birthday
Not only are breastfed babies less liekly to contract life-threatening diseases, they are better able to combat any illnesses that may develop.
Van Den Bogaard, C. "Relationship Between Breast Feeding in Early Childhood and Morbidity in a general Population."Fan Med, 1991; 23:510-515
Breastfed babies require fewer doctor visits
Since breastfed babies are statistically healthier, they see the doctor less often.
(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program)
Breastfeeding mothers spend less time and money on doctor visits
In 1995 Kaiser-Permanente Health Maintenance Organization in North Carolina found that formula-fed babies averaged over $1,400 more per year in additional health care costs than breastfed infants.
(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program)
Fewer waste packaging products
No wrappers, canisters, disposable bottles etc...
"If every child in America were bottle-fed, almost 86,000 tons of tin would be needed to produce 550 million cans for one year's worth of formula. If every mother in Great Britain breastfed, 3000 tons of paper (used for formula labels) would be saved in a year. But formula is not the only problem. Bottles and nipples require plastic, glass, rubber, and silicon; production of these materials can be resource-intensive and often leads to end-products that are not-recyclable. All these products use natural resources, cause pollution in their manufacture and distribution and create trash in their packaging, promotion, and disposal."
"Mother Nature Loves Breastmilk" D. Michels, Pub. various periodicals, available on Internet at http://members.aol.com/diamichels/greenbm.htm
No bottles to tote
Unless you're pumping and transporting the milk for later. Even then there are fewer bottles to deal with.
Less cow induced global greenhouse gasses
Ridiculous as it may sound, bovine flatulence is a huge contributor to the greenhouse gas problem. Aside from producing vast quantities of methane, cows also contribute their manure and urine to our rivers and ground water.
No need to refrigerate
Of course, breast milk stays fresh because it's made on demand. Even pumped breast milk keeps for a long time outside of the fridge.
Medela guidelines for storing breast milk: http://www.medela.com
Cows milk is designed for baby cows
Human milk contains completely different proportions of protein, fat, carbohydrates. Cows milk is designed to help put on weight quickly, grow amazingly fast, and develop only as much brain power as a cow needs. The natural hormones in cows milk are geared toward cows, not humans. The fact that human beings can even drink the milk of another species in sort of amazing when you stop to think about it.
Human milk is designed for baby humans
Baby cows probably wouldn't do very well on it. It's designed to build brains, and to foster gradual physical growth.
Natural pain relief for baby
Breast milk actually contains chemicals that suppress pain (endorphins). Aside from this, the comfort a baby derives from being held close and suckling is remarkable. Many a bruise or scrape has been soothed away almost instantly by a few moments of nursing. If you choose to have your child vaccinated, it is a good idea to nurse immediately after he/she receives a vaccination. This soothes the hurt, as well as enhancing the vaccine's effectiveness.
Perfect food for sick baby
When a formula fed baby gets a gastrointestinal ailment they are usually put on an artificial electrolyte solution because formula is too hard for them to digest. Breast milk, however, is easily digested, and soothing to the intestines, so there is no need for artificial and expensive electrolyte solutions. If a baby gets a respiratory illness, formula may cause even more mucus. In contrast, breast milk contains antibodies to these ailments, as well as being highly digestible and not contributing to excess mucous formation.
More sleep for mom
Especially if she sleeps with baby, but even if she doesn't. No bottles to prepare and warm. Less time comforting a crying baby suffering from gas and allergies.
More sleep for baby
A baby that gets its night time needs met quickly is more likely to get right back to sleep than a baby who has to wait for a bottle while crying and swallowing air.
More sleep for dad
Again, even if he helps with baby burping, diapering, and baby toting, there are no bottles to deal with. Also, breastfed babies tend to need much less burping after the first few months.
Less equipment to maintain and store
Those bottles, measuring devices, sterilizing equipment and other gadgets take up valuable shelf space and they all require cleaning.
Less equipment to buy
If you don't need or want to pump your milk, you will not need to purchase a single thing: your body has all the equipment build-in. Even if you do have to buy a pump and the basic bottle kit, the savings in cost of formula and additional medical attention make breastfeeding financially well worth trying.
Breast milk has never been recalled
Formula has been, sometimes after causing injury or death. There were 22 "significant" recalls of formula including 7 potentially life threatening situations.
Babbit, V, "FDA Recalls Baby Formula, 1998", Breastfeeding.com, Inc.
Fresh breast milk is never contaminated with bacteria
In fact, it has antibacterial properties.
No need to worry about which brand is better
Each artificial breast milk formula is different from all its competitors, but none of them come close to duplicating the real thing. It can be very stressful for formula feeding mothers to try to determine which brand is the best of the lot. No matter which formula is used "it is increasingly apparent that infant formula can never duplicate human milk. Human milk contains living cells, hormones, active enzymes, immunoglobulins and compounds with unique structures that cannot be replicated in infant formula."
(Quoted from FDA pediatric-nutrition researchers at Abbott Laboratories, writing in March, 1994 issue of Endocrine Regulations.)
No need to worry about adding contaminated water
Even in the U.S. our water can contain dangerous elements like arsenic, lead and aluminum. These contaminants can become concentrated if water is boiled to sterilize it before being added to formula.
Breastfeeding helps reduce cruelty to farm animals
Less use of cow's milk equals fewer cows equals less opportunity for animal abuse.
Facilitates proper dental and jaw development
"Suckling at the breast is good for a baby's tooth and jaw development. Babies at the breast have to use as much as 60 times more energy to get food than do those drinking from a bottle...As [the babies jaw] muscles are strenuously exercised in suckling, their constant pulling encourages the growth of well-formed jaws and straight, healthy teeth."
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
"Among breastfed infants, the longer the duration of nursing the lower the incidents of malocclusion."
Labbok, M.H. "Does Breastfeeding Protect against Malocclusion? An Analysis of the 1981 Child Health Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey" American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 1987
Breastfed babies get fewer cavities
Breast milk contains bacteria fighting cells that may help kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Furthermore, bottle-fed babies "are at increased risk for baby bottle caries, a destructive dental condition which occurs when a baby is put to bed with a bottle containing formula, milk, juice or other fluids high in carbohydrates. Extensive dental repair may be required at a cost of thousands of dollars." Furthermore, breast milk contains bacteria fighting cells that may help kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Loesche WJ, "Nutrition and dental decay in infants." Am J Clin Nutr 41; 423-435, 1985
Lucas, A, Cole T, "Is Breast Feeding a Likely Cause of Dental Caries in young Children?" Journal of American Dental Assoc., 1979; 98:21-23
Less money spent on corrective orthodontia
The longer you breastfeed, the more likely the babies teeth will come in properly. If the teeth come in straight, there's no need to fix them.
Better speech development
Tongue thrust problems often develop among bottle-fed babies as they try to slow down the flow of milk coming from the artificial nipple. This can lead to speech problems, as well as "mouth breathing, lip biting, gum disease, and a generally unattractive appearance."
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc. 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
Broad, Frances E., "The Effects of Infant Feeding on Speech Quality." New Zealand Medical Journal, 1976; 76:28-31
Less chance of baby getting eczema
"We conclude that breastfeeding is prophylactic against atopic disease (eczema), the effect extending into early adulthood. Breastfeeding for longer than 1 month without other milk supplements offers significant prophylaxis against food allergy at 3 years of age, and also against respiratory allergy at 17 years of age. Six months of breastfeeding is required to prevent eczema during the first 3 years, and possibly also to prevent substantial atopy in adolescence." The differences by infant feeding method were so pronounced that they "suggested an influence of early milk feeding that may exceed the heredity burden.
Saarinen UM, Kajosaari M. "Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease: prospective follow-up study until 17 years of age." Lancet. 1995; 346:1065-69.
Eczema was less common and milder in babies who were breast fed (22%) and whose Mothers were on a restricted diet (48%). In infants fed casein hydrolysate, soymilk, or cows milk, 21%, 63% and 70% respectively, developed atopic eczema.
Chandra R.K., "Influence of Maternal Diet During Lactation and the Use of Formula Feed an Development of Atopic Eczema in the High Risk Infants". Br Med J. 1989
Breastfed babies have great skin
You don't have to refer to the many studies showing that breastfed babies have less eczema and fewer rashes. Check out the skin of a breastfed baby and see what you think.
Less gastrointestinal reflux (Spit-up)
Breastfed neonates demonstrate gastroesophageal reflux episodes of significantly shorter duration that formula fed neonates.
Heacock, H.J. "Influence of Breast vs Formula Milk in Physiologic Gastroesophageal Reflux in Healthy Newborn Infants". Jour. Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1992 January; 14(1): 41-6
Easier to clean spit-up stains
O.K. This is only based on a casual survey of a lot of breastfeeding mothers. We notice that the hand-me-down clothes we receive from bottle-fed babies have nasty brown staining all over the collars and fronts. Our breastfed babies never seemed to create these sorts of spit-up stains. In fact, after the first month or so, they don't spit up much anyway. How many newborn breastfed babies do you see wearing bibs all the time?
Breast milk contains no genetically engineered materials
Most consumers are completely unaware of how much genetically engineered food they are consuming because the U.S. government does not require this food to be labeled as such. Genetic ID, a company in Fairfield, Iowa, tested four soy-based baby formulas for genetically engineered ingredients. All four, Carnation Alsoy, Similac Neocare, Isomil and Enfamil Prosobee, tested positive.
(See "Biotechnology's Bounty", M.Burros, N.Y. Times 05/21/97
Breast Milk contains no synthetic growth hormones
Since many cows in the U.S. are now routinely ingesting synthetic growth hormones to artificially increase their milk production, it stands to reason that these hormones are also getting into the U.S. formulas.
Lack of breastfeeding associated with multiple sclerosis in later life
Although thought to be multifactorial in origin, and without a clearly defined etiology, lack of breastfeeding does appear to be associated with an increased incidence of multiple sclerosis.
Dick, G. "The Etiology of Multiple Sclerosis." Proc Roy Soc Med 1989;69;611-5
Less chance of inguinal hernia
The inguinal canal brings down the spermatic cord and certain vessels to the groin area . A hernia is a defect in the opening where these things pass through from the abdomen to the groin because the canal opening gets too big or tears off. The hernia allows abdominal contents to get down into the groin area.
Breastfeeding is protective against inguinal hernias. For unknown reasons breastfed babies experience significantly fewer of them. Human milk contains gonadotropin releasing hormone, which may affect the maturation of neonatal testicular function. One recent case control study showed breastfed infants had a significant dose response reduction in inguinal hernia.
Pisacane, A. "Breast-feeding and inguinal hernia" Journal of Pediatrics 1995: Vol 127, No. 1, pp 109-111
Better cognitive development
In 771 low birth weight infants, babies whose mothers chose to provide breast milk had an 8 point advantage in mean Bayley's mental developmental index over infants of mothers choosing not to do so.
Morley, R., "Mothers Choice to provide Breast Milk and Developmental Outcome". Arch Dis Child, 1988
Better social development
The psychomotor and social development of breastfed babies clearly differs from that of bottle fed ones and leads at the age of 12 months to significant advantages of the psychomotor and social capabilities.
