Breast is not best, language, guilt and lactivism musings

[Tasha]

Oh and i believe they think it is to do with breathing in bacteria from the mattress and also inhaling their own co2

 

[midori1999]

I wonder sometimes if they change the guildlines to much and ordinary mums cant keep up

In the 80s it was the guideline for babies to sleep on their front, did the number of SIDS drop after the new guidelines and what is the reason for babies to sleep on their backs

Sorry for all the questions I am honestly interested

They don't really change guidelines that much at all.

As said above, deaths from SIDS dropped by over 50% when they introduced the 'back to sleep' campaign. They don't know why it helps, as there's still no difinitive reason for SIDS, although there are theories that front sleeping may induce deeper sleep so that when babies top breathing (which they do all the time) they don't start again.

 

[Tasha]

Patch I thought those other factors came in a bit later

 

[patch2006uk]

Patch I thought those other factors came in a bit later

Which factors?

 

[Tasha]

I agree it isnt that often. My sister died from SIDS in 1979, then it was put them on their tummy or side and it wasnt until thirteen years later that changed and hasnt changed again since, twenty years on.

 

[Tasha]

Patch I thought those other factors came in a bit later

Which factors?

Sorry should of been clearer, the smoking etc.

 

[Missy86]

I was lucky with Rhys as he always slept on his back, I am not sure what I would have done if he wanted to tummy sleep

Is it the increase of sleeping on the back that has brought about more flat head syndrome

 

[MommaAlexis]

My best friend's daughter got a really obvious bald spot from back sleeping haha. It was really cute and just growing in now, she's nine months.

 

[Tasha]

I was lucky with Rhys as he always slept on his back, I am not sure what I would have done if he wanted to tummy sleep

Is it the increase of sleeping on the back that has brought about more flat head syndrome

Maybe but baby should get plenty of supervised tummy time every day, and that would help to prevent it. Although I just did a quick google and couldnt see anything saying there are more cases now

Patch, have you copy righted the every feed counts idea yet? I didnt BF my first two and managed six weeks with my fourth (when I was pregnant with my third a mw spent time with me really explaining what a difference breastmilk would make to my LO because my waters had broken at 28 weeks and she was expected to be very prem), I dont feel any way at all guilty for not continuing longer because I know even those six weeks made a difference (obviously would like to do longer if I can if I get another sticky baby) to my LO (and I believe to my mental health too). It is such a positive message and it might encourage more women to think the way I do and therfore be willing to try as it takes off some of the pressure some women feel.

 

[Missy86]

I was lucky with Rhys as he always slept on his back, I am not sure what I would have done if he wanted to tummy sleep

Is it the increase of sleeping on the back that has brought about more flat head syndrome

Maybe but baby should get plenty of supervised tummy time every day, and that would help to prevent it. Although I just did a quick google and couldnt see anything saying there are more cases now

Patch, have you copy righted the every feed counts idea yet? I didnt BF my first two and managed six weeks with my fourth (when I was pregnant with my third a mw spent time with me really explaining what a difference breastmilk would make to my LO because my waters had broken at 28 weeks and she was expected to be very prem), I dont feel any way at all guilty for not continuing longer because I know even those six weeks made a difference (obviously would like to do longer if I can if I get another sticky baby) to my LO (and I believe to my mental health too). It is such a positive message and it might encourage more women to think the way I do and therfore be willing to try as it takes off some of the pressure some women feel.

I had a different problem with Rhys, he would not do tummy time he hated it

 

[patch2006uk]

I was lucky with Rhys as he always slept on his back, I am not sure what I would have done if he wanted to tummy sleep

Is it the increase of sleeping on the back that has brought about more flat head syndrome

Arguably, yes. But I also think babies being left for long periods in bouncy chairs, carseats, pushchairs, etc has also contributed to it. Isaac slept on his back until he was old enough to wriggle onto his front, but because I carried him most of the day, his head never flattened. He did rub off a bit of hair, but only after he started rolling, cos he tossed and turned so much!

I'd love to try and do something with 'every feed counts'. Does anyone have any ideas where you'd even start? Maybe a local campaign in conjunction with a local hospital?

 

[patch2006uk]

Patch I thought those other factors came in a bit later

Which factors?

Sorry should of been clearer, the smoking etc.