Baumgartner, C.,"Psychomotor and Social Development of Breast Fed and Bottle Fed babies During their First year of Life". Acta Paediatrica Hungarica, 1984
Decreased risk of baby developing urinary tract infections
(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program)
Suckling optimizes hand-to-eye coordination
Baumgartner, C., "Psychomotor and Social Development of Breast Fed and Bottle Fed babies During their First year of Life". Acta Paediatrica Hungarica 1984; 25(4): 409-17
Protects mothers against anemia (iron deficiency)
Since many exclusively breastfeeding mothers do not begin to menstruate for a year or longer their iron stores are not depleted by monthly bleeding during this time.
Less money spent on menstrual supplies for mom
Many breastfeeding moms do not begin to menstruate again until 14 or more months after giving birth. " Multiply this by the four million US births each year to see that over one billion sanitary products annually could be kept out of our nation's landfills and sewers. To compound the scenario, because breast milk is absorbed by babies more efficiently, breastfed babies excrete less and thus require fewer diaper changes than formula-fed babies."
"Mother Nature Loves Breastmilk" D. Michels, Pub. various periodicals, available on Internet at http://members.aol.com/diamichels/greenbm.htm
Self confidence booster for mom
There is nothing more amazing than looking at a plump six month old baby and knowing that the only nutrition this happy little creature has received has come from your own body.
Breast milk may help combat eye infections
Breast milk contains natural antibiotic qualities, and many mothers swear that a squirt in the irritated eye of their baby has cleared up the problem in short order.
Breast milk may be a good natural antibiotic for wounds
No one is suggesting you throw away that tube of triple antibiotic cream just yet, but bacteria cannot survive long in fresh breast milk. Some mothers swear it helps prevent scrapes and scratches from getting infected.
No worry about latest ingredient discovered to be missing from formula
"Formula" is really a formula for synthetic human milk. There is no real formula that can duplicate human milk because, as the FDA recognized in a recent statement, "...the exact chemical makeup of breast milk is still unknown."
"Formula-fed infants depend on products which can be quite different from each other, but which are continually being found deficient in essential nutrients... These nutrients are then added, usually after damage has occurred in infants or overwhelming market pressure forces the issue."
M. Walker, R.N., International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, The Journal of Human Lactation, Sept 1993
Much nicer diaper changes
The bowel movements of breastfed babies smell mild and inoffensive. The same can not be said about those of formula fed babies. Try changing a few formula fed babies if you are uncertain about wanting to try breastfeeding!
Breastfed babies smell fantastic
No scientific study needed here. There is something almost magical about the scent of your own breastfed baby, whether you're the mother or father involved. Try it, you'll like it!
It's what breasts were designed for!
This information is furnished to you by Leslie Burby and ProMoM, Inc. as a public service. It is in no way intended as medical advice, or meant to replace the services of a licensed medical professional.
Spread the word! Link to this page using one of our 101 reasons to breastfeed buttons.
Unless stated otherwise, all materials © 1998-2002 ProMoM, Inc. All rights reserved. Site design by Bianco Hopkins & Assoc., Inc.
ANPA library list as of11 april 08
ANPA LIBRARY LIST.
Books, documents and magazines.
In alphabetical order divided by categorie.
The french translation of many of the books are also in the library listed under the same category but as the title changes will be in a different place than the VO.
Loans for 8 weeks on receipt of a deposit check for 30€ to the order of Charlotte Yonge or a 20€ check for a year’s ANPA membership (to the order of ANPA).
Birth and fertility.
Am I Allowed. AIMS
Birthing Your Baby, The Second Stage. AIMS
Césariennes : questions, effets, enjeux? Alerte face a la banalisation. Michel Odent.
Choosing a Home Birth. Pat Thomas. AIMS
Choosing a Waterbirth. Beverley Lawrence Beech. AIMS
DVDs : What Babies Want. A documentary by Debby Takikawa. Narrated by Noah Wyle. This timely film is about the profoundly important and sacred oppouirtunity we hbave in bringing children into the world. Surprisingly and sometimes shocking, it challenges our beliefs about what infants are thinking and doing. It includes ground-breaking information on early development as well as appearances by the ral experts; babiesand their families.
Entering the World. Michel Odent.
Genèse de l'homme ecologique. Michel Odent.
Gentle Birth Choices. (with DVD of natural home births)
Immaculate Deception 2. Myth, Magic & Birth. Suzanne Arms.
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. Ina May Gaskin.
Induction Do I Really Need It? AIMS.
L’Art de Vivre Sa Fertilité. Josef Rötzer.
La Fertilité de l'Homme et de la Femme et Ses Points de Repère. CLER (2cpies)
La Fertilité de l'Homme et de la Femme et Ses Points de Repère. CLER
Pour Une Naissance A Visage Humain. C. Didierjean.
Silent Knife. Nancy W. Cohen & Lois J
Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Toni Weschler. MPH.
The Art of Breathing. Féderick leboyer.
The Birth Book. Dr Sears M.D. & Martha Sears R.N.
The Scientification of Love. Michel Odent.
Ultrasound Unsound. Beverley Beech & Jean Robinson. AIMS
Un Autre Cesarien Non Merci. Hélène Vadeboncoeur. Estner.
Vitamin K and the Newborn. AIMS
Vivre sa grossese et son accouchement. Une naissance heureuse. Isabelle Brabant
Water Birth. A guide to Water birth. Oxford Medical Illustration. This program is an account of a woman's experience of labour and delivery in water? it also describes in detail the process of setting up such a facility within the hospital environment. It will serve equally well as a guide to both health professionals and women who are interested in exploring the concept of water immersion during labour and or delivery.
We are All Water Babies. Jessica Johnson & Michel Odent.
Witches, Midwives & Nurses. A History of Women Healers. Barbara Ehrenreich & Deirdre English.
Your Birth Rights. Pat Thomas. AIMS
Breastfeeding.
Allaitement maternel et droit. Martine Herzog Evans.
Allaiter C’est Bon Pour La Santé. C. Didierjean. (2cpies)
Anthologie de L’allaitement Maternel. C. Didierjean. (préface de Michel Odent)
Breastfeeding Pure & Simple. LLLI
L’art de l’allaitement maternel. (2cpies 1991, 2 cpies 2005)
La Voie Lactée. C. Didierjean.
Les droits des mères. Grossesse et accouchement. Sophie Gamelin & Martine Herzog Evans.
Les droits des Mères. Les Premiers mois. Sophie Gamelin & Martine Herzog Evans.
Medication and Mother's Milk. Thomas Hale PHD. 2002 ed.
Milk, Money & Madness. The Culture and Politics of Breastfeeding. N. Baumslag M.D.MPH. & Dia L. Michels.
The Politics of Breastfeeding. Gabrielle Palmer. Ed IBFAN
The Womanly Art of Brestfeeding 6th Edition. (2cpies)
Nighttime Parenting.
Être Parent, le jour et la Nuit Aussi. Dr. Sears.
Good Nights. Dr Jay Gordon & Maria Goodavage.
Nighttime Parenting. Dr Sears. (3 cpies)
The Family Bed. Tine Thevenin.
The No Cry Sleep Solution. Elzabeth Pantley.
Three in a Bed. Deborah Jackson.
Attachment Parenting, contact, communication.
Attachment Parenting. Katie Granju & Betsy Kennedy.
Baby Signs. Linda Acredola.
Building Moral Intelligence. Michele Borba Ed. D. (Selected photocopying of the book.)
Diaper Free. Ingrid Bauer.
Dicipline with Love. Dr. Fitzhugh Dodson. (1970s)
Du Divorce À la Famille Recomposée. Christel Petitcolin.
Élever son enfant Autrement. Catherine Kramer.
How to Parent. Dr. Fitzhugh Dodson. (1974. )
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. (1) Faber & Mazlich.
Infant Massage. Vimala McClure.
Jalousies et Rivalités entre Fréres et soeurs. Faber et Mazlich.
La langue des signes. Tome 1 Histoire et grammaire. by Bille Moody. Ed IVT.
La Naissance du Sens. Boris Cyrulnik.
La Peau et La Toucher. Ashley Montagu.
Le concept du continuum. Jean Liedloff. À la recherche du bonheur perdu.
Les Enfants Actuels. Marie Françoise Neveu. Le grand défi "cerveau droit" dans un univers "cerveau gauche"
Les Nourritures Affectives. Boris Cyrulnik.
Liberated Parents, Leberated Children. Faber & Mazlich.
Parler pour que les Enfants Écoutent, Écouter pour que les Enfants Parlent. Faber& Mazlich. (aussi en vente a LLLPE pour 17€)
Porter Bébé. Claude Didierjean.
Pour Une Parentalité Sans Violence. C. Didierjean
Raising Your Spirited Child. Mary Sheedy Kurcinka.
Sans couches c'est la liberté. Ingrid Bauer. Ed l'instant Présent.
Siblings Without Rivalry. Faber & Mazlich.
Signe avec moi. Monica Companys
The Continuum Concept. Jean Liedloff.
The Human Animal. Desmond Morris.
Touching. The Human Significance of the Skin. Ashley Montagu.
Tout se joue Avant 6 ans. Fitzhugh Dodson.
Why Love Matters. Sue Gerhardt.
Homeschooling.
Learning at Home. Mary Layne. (Homeschooling)
The Old Schoolhouse. Summer 2004. (The Wild frontier)
What To Do When There’s Nothing To Do. Boston Children’s Medical Centre.
WW guide to Homeschooling 2003/2004. Brian D. Ray P.H.D.
WW guide to Homeschooling. 2004/2005. Brian D. Ray, PHD.
Vaccines.
bio contact N° 141 Nov. 2004 (l’immunité naturel)
The Truth about vaccines. How we are used as Guinea Pigs without knowing it. Dr Richard Halvorsen.
Tuberculine & BCG Les deux Vérités. Bernard Guennebaud. Eds ALIS
Vaccinations Le Marché de l'Angoisse. Dr Gerhard Buchwald. Eds ALIS
Vaccinations Les Effets Indésirables. Michel Georget. Eds ALIS
Health nutrition and dairy free.
Cuisine Vegetarien. Petit Pratiques Hachette.
Extraordinary Pouvoirs des Cérérales. Catherine Chabiron.
Feeding the Whole Family. LLLI
Intelligent Medicine. Ronald L Hoffman. M.D.
La Beauté Par Les Plantes. B. Hlava, F. Pospisil & F. Stary.
La Vérité sur les oméga-3. Dr Jean-Marie Bourre.
Lait de Vache, Blancheur Trompeuse. Anne Laroche Walter.(2cpies)
Lait, Monsonges et Propagande. Thierry Souccar.
Le Chlorure de Magnésium. Marie-France Muller. Ed Jouvence.
Le régime IG minceur. Thierry Souccar
L'essentiel sur Les Huiles Essentielles. Dr Ph. Bego. (2cpies)
Mille et Une Recettes. LLLI
My Child Wont Eat. Dr Carlos Gonzales.
Phytotherapie. Dr Jean Valnet.
Quand le corps dit non. Dr. Gabor Maté.
Saveurs et Virtues de la Spiruline. Belda Sisso.
Soyons Moins Lait. Ncolas Le Berre.
The Baby Book. Dr Sears.
Votre Alimentation. Dr. Kousmine. (no info on dairy but good sound info otherwise)
When the Body Says No. Dr. Gabor Maté.
Whole Foods From the Whole World. LLLI.
Psychology and Parenting by culture.
Au Coeur des Émotions de l’enfant. Isabelle Filliozat
Dont Shoot the Dog. Karen Pryor.
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. Richard Carlson. PHD
La Clef. G. Gassette & G. Barbarin.
La Soufffrence Muette de l'Enfant. Ailice Miller
Le Cri Primal. Dr. Arthur Janov.
Le Harcèlement Moral. Marie France Hirigoyen.
Les Hommes viennent de Mars, Les Femmes viennent de Vénus. John Gray.
Les Regles. Fein & Schneider. (Si tout les relations commencaient ainsi, le soutien ne serai pas une question!)
Men are from Mars, Women are From Venus. John Gray. (understanding our differences to better understand ourselves)
Raising Confident Boys. Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer. (needs approval)
Sequencing. Arlène Cardoza. (working mother choices)
The Drama of Being a Child. Alice Miller.
The Road Less Travelled. M. Scott Peck.
The Rules. Fein & Schneider. (if your relationship started this way, support shouldn’t be a problem!)
The Ultimate Secret to getting Absolutely Everything you Want. M. Hernaki
Trapped In The Mirror. Elan Golomb. (Perverse Narcissism & their victims)
Vivent Les Bébés. Ce que savent les petits d’homme. Dominique Simonnet.
Why Men don't Listen & Women can't Read Maps. A & B Pease.
Children’s books and general interest.
Ainsi Soit-Elle. Benoît Groult.
Bébé yogi. Sophie Dumoutet. Comprendre, favoiriser, apprendre la gestuelle du bb.
Déesse-mère. Création fertilité et abondance, Mythies archétypes féminins de Shahrukh Husain.
Entretien avec mon évier. Marla Cilley. Translated from English by Stephaine Bordaille Lorin membre ANPA.
Fingerprints of the Gods. Graham Hancock. (historical, not religious)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. J.K. Rowling.
Historical Atlas of the Jewish People. Eli Barnavi. (historical, not religious)
Krishnamurti. La première et Derniére Liberté.
La Prophecie des Andes. James Redfield.
L'alchemiste. Paolo Cohelo.
Le Lait du Père. Roberto Lionetti.
Le Petit Prince. Antoine de Saint Exupéry.
Le Reiki. Sandi Leir- Shuffrey.
Les Lampes en Cristal de Sel. J.P. Jaquemet.
L'Homme qui Devient Dieu. Gerald Massadié. (historical, not religious)
Minérales do Brazil. Catalogue (avec vertues par pierre).
Mutant Message Down Under. Marlo Morgan.
My Heart Soars. Chief Dan George.
Stalking the Wild Pendulum. Itzhak Benthov. (physics)
The Book. Alan Watts. (physics)
The Chalice & The Blade. Riane Eisler. Our history, our future.(2cpies)
The DaVinci Code. Dan Brown.
The Man Who Listens to Horses. Monty Roberts. (Biography. Attachment Horsemanship)
The Spectrum of Consciousness. Ken Wilber. (physics)
The Tao of Physics. Fritjof Capra. (Physics&spirituality)
Transformez Votre Vie. Louise L. Hay. (she cured herself from cancer)
Vivez dans la Lumière. Shatki Gawain.
When God was a Woman. Merlin Stone. The landmark exploration of the ancient worship of the great Goddess and the eventual suppression of women's rites.
Women Who Run With the Wolves. Clarissa Pinkola Estés.
Mothering magazines and a few New Beginnings. (LLLi)
Mothering Magazines.
(Winner of the "Public Services Award" for Vaccine Coverage)
Mothering magazine N° 114 Sept / Oct 2002 Co sleeping Top Scientists speak out. (2cpies)
Mothering magazine N° 115 Nov/Dec 2002. Vaccines and Autism. Help for Tantrums. No More Standardised Tests. Breastfeeding a Toddler. Second Generation Homebirth. Imaginative Play.
Mothering magazine N°116 jan/feb. 2003. StrawBale school. Cloth diapers Good for your baby and the Earth. Prenatal Yoga. World Music for the whole family. A single Father's story. The Parent's Bill of Rights.
Mothering magazine N° 117 March/April 2003. Vitamin D and Breastfeeding. Natural Birth Control. Winter Homeschool Camp. Homebirth Under Fire. Children and the environment. Kids's poetry books.
Mothering magazine N° 118 May/June 2003; Kids are what they eat, ADHD and diet, Maternal Mortality on the Rise, Keep Talking to your Teens, Toddler Slumber Party, Tandem Nursing, Family Meetings, Montessori.
Mothering magazine N° 120 Sept/Oct 2003; Good Food In Schools Organic Lunches, Vaccines & Travel, What You Don't Know About Prenatal Tests, How Motherhoood Imporves Your Sex Life, 3 Generations Under 1 Roof.
Mothering magazine N° 121 Nov/December 2003; No More Junk Food, Strep B are antibiotics Necessary? How Vouchers Hurt Education, Sparking a Teen's Soul, The Cesarean Epidemic, Life in a Blended Family.
Mothering magazine N° 122 Jan/Feb 2004. Why Breast is still Best, Environmental Contaminants and Your Milk. Chicken Pox Party. Hold your Crying BB. How to ask for PostPartum Help. Knitting for the Whole Family. Divorce Results.
Mothering magazine N° 123 March/April 2004. Facts say you need to say NO!to a Cesarean. Why is Waldorf the World's largest private school movement? Learn to Love your Mama Body. A deaf mother's story. A chorus of All Ages, Families who sing together.
Mothering magazine N° 124 May / June 2004 (2cpies) Children as Spiritual Teachers, Photo Essay Mothers and Children of Baghdad, Desperate Solution for Severe Morning Sickness, Soy Surprise; Too Much of a Good Thing May Harm You & Your Family.
Mothering magazine N° 125 July / August 2004.(2cpies) Keep Murcury out of Flu Vaccines, Help you Toddler Communicate with Sign Language, Making Music with Children, Ina May Gaskin on Why we Need Vaginal Breech Births. (3 cpies)
Mothering magazine N° 126 Sept / Oct 2004 Autisism & vaccine injuries, one child's recovery. Is Homeschooling Best for Your Child?Barbara Loe Fisher on the rise in chronic desease. Why Kids love secret Hideouts. (3cpies)
Mothering magazine N° 127 Nov/Dec 2004; How to help Kids be Media Savvy, Turtle Women American Indian Doulas, You Can BF after Breast Surgery, Classic Toys Review of Favourites.
Mothering magazine N° 128 Jan/Feb 2005. How You Can Bring Your BB to Work. Breastfeeding and the Law. How Herbs and Homeopathy Help Fight The Flu. Help your Peace-loving Child Avoid the Draft.
Mothering magazine N° 129 March/April 2005. Nursing Twins with just one breast. One Room Schoolhouse Why mixed age classrooms really work. Selling Sugar to kids, Do soda companies Corrupt our children? How one mom stays upbeat with her down syndrome child.
Mothering magazine N° 130 May/June 2005. Speak Up for Natural Birth, Great Teeth, How to Nurture a Nature Lover, Best Solutions for Excema,
Mothering magazine N° 131 July/Aug 2005. Why Millions of Children Love Homeschool. Nature at its best;the amazing Placenta. Summer greens: Tasty recipes for the whole family.
Mothering magazine N° Nov/Dec2005; Best New Toys of 2005, The Untold Risks of Epidurals, How Fresh Foods are Changing the US Schools, They Many Medicinal Uses of Mother's Milk.
Mothering magazine Jan/Feb. 2006 Special Autism Edition. New Hope for kids with Autism. How one Dad learned to love Fairies. Easy Dairy-free & Wheat-free recipes.
Mothering magazine N° March/April 2006; How to find Bath Products you can Trust, Massachusetts bans Hospital Formula Samples, Why Holding Preemies Helps Them Thrive, Great Lunches To Make With Your Toddler.
Mothering magazine May/June 2006; BF in public with Confidence, Leave the car seat in the car, New Mexico; leading the US in midwifery, Fresh Vegetarian tips for your family, Celebrate 30 yrs of Mothering!
Mothering magazine N° 137 July/August 2006; Why we need a breastfeeding culture, Lunch-box recipes & gear, Vacation with kids, Teen belly piercing ; What mothers should know.
Mothering magazine N° 138. Sept/Oct 2006. 10 Power foods for the mother to be, New baby shower ideas, Cloth diapers; Easier than you think, Breastfeeding, 10 tips for success.
Mothering magazine N° 139. Nov/Dec 2006. Kids and toy guns, Our best family recipes, How to include siblings at birth, Holiday gifts your kids will love.
Mothering magazine N° 140 Jan/feb 2007. How to wear your baby, A dad learns to love homebirth, Break free of guilt, Warm up with savoury soups.
Mothering magazine N° 141 march/april 2007. Bring back recess: why kids need to play. How to beat breast infections. Keep your home clean and green. Teens who change the world. Wheat free ideas for breakfast.
Mothering magazine N° 142 May/June 2007. HPV Vaccine for your daughter? Victory over post partum psychosis. Culinary adventures for toddlers. A tribute to American dads.
Mothering magazine N° 143
Mothering magazine N° 144 Sept/Oct 2007. Our pregnancy edition. Cesarians, why so many? What Holland can teach us about birth. 8 reasons to nurse your toddler. Mama was a midwife.
Mothering magazine N° 145 November/December 2007. Best natural toys of 2007. OUr guide to nontoxic plastics. Should your kids eat fish? Dare to birth your way. Breastfeed during emergencies.
Mothering magazine N° 146 jan/feb. 2008. Ricki Lake's new film : The business of being born. Dr Bob Sears: Get aluminum ou of vaccines! Herbs for a healthy pregnancy. When are kis ready for politics?
New Beginnings n°3 may/ June 2004 : When the Blues arrive with BB, Setting limits on Nighttime Nursing, Boosting Fertility While B.feeding.
New Beginnings n° 4 July/ Aug 2004 : Sunlight and vitamin D, Back to work with BB, Managing debt.
New beginnings n° 5 Sept/Oct 2004. Human Milk Still the Best Choice. B.F. In Public. Witnessing Birth of a sibling.
New Beginnings Nov/Dec 2004 N° 6. The Benefits of Baby Wearing. Healthy Daily Routines. Daredevil Toddlers.
New Beginnings January/February 2005. Volume 22 N° 1. New Thoughts on an Ancient Art. Tips for Pumping at Work. Custom Made Meals. (2cpies)
New Beginnings March/April 2005. Anatomy of a Working Breast. Good Enough Dads. The Road to Healthy Eating.
Grandir Autrement and the one Césarine magazine published.
Césarine Revue : Voix hautes, voix basses. Hors série. Oct 2006.
Grandir Autrement. N° 1 sept 2006. Couches lavables, Chaussures et chaussons souples, La place du père durant la grossesse, Bébés signeurs, Naitre en Écosse, Commerce Équitable.
Grandir Autrement. N° 2 nov. dec. 2006. Noël magique, éthique. La naissance sous la plume d'une sage femme, Augmentons le congé maternité, Ca bouge in Isère, Les familles sans voitures.
Grandir Autrement. N° 2 Jan, fev. 2007 Dossier Vacances hors sentiers
battus, Une doula à ses cotés pour vivre uen grossesse sereine,
Grandir avec plusieurs langues, Une maison de naissance en Belgique, L'allaitement du bambin, Recettes a base de chou.
Grandir Autrement. Hors Serie N° 1 fev. 2007: l'Education Sans Violence.
Grandir Autrement. N° 4 mars/avril. 2007. La dépression du post-partum. L'hygène naturelle ou comment se passer des couches. Sur le chiemin de l'eco-citoyenneté. Un réflexe d'ejection trop fort. Les légumes oubliés.
Grandir Autrement. N° 5
Grandir Autrement. N° 6 Un monde a leur portée. Accoucher dans l'eau. Pas à pas avec un porte-bébé laotien. Exprimer/tirer son liat. Pique nique : Qu'emporter? Dossier : Les écoles différents.
Grandir Autrement. N° 7Déménager avec ses enfants. L'épisiotomie. Parents actifs avec un bébé. Éco-rentrée. Dossier : Famille et conso.
Grandir Autrement. N° 2 Hors Serie. Naitre chez soi.
Grandir Autrement. N° 8 Le maternage et le couple. Notre sélection d'idées de cadeaux. Éviter le déclenchement inutile. Kes noix de lavage. Reprendre un allaitement interrompu.
Grandir Autrement. N° 9 Vaccination: peser les risques/bénéfices. Réduire sa facture d'électricité. Se préparer en couple à la naisance et à la parentalité. Soutenir les adolescents. Vivre en yourte.
Documents.
A Biological Approach to Breastfeeding.
Catalogue Ecofamille. Jan 2005.
Catalogue Le Monde de Bébé. March 2000.
Homeschooling Achievement. 2001. (2 copies)
Homeschooling Grows up. 2003. (2 copies.)
Leaflet Medela breastfeeding information guide.
NAMTA North American Montessori Teachers Association Journal. The first 3 years of life. Winter 2002. N.B: Although the Montessori method is an interesting alternative child education method, the ANPA does not support the uninformed, misleading commercial views on baby wearing, natural weaning and natural hygene (not taken into account) that the Montessori approach hold. (see pg 45 & 55 and on)
Sparadrap. Assoc pour les droits des parents des enfants hospitalisés.
The Milk Doc. Dr. Kradjian.
The Natural Child Project.
Updated 11 April 2008.
Books, documents and magazines.
In alphabetical order divided by categorie.
The french translation of many of the books are also in the library listed under the same category but as the title changes will be in a different place than the VO.
Loans for 8 weeks on receipt of a deposit check for 30€ to the order of Charlotte Yonge or a 20€ check for a year’s ANPA membership (to the order of ANPA).
Birth and fertility.
Am I Allowed. AIMS
Birthing Your Baby, The Second Stage. AIMS
Césariennes : questions, effets, enjeux? Alerte face a la banalisation. Michel Odent.
Choosing a Home Birth. Pat Thomas. AIMS
Choosing a Waterbirth. Beverley Lawrence Beech. AIMS
DVDs : What Babies Want. A documentary by Debby Takikawa. Narrated by Noah Wyle. This timely film is about the profoundly important and sacred oppouirtunity we hbave in bringing children into the world. Surprisingly and sometimes shocking, it challenges our beliefs about what infants are thinking and doing. It includes ground-breaking information on early development as well as appearances by the ral experts; babiesand their families.
Entering the World. Michel Odent.
Genèse de l'homme ecologique. Michel Odent.
Gentle Birth Choices. (with DVD of natural home births)
Immaculate Deception 2. Myth, Magic & Birth. Suzanne Arms.
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. Ina May Gaskin.
Induction Do I Really Need It? AIMS.
L’Art de Vivre Sa Fertilité. Josef Rötzer.
La Fertilité de l'Homme et de la Femme et Ses Points de Repère. CLER (2cpies)
La Fertilité de l'Homme et de la Femme et Ses Points de Repère. CLER
Pour Une Naissance A Visage Humain. C. Didierjean.
Silent Knife. Nancy W. Cohen & Lois J
Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Toni Weschler. MPH.
The Art of Breathing. Féderick leboyer.
The Birth Book. Dr Sears M.D. & Martha Sears R.N.
The Scientification of Love. Michel Odent.
Ultrasound Unsound. Beverley Beech & Jean Robinson. AIMS
Un Autre Cesarien Non Merci. Hélène Vadeboncoeur. Estner.
Vitamin K and the Newborn. AIMS
Vivre sa grossese et son accouchement. Une naissance heureuse. Isabelle Brabant
Water Birth. A guide to Water birth. Oxford Medical Illustration. This program is an account of a woman's experience of labour and delivery in water? it also describes in detail the process of setting up such a facility within the hospital environment. It will serve equally well as a guide to both health professionals and women who are interested in exploring the concept of water immersion during labour and or delivery.
We are All Water Babies. Jessica Johnson & Michel Odent.
Witches, Midwives & Nurses. A History of Women Healers. Barbara Ehrenreich & Deirdre English.
Your Birth Rights. Pat Thomas. AIMS
Breastfeeding.
Allaitement maternel et droit. Martine Herzog Evans.
Allaiter C’est Bon Pour La Santé. C. Didierjean. (2cpies)
Anthologie de L’allaitement Maternel. C. Didierjean. (préface de Michel Odent)
Breastfeeding Pure & Simple. LLLI
L’art de l’allaitement maternel. (2cpies 1991, 2 cpies 2005)
La Voie Lactée. C. Didierjean.
Les droits des mères. Grossesse et accouchement. Sophie Gamelin & Martine Herzog Evans.
Les droits des Mères. Les Premiers mois. Sophie Gamelin & Martine Herzog Evans.
Medication and Mother's Milk. Thomas Hale PHD. 2002 ed.
Milk, Money & Madness. The Culture and Politics of Breastfeeding. N. Baumslag M.D.MPH. & Dia L. Michels.
The Politics of Breastfeeding. Gabrielle Palmer. Ed IBFAN
The Womanly Art of Brestfeeding 6th Edition. (2cpies)
Nighttime Parenting.
Être Parent, le jour et la Nuit Aussi. Dr. Sears.
Good Nights. Dr Jay Gordon & Maria Goodavage.
Nighttime Parenting. Dr Sears. (3 cpies)
The Family Bed. Tine Thevenin.
The No Cry Sleep Solution. Elzabeth Pantley.
Three in a Bed. Deborah Jackson.
Attachment Parenting, contact, communication.
Attachment Parenting. Katie Granju & Betsy Kennedy.
Baby Signs. Linda Acredola.
Building Moral Intelligence. Michele Borba Ed. D. (Selected photocopying of the book.)
Diaper Free. Ingrid Bauer.
Dicipline with Love. Dr. Fitzhugh Dodson. (1970s)
Du Divorce À la Famille Recomposée. Christel Petitcolin.
Élever son enfant Autrement. Catherine Kramer.
How to Parent. Dr. Fitzhugh Dodson. (1974. )
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. (1) Faber & Mazlich.
Infant Massage. Vimala McClure.
Jalousies et Rivalités entre Fréres et soeurs. Faber et Mazlich.
La langue des signes. Tome 1 Histoire et grammaire. by Bille Moody. Ed IVT.
La Naissance du Sens. Boris Cyrulnik.
La Peau et La Toucher. Ashley Montagu.
Le concept du continuum. Jean Liedloff. À la recherche du bonheur perdu.
Les Enfants Actuels. Marie Françoise Neveu. Le grand défi "cerveau droit" dans un univers "cerveau gauche"
Les Nourritures Affectives. Boris Cyrulnik.
Liberated Parents, Leberated Children. Faber & Mazlich.
Parler pour que les Enfants Écoutent, Écouter pour que les Enfants Parlent. Faber& Mazlich. (aussi en vente a LLLPE pour 17€)
Porter Bébé. Claude Didierjean.
Pour Une Parentalité Sans Violence. C. Didierjean
Raising Your Spirited Child. Mary Sheedy Kurcinka.
Sans couches c'est la liberté. Ingrid Bauer. Ed l'instant Présent.
Siblings Without Rivalry. Faber & Mazlich.
Signe avec moi. Monica Companys
The Continuum Concept. Jean Liedloff.
The Human Animal. Desmond Morris.
Touching. The Human Significance of the Skin. Ashley Montagu.
Tout se joue Avant 6 ans. Fitzhugh Dodson.
Why Love Matters. Sue Gerhardt.
Homeschooling.
Learning at Home. Mary Layne. (Homeschooling)
The Old Schoolhouse. Summer 2004. (The Wild frontier)
What To Do When There’s Nothing To Do. Boston Children’s Medical Centre.
WW guide to Homeschooling 2003/2004. Brian D. Ray P.H.D.
WW guide to Homeschooling. 2004/2005. Brian D. Ray, PHD.
Vaccines.
bio contact N° 141 Nov. 2004 (l’immunité naturel)
The Truth about vaccines. How we are used as Guinea Pigs without knowing it. Dr Richard Halvorsen.
Tuberculine & BCG Les deux Vérités. Bernard Guennebaud. Eds ALIS
Vaccinations Le Marché de l'Angoisse. Dr Gerhard Buchwald. Eds ALIS
Vaccinations Les Effets Indésirables. Michel Georget. Eds ALIS
Health nutrition and dairy free.
Cuisine Vegetarien. Petit Pratiques Hachette.
Extraordinary Pouvoirs des Cérérales. Catherine Chabiron.
Feeding the Whole Family. LLLI
Intelligent Medicine. Ronald L Hoffman. M.D.
La Beauté Par Les Plantes. B. Hlava, F. Pospisil & F. Stary.
La Vérité sur les oméga-3. Dr Jean-Marie Bourre.
Lait de Vache, Blancheur Trompeuse. Anne Laroche Walter.(2cpies)
Lait, Monsonges et Propagande. Thierry Souccar.
Le Chlorure de Magnésium. Marie-France Muller. Ed Jouvence.
Le régime IG minceur. Thierry Souccar
L'essentiel sur Les Huiles Essentielles. Dr Ph. Bego. (2cpies)
Mille et Une Recettes. LLLI
My Child Wont Eat. Dr Carlos Gonzales.
Phytotherapie. Dr Jean Valnet.
Quand le corps dit non. Dr. Gabor Maté.
Saveurs et Virtues de la Spiruline. Belda Sisso.
Soyons Moins Lait. Ncolas Le Berre.
The Baby Book. Dr Sears.
Votre Alimentation. Dr. Kousmine. (no info on dairy but good sound info otherwise)
When the Body Says No. Dr. Gabor Maté.
Whole Foods From the Whole World. LLLI.
Psychology and Parenting by culture.
Au Coeur des Émotions de l’enfant. Isabelle Filliozat
Dont Shoot the Dog. Karen Pryor.
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. Richard Carlson. PHD
La Clef. G. Gassette & G. Barbarin.
La Soufffrence Muette de l'Enfant. Ailice Miller
Le Cri Primal. Dr. Arthur Janov.
Le Harcèlement Moral. Marie France Hirigoyen.
Les Hommes viennent de Mars, Les Femmes viennent de Vénus. John Gray.
Les Regles. Fein & Schneider. (Si tout les relations commencaient ainsi, le soutien ne serai pas une question!)
Men are from Mars, Women are From Venus. John Gray. (understanding our differences to better understand ourselves)
Raising Confident Boys. Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer. (needs approval)
Sequencing. Arlène Cardoza. (working mother choices)
The Drama of Being a Child. Alice Miller.
The Road Less Travelled. M. Scott Peck.
The Rules. Fein & Schneider. (if your relationship started this way, support shouldn’t be a problem!)
The Ultimate Secret to getting Absolutely Everything you Want. M. Hernaki
Trapped In The Mirror. Elan Golomb. (Perverse Narcissism & their victims)
Vivent Les Bébés. Ce que savent les petits d’homme. Dominique Simonnet.
Why Men don't Listen & Women can't Read Maps. A & B Pease.
Children’s books and general interest.
Ainsi Soit-Elle. Benoît Groult.
Bébé yogi. Sophie Dumoutet. Comprendre, favoiriser, apprendre la gestuelle du bb.
Déesse-mère. Création fertilité et abondance, Mythies archétypes féminins de Shahrukh Husain.
Entretien avec mon évier. Marla Cilley. Translated from English by Stephaine Bordaille Lorin membre ANPA.
Fingerprints of the Gods. Graham Hancock. (historical, not religious)
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. J.K. Rowling.
Historical Atlas of the Jewish People. Eli Barnavi. (historical, not religious)
Krishnamurti. La première et Derniére Liberté.
La Prophecie des Andes. James Redfield.
L'alchemiste. Paolo Cohelo.
Le Lait du Père. Roberto Lionetti.
Le Petit Prince. Antoine de Saint Exupéry.
Le Reiki. Sandi Leir- Shuffrey.
Les Lampes en Cristal de Sel. J.P. Jaquemet.
L'Homme qui Devient Dieu. Gerald Massadié. (historical, not religious)
Minérales do Brazil. Catalogue (avec vertues par pierre).
Mutant Message Down Under. Marlo Morgan.
My Heart Soars. Chief Dan George.
Stalking the Wild Pendulum. Itzhak Benthov. (physics)
The Book. Alan Watts. (physics)
The Chalice & The Blade. Riane Eisler. Our history, our future.(2cpies)
The DaVinci Code. Dan Brown.
The Man Who Listens to Horses. Monty Roberts. (Biography. Attachment Horsemanship)
The Spectrum of Consciousness. Ken Wilber. (physics)
The Tao of Physics. Fritjof Capra. (Physics&spirituality)
Transformez Votre Vie. Louise L. Hay. (she cured herself from cancer)
Vivez dans la Lumière. Shatki Gawain.
When God was a Woman. Merlin Stone. The landmark exploration of the ancient worship of the great Goddess and the eventual suppression of women's rites.
Women Who Run With the Wolves. Clarissa Pinkola Estés.
Mothering magazines and a few New Beginnings. (LLLi)
Mothering Magazines.
(Winner of the "Public Services Award" for Vaccine Coverage)
Mothering magazine N° 114 Sept / Oct 2002 Co sleeping Top Scientists speak out. (2cpies)
Mothering magazine N° 115 Nov/Dec 2002. Vaccines and Autism. Help for Tantrums. No More Standardised Tests. Breastfeeding a Toddler. Second Generation Homebirth. Imaginative Play.
Mothering magazine N°116 jan/feb. 2003. StrawBale school. Cloth diapers Good for your baby and the Earth. Prenatal Yoga. World Music for the whole family. A single Father's story. The Parent's Bill of Rights.
Mothering magazine N° 117 March/April 2003. Vitamin D and Breastfeeding. Natural Birth Control. Winter Homeschool Camp. Homebirth Under Fire. Children and the environment. Kids's poetry books.
Mothering magazine N° 118 May/June 2003; Kids are what they eat, ADHD and diet, Maternal Mortality on the Rise, Keep Talking to your Teens, Toddler Slumber Party, Tandem Nursing, Family Meetings, Montessori.
Mothering magazine N° 120 Sept/Oct 2003; Good Food In Schools Organic Lunches, Vaccines & Travel, What You Don't Know About Prenatal Tests, How Motherhoood Imporves Your Sex Life, 3 Generations Under 1 Roof.
Mothering magazine N° 121 Nov/December 2003; No More Junk Food, Strep B are antibiotics Necessary? How Vouchers Hurt Education, Sparking a Teen's Soul, The Cesarean Epidemic, Life in a Blended Family.
Mothering magazine N° 122 Jan/Feb 2004. Why Breast is still Best, Environmental Contaminants and Your Milk. Chicken Pox Party. Hold your Crying BB. How to ask for PostPartum Help. Knitting for the Whole Family. Divorce Results.
Mothering magazine N° 123 March/April 2004. Facts say you need to say NO!to a Cesarean. Why is Waldorf the World's largest private school movement? Learn to Love your Mama Body. A deaf mother's story. A chorus of All Ages, Families who sing together.
Mothering magazine N° 124 May / June 2004 (2cpies) Children as Spiritual Teachers, Photo Essay Mothers and Children of Baghdad, Desperate Solution for Severe Morning Sickness, Soy Surprise; Too Much of a Good Thing May Harm You & Your Family.
Mothering magazine N° 125 July / August 2004.(2cpies) Keep Murcury out of Flu Vaccines, Help you Toddler Communicate with Sign Language, Making Music with Children, Ina May Gaskin on Why we Need Vaginal Breech Births. (3 cpies)
Mothering magazine N° 126 Sept / Oct 2004 Autisism & vaccine injuries, one child's recovery. Is Homeschooling Best for Your Child?Barbara Loe Fisher on the rise in chronic desease. Why Kids love secret Hideouts. (3cpies)
Mothering magazine N° 127 Nov/Dec 2004; How to help Kids be Media Savvy, Turtle Women American Indian Doulas, You Can BF after Breast Surgery, Classic Toys Review of Favourites.
Mothering magazine N° 128 Jan/Feb 2005. How You Can Bring Your BB to Work. Breastfeeding and the Law. How Herbs and Homeopathy Help Fight The Flu. Help your Peace-loving Child Avoid the Draft.
Mothering magazine N° 129 March/April 2005. Nursing Twins with just one breast. One Room Schoolhouse Why mixed age classrooms really work. Selling Sugar to kids, Do soda companies Corrupt our children? How one mom stays upbeat with her down syndrome child.
Mothering magazine N° 130 May/June 2005. Speak Up for Natural Birth, Great Teeth, How to Nurture a Nature Lover, Best Solutions for Excema,
Mothering magazine N° 131 July/Aug 2005. Why Millions of Children Love Homeschool. Nature at its best;the amazing Placenta. Summer greens: Tasty recipes for the whole family.
Mothering magazine N° Nov/Dec2005; Best New Toys of 2005, The Untold Risks of Epidurals, How Fresh Foods are Changing the US Schools, They Many Medicinal Uses of Mother's Milk.
Mothering magazine Jan/Feb. 2006 Special Autism Edition. New Hope for kids with Autism. How one Dad learned to love Fairies. Easy Dairy-free & Wheat-free recipes.
Mothering magazine N° March/April 2006; How to find Bath Products you can Trust, Massachusetts bans Hospital Formula Samples, Why Holding Preemies Helps Them Thrive, Great Lunches To Make With Your Toddler.
Mothering magazine May/June 2006; BF in public with Confidence, Leave the car seat in the car, New Mexico; leading the US in midwifery, Fresh Vegetarian tips for your family, Celebrate 30 yrs of Mothering!
Mothering magazine N° 137 July/August 2006; Why we need a breastfeeding culture, Lunch-box recipes & gear, Vacation with kids, Teen belly piercing ; What mothers should know.
Mothering magazine N° 138. Sept/Oct 2006. 10 Power foods for the mother to be, New baby shower ideas, Cloth diapers; Easier than you think, Breastfeeding, 10 tips for success.
Mothering magazine N° 139. Nov/Dec 2006. Kids and toy guns, Our best family recipes, How to include siblings at birth, Holiday gifts your kids will love.
Mothering magazine N° 140 Jan/feb 2007. How to wear your baby, A dad learns to love homebirth, Break free of guilt, Warm up with savoury soups.
Mothering magazine N° 141 march/april 2007. Bring back recess: why kids need to play. How to beat breast infections. Keep your home clean and green. Teens who change the world. Wheat free ideas for breakfast.
Mothering magazine N° 142 May/June 2007. HPV Vaccine for your daughter? Victory over post partum psychosis. Culinary adventures for toddlers. A tribute to American dads.
Mothering magazine N° 143
Mothering magazine N° 144 Sept/Oct 2007. Our pregnancy edition. Cesarians, why so many? What Holland can teach us about birth. 8 reasons to nurse your toddler. Mama was a midwife.
Mothering magazine N° 145 November/December 2007. Best natural toys of 2007. OUr guide to nontoxic plastics. Should your kids eat fish? Dare to birth your way. Breastfeed during emergencies.
Mothering magazine N° 146 jan/feb. 2008. Ricki Lake's new film : The business of being born. Dr Bob Sears: Get aluminum ou of vaccines! Herbs for a healthy pregnancy. When are kis ready for politics?
New Beginnings n°3 may/ June 2004 : When the Blues arrive with BB, Setting limits on Nighttime Nursing, Boosting Fertility While B.feeding.
New Beginnings n° 4 July/ Aug 2004 : Sunlight and vitamin D, Back to work with BB, Managing debt.
New beginnings n° 5 Sept/Oct 2004. Human Milk Still the Best Choice. B.F. In Public. Witnessing Birth of a sibling.
New Beginnings Nov/Dec 2004 N° 6. The Benefits of Baby Wearing. Healthy Daily Routines. Daredevil Toddlers.
New Beginnings January/February 2005. Volume 22 N° 1. New Thoughts on an Ancient Art. Tips for Pumping at Work. Custom Made Meals. (2cpies)
New Beginnings March/April 2005. Anatomy of a Working Breast. Good Enough Dads. The Road to Healthy Eating.
Grandir Autrement and the one Césarine magazine published.
Césarine Revue : Voix hautes, voix basses. Hors série. Oct 2006.
Grandir Autrement. N° 1 sept 2006. Couches lavables, Chaussures et chaussons souples, La place du père durant la grossesse, Bébés signeurs, Naitre en Écosse, Commerce Équitable.
Grandir Autrement. N° 2 nov. dec. 2006. Noël magique, éthique. La naissance sous la plume d'une sage femme, Augmentons le congé maternité, Ca bouge in Isère, Les familles sans voitures.
Grandir Autrement. N° 2 Jan, fev. 2007 Dossier Vacances hors sentiers
battus, Une doula à ses cotés pour vivre uen grossesse sereine,
Grandir avec plusieurs langues, Une maison de naissance en Belgique, L'allaitement du bambin, Recettes a base de chou.
Grandir Autrement. Hors Serie N° 1 fev. 2007: l'Education Sans Violence.
Grandir Autrement. N° 4 mars/avril. 2007. La dépression du post-partum. L'hygène naturelle ou comment se passer des couches. Sur le chiemin de l'eco-citoyenneté. Un réflexe d'ejection trop fort. Les légumes oubliés.
Grandir Autrement. N° 5
Grandir Autrement. N° 6 Un monde a leur portée. Accoucher dans l'eau. Pas à pas avec un porte-bébé laotien. Exprimer/tirer son liat. Pique nique : Qu'emporter? Dossier : Les écoles différents.
Grandir Autrement. N° 7Déménager avec ses enfants. L'épisiotomie. Parents actifs avec un bébé. Éco-rentrée. Dossier : Famille et conso.
Grandir Autrement. N° 2 Hors Serie. Naitre chez soi.
Grandir Autrement. N° 8 Le maternage et le couple. Notre sélection d'idées de cadeaux. Éviter le déclenchement inutile. Kes noix de lavage. Reprendre un allaitement interrompu.
Grandir Autrement. N° 9 Vaccination: peser les risques/bénéfices. Réduire sa facture d'électricité. Se préparer en couple à la naisance et à la parentalité. Soutenir les adolescents. Vivre en yourte.
Documents.
A Biological Approach to Breastfeeding.
Catalogue Ecofamille. Jan 2005.
Catalogue Le Monde de Bébé. March 2000.
Homeschooling Achievement. 2001. (2 copies)
Homeschooling Grows up. 2003. (2 copies.)
Leaflet Medela breastfeeding information guide.
NAMTA North American Montessori Teachers Association Journal. The first 3 years of life. Winter 2002. N.B: Although the Montessori method is an interesting alternative child education method, the ANPA does not support the uninformed, misleading commercial views on baby wearing, natural weaning and natural hygene (not taken into account) that the Montessori approach hold. (see pg 45 & 55 and on)
Sparadrap. Assoc pour les droits des parents des enfants hospitalisés.
The Milk Doc. Dr. Kradjian.
The Natural Child Project.
Updated 11 April 2008.
Allergies & Eczema. Teething and Treatments
Teething and treatments.
S, eat raw garlic to fight off your cold. I find it most effective shreded with carrots as a salad. I know someone else who prefers it as raw garlic and tomato juice that she makes in a juicer. Garlic works very well in fighting and preventing colds. Also, chamomile works really well for teething. It is something that has always been used for teething and adults with gum problems can verify that it works. I would really only resort to doliprane as a last resort and try chamomile first. It is okay to give chamomile on a regular basis. You can dissolve 3 granules in a tiny bit of water and then give the baby the water.
The translation of "racine de guimauve" is marshmallow root, not mallow root. This is what marshmallows were originally made from and has traditionally been used in France on the sore gums of teething babies. Some herbists can still find it. It grows in marshes and I have been looking for it for a bit now. Since I haven't ever seen it though, I'm sort of having a hard time finding it. But I live in a small town and apparently asked the right person to get someone else motivated in finding it for me (since she is close to us and I guess didn't like the idea of me asking this other person). Anyway, she asked someone who knows where it is and is going to show it to me. Good luck finding it - T
Just a quick idea for those who have teething babes, many people swear by these little necklaces made of amber beads which ease pain apparently. Can be ordered on most natural parenting websites. Don't know what it's worth but once when I had a bad earache I put a piece of amber in my pillow and within a few minutes my ear popped and all pain was ended.... maybe a coincidence? R.
Just wanted to tell you we went through recently 2 severe bouts of ear ache with R (who is 3 years and 11 months old).
The first time a couple of weeks ago, really sudden onset, red ear, very hot, crying so much he didn't want me in the room let alone breastfeed or even water. He was quite delirious. I eventually managed to dribble some water (with Belladonna granules dissolved in it) into his mouth while he slept and finally got a doliprane (paracetamol) suppo into him. Then he slept the rest of the night (crawled into our bed at some point but no crying) and in the morning it was over.
Then last week the same thing but this time I got him to take Belladonna straight away and again the suppositoire. and again it passed quickly.
Both times I was sure if we'd called a doctor he'd have got antibiotics. Luckily it was over before we got through to one.
So far of the 4 times in his life R has had a severe ear ache he never needed antibiotics!! It cleared up by itself.
I saw a homeopathe today who is giving him a course of Belladonna (higher dose) to try to put a stop to it. I fugured twice in 2 weeks was starting to be a bit of a pattern.
Aynway Belladonna is by no means the only possible homeopathic remedy for ear infection. It depends on the "symptom picture". But it fitted R's symptoms.
Attached is an article I just found (see : ear infection article) in my files which I remember reassured me the first time Raphael refused the antibiotics he was prescribed by the doctor who we called out a couple of years ago.
Also fever plays an important part in helping the body to fight off infection.. There's an article about that I want to find again...
R
Both my brother and I spent a good part of our childhoods with tubes in our ears. (both of us were breastfed for 3 months, every 4 hours, with supplements according to Doctor's orders) Tubes in your ears grow out so when the next otitis struck, another painful insertion of tubes in our ears...
Great to have a little info on plant treatments. I feel very priviledged to actually see it in print, in English! C.
S, eat raw garlic to fight off your cold. I find it most effective shreded with carrots as a salad. I know someone else who prefers it as raw garlic and tomato juice that she makes in a juicer. Garlic works very well in fighting and preventing colds. Also, chamomile works really well for teething. It is something that has always been used for teething and adults with gum problems can verify that it works. I would really only resort to doliprane as a last resort and try chamomile first. It is okay to give chamomile on a regular basis. You can dissolve 3 granules in a tiny bit of water and then give the baby the water.
The translation of "racine de guimauve" is marshmallow root, not mallow root. This is what marshmallows were originally made from and has traditionally been used in France on the sore gums of teething babies. Some herbists can still find it. It grows in marshes and I have been looking for it for a bit now. Since I haven't ever seen it though, I'm sort of having a hard time finding it. But I live in a small town and apparently asked the right person to get someone else motivated in finding it for me (since she is close to us and I guess didn't like the idea of me asking this other person). Anyway, she asked someone who knows where it is and is going to show it to me. Good luck finding it - T
Just a quick idea for those who have teething babes, many people swear by these little necklaces made of amber beads which ease pain apparently. Can be ordered on most natural parenting websites. Don't know what it's worth but once when I had a bad earache I put a piece of amber in my pillow and within a few minutes my ear popped and all pain was ended.... maybe a coincidence? R.
Just wanted to tell you we went through recently 2 severe bouts of ear ache with R (who is 3 years and 11 months old).
The first time a couple of weeks ago, really sudden onset, red ear, very hot, crying so much he didn't want me in the room let alone breastfeed or even water. He was quite delirious. I eventually managed to dribble some water (with Belladonna granules dissolved in it) into his mouth while he slept and finally got a doliprane (paracetamol) suppo into him. Then he slept the rest of the night (crawled into our bed at some point but no crying) and in the morning it was over.
Then last week the same thing but this time I got him to take Belladonna straight away and again the suppositoire. and again it passed quickly.
Both times I was sure if we'd called a doctor he'd have got antibiotics. Luckily it was over before we got through to one.
So far of the 4 times in his life R has had a severe ear ache he never needed antibiotics!! It cleared up by itself.
I saw a homeopathe today who is giving him a course of Belladonna (higher dose) to try to put a stop to it. I fugured twice in 2 weeks was starting to be a bit of a pattern.
Aynway Belladonna is by no means the only possible homeopathic remedy for ear infection. It depends on the "symptom picture". But it fitted R's symptoms.
Attached is an article I just found (see : ear infection article) in my files which I remember reassured me the first time Raphael refused the antibiotics he was prescribed by the doctor who we called out a couple of years ago.
Also fever plays an important part in helping the body to fight off infection.. There's an article about that I want to find again...
R
Both my brother and I spent a good part of our childhoods with tubes in our ears. (both of us were breastfed for 3 months, every 4 hours, with supplements according to Doctor's orders) Tubes in your ears grow out so when the next otitis struck, another painful insertion of tubes in our ears...
Great to have a little info on plant treatments. I feel very priviledged to actually see it in print, in English! C.
Allergies & Eczema. Various experiences.
Allergies and eczema
Hello to all. I was wondering if anyone could recommend soaps and body cream for my baby who gets eczema on a regular basis. I really don't know "what" he's allergic to (if anything) since he still only nurses,
and I've tried different brands of body creams, soaps and detergent for his clothes and so far it hasn't made a significant difference.
Any advice is most welcome.
Thanks ! A
I dont know what to suggest to put on bb's skin, but have you eliminated all dairy from your diet? Thats the n° 1 most common culprit.
A lot of mothers on this forum have had problems with dairy. It doesn't last long in general, but some mothers have to even check packages for hidden dairy. One bb had blood in her diaper because her mother had put milk in her cornflakes in the middle of the night when there was nothing else to eat. She said that a specialist told her later that goat milk (in whatever form) is just as bad as cow.
I know one mother for whom soja gave a worse reaction than cow or mare's milk.
You may already know all this, but maybe not. There must be stuff in "files" on allergies. If you cant download them, then ask me which file you need, and I'll send it to you in private.
Love C
Hello A,
My boys never had eczema, so i'm only proposing things that have worked on others:
Alep soap for the body, and why not handwashing the clothes ?
Also have you tried "noix de lavage" in your washing machine?
http://www.noix-de-lavage.com/
this is not a reference website, but it just in case you don't know what they are!
I've got this little book called: Thérapies naturelles, Maladies d'enfants
they propose homeopathie for specific symptoms, and about eczema they propose according to what type of eczema.
They also say that for soothing any type of eczema we can use calendula talc. They even say we can apply a milk compress, though they don't say what kind of milk, but I suppose mother's milk would be the best .
Well right now I can't do much noise in the house, but if you're interested I can scan the page of this book that concerns eczema, and send it to you! CT
One of my friends use ; KLORANE Gel moussant surgras avec creme nutritive for washing her baby and SAINT - GERVAIS Ecaeane cold cream thermal visage & corps after bathing. You can buy them in the regular pharmacy.
She uses it for her daughter since her skin does not tolerate regular baby soaps.
Dexeryl is often prescribed but it did not work either for her or my daughter. it does not contain enough oil. it has too much waterlily.
I usually wash my daughter with no soap but just with hot shower everyday and use KLORANE occasionally. Then I put Hamalis water and Vaseline. when she has red hips I use Mitosyl which was also recommended by my friend.
I also like to mention that my daughter has reaction against foods which I eat.
If I eat chocolate, bread(wheat), cow milk products, and certain nuts, she gets red around her mouth and hips after nursing. There are some foods less strong like bananas which I can eat and breastfeed but if she eats it her face turns red.
MJ
Hi !
You can still detect what your baby is allergic to even if he's only bf
He must react to something in his environment or even something you eat.
My third son, now 3, had massive eczema and even asthma attacks due to food allergies when he was still 100% bf. I took him to an allergo and he was detected allergic ++ to wheat, dairy products, etc.
I quit completely eating, drinking (a radical diet going as far as traces and I even banned bread in the house because wheat is volatile...) these things and his eczema disapeared completely ! Every time there is a laspse in my vigilance, he gets it back along with asthma.
The allergo prescribed cortisone on a daily basis.... I did it for a few months. Then choose to become more radical with my own diet and to stop completely the cortisone. I was concerned with what cortisone would do in the long run to my son. An extremely strict diet worked better. I now only use the cortisone when he gets an asthma attack (he also developped allergies to pollen...)
As for creams two creams have helped (but never expect a cream to cure anything) :
- cicalfate and Dexeryl. MT
Ha I'm forgetting soemthing : when you deal with allergies you must beware of all creams that contain food. A lot of them do as strange as it may seem. Nuts, some exotic butters etc.
With an allergic child one must also beware of exotic foods and components - those human being in this part of the world have not gotten used to yet : kiwi, bananas, tomatoes, etc.
MT
My boy doesn't have allergies or eczema but I have battled with it for most of my life (stress related and not allergies so they say). Nothing cures it but I finally made up my own "beauty oil" that relieves the itch and calms the flare ups. I don't know if you can use it on a baby but my "recipe" is:
in a clean, VERY clean bottle, add whichever of the following you have on hand:
• Rose oil
• Geranium oil
• Gardenia oil
• coconut oil (not coprah but coconut)
• Bourrache
• Germe de blé (not good for allergic babies)
• Carrot
• Jojoba
• Argan
• Monoi (but only because I like the smell)
Most of the above have skin regenerating properties which is why I use them and then I cut everything with a neutral base
• match the amount with the same amount of sesame (or any other neutral oil - sesame might not be too good for an allergic baby)
Codina is a good source for oils. They are pretty expensive and when you start to buy a lot, the price is steep. I mix it all up and put it in smaller bottles for little gifts or share expenses with girlfriends. The mixture comes out a yellow colour that is very, umm, evocative so a non transparent bottle is better. It's better for the oils anyway. I use the stuff on my flare ups but also as a general beauty oil. It comes out to much less than the Nuxe or other brands you can buy and is the only thing that has ever worked on my patches.
Hope this helps and hang in there!
LL
Thanks C. I hadn't thought of looking at the files on allergies, I downloaded them but can't seem to open them. I think I was eager to get into contact with other parents.
Yes I've heard of the problems with dairy products and I try to cut down on them. However I'm a vegetarian and don't eat any meat or fish, only eggs and dairy products. If I totally eliminate them from my diet I'm not sure it would be balanced enough. But I will do more research on that and see what I can do.
A.
Thanks to everyone !
Several of you mention to look out for the foods I eat, of course I've heard of that before and will try to do so, especially the dairy products. I don't know if I'll manage to eliminate them totally since I'm vegetarian but I'll try to change my diet drastically.
I had never thought of the fact that some creams do contain food products also. I heard about the noix de lavage a few days ago at work and will look into those too.
Luckily R's eczema isn't too bad and the doctor has never prescribed cortisone for him, yet ... But I know it bugs him since I get it too, and it sometimes drives me crazy, mine is really stress related though. Best to all of you,
A
re: the eczema,
I, luckily, so far, haven't encountered it, but i HAVE used my breastmilk for treating baby acne, dry patches and eye redness. i learned this from my doula. she said to hand express a bit into a cup, then suction it
into an empty mini-dose of one of those "eau physiologique" thingies (in other words, empty it of the "eau" and suck in your milk). it's slow-acting but then suddenly does the trick. she even recommended it when his nose was stuffed and it did clear him up after 2 doses.
just a thought. we are so lucky to have our medecine cabinet right at hand, eh??
AM
Wow ! What a marvelous idea ! I think I'll try that right away. Gosh,our milk is good for EVERYTHING ! Thanks so much!
A
You can by empty “embouts” I think they’re called, at the pharmacy. AN.
I suffer from excema and although I avoid harsh chemicals, etc., the thing that works best for me is sunshine and seawater (i.e. swimming in the ocean). But now I'm going to try putting some of my milk on the spots to see if that clears things up! Thanks. ME
Your message was very interesting to me M. R, now 1 yr old, has had an asthma attack a month since Nov. The last one, a few weeks ago, was quite serious – she was in intensive care for 24 hours and we spent a week in the hospital. They did some preliminary allergy tests but we do not have the results yet. I am waiting for them before we go to an allergo, but maybe I shouldn’t wait? R has a treatment of inhaled ventolin and cortisone on a daily basis for the next three months. My doctor, Dr LM-L said that inhaled cortisone has minimal side effects because it is such a minute quantity.
I must admit I have “tried” that strict diet (no dairy, no wheat) several times unsuccessfully, I also suffer from asthma and allergies. I guess I haven’t been truly convinced of the negative effects. I am also put off by the expensive replacement products – am open to suggestions (I am allergic to soy).
Did you see an allergo in Paris? I am looking for recommendations. I would also like to read more about all this if anyone has any suggestions.
AN
Sticking to a diet is extremely difficult.
I found that the first few months were the most difficult and that it actually was psychologically easier to do it at 100% than partially. Because if you do it partially you still have the taste for it. It's basically like trying to quit smoking still having two fags a day.
At first I was very depressed - especially since T was allergic to precisley what constituted 90% of my diet ! I just hated all replacements I could come up with.
I also lost a lot of weight which by then it was pretty bad because I'd lost a lot already because of prolongued bf.
But I basically forgot about other food. The amazing improvement in T's skin and condition was also such a reward. I felt very proud and that gave me the energy to have ready comebacks to people who told me I was taking the whole thing too far.
In fact T who, like your child had already been several times in intensive care etc... (that played a major part in my determination too : “never again” was my motto. And I was trying to do it not only for him, but for myself too because as you know seeing our chidren suffer is such a trauma for us mothers) did not have a single asthma attack for a whole year. He started again when he developed an allergy to pollen. That alas, I cannot control !
You're right though about the alternative product's impressive budget. It does costs a fortune. Especially alternative bread (typically 4/5 euros for 5 slices !).
I'm afraid I do not have many suggestions to reduce the price. You can find different products on the site : valpiforme.fr
All this conversation makes me think that March the 1st is T's birthday. I'll have to bake a very appetizing cake with :
- egg erzatz
- 100% vegetable margarine (there is only one trademark which does that. All the other contain butter or some form or other of mik)
- rice flour
It's just for show because T never wants to eat it !
Good luck AN. Allergies are a major pain in the neck. Maybe you'll be lucky and they'll disapear. I did not get that lucky with T but that seems to be quite a frequent situation.
MN
What about making your own? Flat breads usings all sorts of alternative grains or flours ...
AL had a good recipe for pancakes...
I'm afraid I do not have many suggestions to reduce the price. You can find different products on the site : valpiforme.fr
R : my husband buys olive-based margarine from the bio shops..
There's also palm oil as an alternative in cooking..
RB.
Hello to all. I was wondering if anyone could recommend soaps and body cream for my baby who gets eczema on a regular basis. I really don't know "what" he's allergic to (if anything) since he still only nurses,
and I've tried different brands of body creams, soaps and detergent for his clothes and so far it hasn't made a significant difference.
Any advice is most welcome.
Thanks ! A
I dont know what to suggest to put on bb's skin, but have you eliminated all dairy from your diet? Thats the n° 1 most common culprit.
A lot of mothers on this forum have had problems with dairy. It doesn't last long in general, but some mothers have to even check packages for hidden dairy. One bb had blood in her diaper because her mother had put milk in her cornflakes in the middle of the night when there was nothing else to eat. She said that a specialist told her later that goat milk (in whatever form) is just as bad as cow.
I know one mother for whom soja gave a worse reaction than cow or mare's milk.
You may already know all this, but maybe not. There must be stuff in "files" on allergies. If you cant download them, then ask me which file you need, and I'll send it to you in private.
Love C
Hello A,
My boys never had eczema, so i'm only proposing things that have worked on others:
Alep soap for the body, and why not handwashing the clothes ?
Also have you tried "noix de lavage" in your washing machine?
http://www.noix-de-lavage.com/
this is not a reference website, but it just in case you don't know what they are!
I've got this little book called: Thérapies naturelles, Maladies d'enfants
they propose homeopathie for specific symptoms, and about eczema they propose according to what type of eczema.
They also say that for soothing any type of eczema we can use calendula talc. They even say we can apply a milk compress, though they don't say what kind of milk, but I suppose mother's milk would be the best .
Well right now I can't do much noise in the house, but if you're interested I can scan the page of this book that concerns eczema, and send it to you! CT
One of my friends use ; KLORANE Gel moussant surgras avec creme nutritive for washing her baby and SAINT - GERVAIS Ecaeane cold cream thermal visage & corps after bathing. You can buy them in the regular pharmacy.
She uses it for her daughter since her skin does not tolerate regular baby soaps.
Dexeryl is often prescribed but it did not work either for her or my daughter. it does not contain enough oil. it has too much waterlily.
I usually wash my daughter with no soap but just with hot shower everyday and use KLORANE occasionally. Then I put Hamalis water and Vaseline. when she has red hips I use Mitosyl which was also recommended by my friend.
I also like to mention that my daughter has reaction against foods which I eat.
If I eat chocolate, bread(wheat), cow milk products, and certain nuts, she gets red around her mouth and hips after nursing. There are some foods less strong like bananas which I can eat and breastfeed but if she eats it her face turns red.
MJ
Hi !
You can still detect what your baby is allergic to even if he's only bf
He must react to something in his environment or even something you eat.
My third son, now 3, had massive eczema and even asthma attacks due to food allergies when he was still 100% bf. I took him to an allergo and he was detected allergic ++ to wheat, dairy products, etc.
I quit completely eating, drinking (a radical diet going as far as traces and I even banned bread in the house because wheat is volatile...) these things and his eczema disapeared completely ! Every time there is a laspse in my vigilance, he gets it back along with asthma.
The allergo prescribed cortisone on a daily basis.... I did it for a few months. Then choose to become more radical with my own diet and to stop completely the cortisone. I was concerned with what cortisone would do in the long run to my son. An extremely strict diet worked better. I now only use the cortisone when he gets an asthma attack (he also developped allergies to pollen...)
As for creams two creams have helped (but never expect a cream to cure anything) :
- cicalfate and Dexeryl. MT
Ha I'm forgetting soemthing : when you deal with allergies you must beware of all creams that contain food. A lot of them do as strange as it may seem. Nuts, some exotic butters etc.
With an allergic child one must also beware of exotic foods and components - those human being in this part of the world have not gotten used to yet : kiwi, bananas, tomatoes, etc.
MT
My boy doesn't have allergies or eczema but I have battled with it for most of my life (stress related and not allergies so they say). Nothing cures it but I finally made up my own "beauty oil" that relieves the itch and calms the flare ups. I don't know if you can use it on a baby but my "recipe" is:
in a clean, VERY clean bottle, add whichever of the following you have on hand:
• Rose oil
• Geranium oil
• Gardenia oil
• coconut oil (not coprah but coconut)
• Bourrache
• Germe de blé (not good for allergic babies)
• Carrot
• Jojoba
• Argan
• Monoi (but only because I like the smell)
Most of the above have skin regenerating properties which is why I use them and then I cut everything with a neutral base
• match the amount with the same amount of sesame (or any other neutral oil - sesame might not be too good for an allergic baby)
Codina is a good source for oils. They are pretty expensive and when you start to buy a lot, the price is steep. I mix it all up and put it in smaller bottles for little gifts or share expenses with girlfriends. The mixture comes out a yellow colour that is very, umm, evocative so a non transparent bottle is better. It's better for the oils anyway. I use the stuff on my flare ups but also as a general beauty oil. It comes out to much less than the Nuxe or other brands you can buy and is the only thing that has ever worked on my patches.
Hope this helps and hang in there!
LL
Thanks C. I hadn't thought of looking at the files on allergies, I downloaded them but can't seem to open them. I think I was eager to get into contact with other parents.
Yes I've heard of the problems with dairy products and I try to cut down on them. However I'm a vegetarian and don't eat any meat or fish, only eggs and dairy products. If I totally eliminate them from my diet I'm not sure it would be balanced enough. But I will do more research on that and see what I can do.
A.
Thanks to everyone !
Several of you mention to look out for the foods I eat, of course I've heard of that before and will try to do so, especially the dairy products. I don't know if I'll manage to eliminate them totally since I'm vegetarian but I'll try to change my diet drastically.
I had never thought of the fact that some creams do contain food products also. I heard about the noix de lavage a few days ago at work and will look into those too.
Luckily R's eczema isn't too bad and the doctor has never prescribed cortisone for him, yet ... But I know it bugs him since I get it too, and it sometimes drives me crazy, mine is really stress related though. Best to all of you,
A
re: the eczema,
I, luckily, so far, haven't encountered it, but i HAVE used my breastmilk for treating baby acne, dry patches and eye redness. i learned this from my doula. she said to hand express a bit into a cup, then suction it
into an empty mini-dose of one of those "eau physiologique" thingies (in other words, empty it of the "eau" and suck in your milk). it's slow-acting but then suddenly does the trick. she even recommended it when his nose was stuffed and it did clear him up after 2 doses.
just a thought. we are so lucky to have our medecine cabinet right at hand, eh??
AM
Wow ! What a marvelous idea ! I think I'll try that right away. Gosh,our milk is good for EVERYTHING ! Thanks so much!
A
You can by empty “embouts” I think they’re called, at the pharmacy. AN.
I suffer from excema and although I avoid harsh chemicals, etc., the thing that works best for me is sunshine and seawater (i.e. swimming in the ocean). But now I'm going to try putting some of my milk on the spots to see if that clears things up! Thanks. ME
Your message was very interesting to me M. R, now 1 yr old, has had an asthma attack a month since Nov. The last one, a few weeks ago, was quite serious – she was in intensive care for 24 hours and we spent a week in the hospital. They did some preliminary allergy tests but we do not have the results yet. I am waiting for them before we go to an allergo, but maybe I shouldn’t wait? R has a treatment of inhaled ventolin and cortisone on a daily basis for the next three months. My doctor, Dr LM-L said that inhaled cortisone has minimal side effects because it is such a minute quantity.
I must admit I have “tried” that strict diet (no dairy, no wheat) several times unsuccessfully, I also suffer from asthma and allergies. I guess I haven’t been truly convinced of the negative effects. I am also put off by the expensive replacement products – am open to suggestions (I am allergic to soy).
Did you see an allergo in Paris? I am looking for recommendations. I would also like to read more about all this if anyone has any suggestions.
AN
Sticking to a diet is extremely difficult.
I found that the first few months were the most difficult and that it actually was psychologically easier to do it at 100% than partially. Because if you do it partially you still have the taste for it. It's basically like trying to quit smoking still having two fags a day.
At first I was very depressed - especially since T was allergic to precisley what constituted 90% of my diet ! I just hated all replacements I could come up with.
I also lost a lot of weight which by then it was pretty bad because I'd lost a lot already because of prolongued bf.
But I basically forgot about other food. The amazing improvement in T's skin and condition was also such a reward. I felt very proud and that gave me the energy to have ready comebacks to people who told me I was taking the whole thing too far.
In fact T who, like your child had already been several times in intensive care etc... (that played a major part in my determination too : “never again” was my motto. And I was trying to do it not only for him, but for myself too because as you know seeing our chidren suffer is such a trauma for us mothers) did not have a single asthma attack for a whole year. He started again when he developed an allergy to pollen. That alas, I cannot control !
You're right though about the alternative product's impressive budget. It does costs a fortune. Especially alternative bread (typically 4/5 euros for 5 slices !).
I'm afraid I do not have many suggestions to reduce the price. You can find different products on the site : valpiforme.fr
All this conversation makes me think that March the 1st is T's birthday. I'll have to bake a very appetizing cake with :
- egg erzatz
- 100% vegetable margarine (there is only one trademark which does that. All the other contain butter or some form or other of mik)
- rice flour
It's just for show because T never wants to eat it !
Good luck AN. Allergies are a major pain in the neck. Maybe you'll be lucky and they'll disapear. I did not get that lucky with T but that seems to be quite a frequent situation.
MN
What about making your own? Flat breads usings all sorts of alternative grains or flours ...
AL had a good recipe for pancakes...
I'm afraid I do not have many suggestions to reduce the price. You can find different products on the site : valpiforme.fr
R : my husband buys olive-based margarine from the bio shops..
There's also palm oil as an alternative in cooking..
RB.
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Welcome to the anglophone natural parenting community in France
Beyond Breastfeeding.
The ANPA was created in response to a growing demand for an alternative to parenting organisations and “experts” that encourage artificial feeding, artificial nipples, parent-child separation, vaccines and letting babies cry it out alone, commonly know as “sleep training” and other common trends in parenting practices. We have a forum that is for discerning parents. It is for parents whose babies and children’s and consequentially the family’s well being is priority. The parents on our forum believe that being in contact with like-minded parents is part of the network that promotes conscious, educated parenting.
Our parenting choices are based on the golden standard of real milk, the human kind, and our support extends to parents who share the same standards and want to go beyond. We welcome breastfeeding mothers or mothers who have breastfed until their children wean from the the breast naturally. We believe that offering our breasts as sexual objects is a personal choice, and every woman's right. (not to mention fun) but that feeding babies with breasts is not a question of choice, but of making a stand against the power of marketing over ignorance and isolation. If you think you "can't" breastfeed or "couldn't" please see www.allaitementpourtous.com or any qualified IBCLC or an LLL leader.
This website offers a very small selection of documents and testimonies that are available on the forum PLUS a photo gallerie offering a glimpse into our lives as active parents, free, independant of bottles, (except the champagne kind of course) push chairs, cots, painful front packs and lots more of the expensive equipment that we used to think we needed to be happy parents.
Lots of us have had serious breastfeeding problems, so some of us have a lot of experience with the breast pump kind of equipment, that sometimes is necessary to save a compromised breastfeeding process. (its a bit of a paradox, but we consider the breast pump equipment an investment towards future freedom)
On the forum you will find more documents, and testimonies that can be useful to many stages of parenting, from pregnancy and giving birth to child education.
In our forum you will find real support, with attachment parents, backed by research based information. We know we are definitely the minority in our parenting standards. We know that our parenting choices can trigger guilty feelings, hostility or even aggression from parents, organisations or “experts” that don’t have the same values or education so we recognise that support in our choices is vital to our strength and well being as individual parents and families.
Although there are no rules to natural parenting, there are concepts that we all agree on that are mentioned in the ANPA charter.
To be sure the ANPA is for you, you may ask for a downloadable copy of the charter/quesionnaire. If you do agree with our basic philosophie, please fill it in and send it to astharte@gmail.com
The 25€ annual membership is payable by cheque or paypal. A year's membership, gives you access to the forum, the lending library, the open house dates, meetings, brunch dates, and all the information and support that comes with it.
If you have any questions you can contact ANPAinFrance@gmail.com
All the best to you and your family, and welcome among us.
ANPA members
The ANPA was created in response to a growing demand for an alternative to parenting organisations and “experts” that encourage artificial feeding, artificial nipples, parent-child separation, vaccines and letting babies cry it out alone, commonly know as “sleep training” and other common trends in parenting practices. We have a forum that is for discerning parents. It is for parents whose babies and children’s and consequentially the family’s well being is priority. The parents on our forum believe that being in contact with like-minded parents is part of the network that promotes conscious, educated parenting.
Our parenting choices are based on the golden standard of real milk, the human kind, and our support extends to parents who share the same standards and want to go beyond. We welcome breastfeeding mothers or mothers who have breastfed until their children wean from the the breast naturally. We believe that offering our breasts as sexual objects is a personal choice, and every woman's right. (not to mention fun) but that feeding babies with breasts is not a question of choice, but of making a stand against the power of marketing over ignorance and isolation. If you think you "can't" breastfeed or "couldn't" please see www.allaitementpourtous.com or any qualified IBCLC or an LLL leader.
This website offers a very small selection of documents and testimonies that are available on the forum PLUS a photo gallerie offering a glimpse into our lives as active parents, free, independant of bottles, (except the champagne kind of course) push chairs, cots, painful front packs and lots more of the expensive equipment that we used to think we needed to be happy parents.
Lots of us have had serious breastfeeding problems, so some of us have a lot of experience with the breast pump kind of equipment, that sometimes is necessary to save a compromised breastfeeding process. (its a bit of a paradox, but we consider the breast pump equipment an investment towards future freedom)
On the forum you will find more documents, and testimonies that can be useful to many stages of parenting, from pregnancy and giving birth to child education.
In our forum you will find real support, with attachment parents, backed by research based information. We know we are definitely the minority in our parenting standards. We know that our parenting choices can trigger guilty feelings, hostility or even aggression from parents, organisations or “experts” that don’t have the same values or education so we recognise that support in our choices is vital to our strength and well being as individual parents and families.
Although there are no rules to natural parenting, there are concepts that we all agree on that are mentioned in the ANPA charter.
To be sure the ANPA is for you, you may ask for a downloadable copy of the charter/quesionnaire. If you do agree with our basic philosophie, please fill it in and send it to astharte@gmail.com
The 25€ annual membership is payable by cheque or paypal. A year's membership, gives you access to the forum, the lending library, the open house dates, meetings, brunch dates, and all the information and support that comes with it.
If you have any questions you can contact ANPAinFrance@gmail.com
All the best to you and your family, and welcome among us.
ANPA members