I'll try and find the article I read on it all. It was ages ago, though, so no promises. It was just basically saying that you couldn't credit the back to sleep campaign with the total reduction in SIDS, as lifestyles have also got healthier in the same time frame.

Basically, you can't really take out all of the variables, so it's impossible to distinguish certain outcomes. It wasn't disputing that back sleeping was safest, just that maybe other recent changes have contributed to the reduction in SIDS too.

 

[Tasha]

That makes sense Patch, thank you.

 

[MommaAlexis]

Just thought I'd throw this out there, thank you to everyone for being able to make their arguments without their emotions clouding their responses. This is definitely the kind of stuff I'd like to know but can rarely talk about because it's so "heated".

 

[Kage76]

There are studies coming our constantly about things being less than ideal for babies. Infant paracetamol has been linked to asthma, less effective injections, and a few other things. does knowing that make moms who dish out calpol at every squeak feel guilty? Or does it allow them to take a calculated risk, weighing up the benefits vs the risks? Sleeping on the front being linked to SIDS. Does that make moms with babies who will only sleep on their front feel guilty, or allow them to take extra precaution to keep their LO safe? I think in Australia now they've added breastfeeding to the list of things to help prevent SIDS. Does that make FFing moms feel guilty? Should the info be withheld from new parents just to protect a few from feeling guilty?

I'd rather know the truth about whatever I've decided to do, even if that truth is hard to hear. Knowledge is always better than ignorance.

I see your point- but i am yet to meet a mother in this day and age who has not done a ton of research about every aspect of parenting. Every mother I have met is fully aware of the benefits of bf/ risks of formula. For gods sake I kid you not in my midwifes clinic in hospital they had a big chart with it laid out in plain language, in 6 different languages in every toilet.

I am confident to say by the time she gives birth- a mother knows. Google "baby formula" and everything from the risks of formula to every story of tainted formula is there- if thats not enough to prompt people to research more then nothing is going to change your mind.

And why does the loss of breastfeeding cause guilt or greif? because unlike sleeping on their tummys or paracetamol - you are doing what is the best interest of you child at that point- breastfeeding failure is your bodies failure to do what is best and what is "naturally" best for your baby. to be told that you are giving them the "4th best alternative" or somehow putting them directly in harms way gets to the core of you like nothing else.

 

[Tasha]

I see your point- but i am yet to meet a mother in this day and age who has not done a ton of research about every aspect of parenting. Every mother I have met is fully aware of the benefits of bf/ risks of formula. For gods sake I kid you not in my midwifes clinic in hospital they had a big chart with it laid out in plain language, in 6 different languages in every toilet.

I am confident to say by the time she gives birth- a mother knows. Google "baby formula" and everything from the risks of formula to every story of tainted formula is there- if thats not enough to prompt people to research more then nothing is going to change your mind.

And why does the loss of breastfeeding cause guilt or greif? because unlike sleeping on their tummys or paracetamol - you are doing what is the best interest of you child at that point- breastfeeding failure is your bodies failure to do what is best and what is "naturally" best for your baby. to be told that you are giving them the "4th best alternative" or somehow putting them directly in harms way gets to the core of you like nothing else.

The bolded bit is quite likely to be an area thing. Here (I am in what is classed as a high populated, deprived/low social class area) most women would not research they just listen to the advice of their mothers and sometimes professionals.

 

[patch2006uk]

Most of the girls from my school now have 2+ children. They aren't the sharpest tools in the box, and I can pretty much guarantee they haven't researched their decisions, but instead have done what their moms told them to.

You can't assume that everyone knows everything, even if you do. Most of them don't even understand the dangers of smoking, ffs. I don't come from a wonderful area

 

[Tasha]

Most of the girls from my school now have 2+ children. They aren't the sharpest tools in the box, and I can pretty much guarantee they haven't researched their decisions, but instead have done what their moms told them to.

You can't assume that everyone knows everything, even if you do. Most of them don't even understand the dangers of smoking, ffs. I don't come from a wonderful area

This sounds very similar to my peers. Wouldnt say they are not the sharpest tools in the box, but I would say they are likely to follow blindly.

 

[Missy86]

Ot can I ask you guys something

With my nipple problem last time do you think its ok to start with nipple shields from the very start or is that a really bad idea

 

[Tasha]

I am not sure Missy, maybe start a thread in the BF section. I did the other day, even though I am not pregnant or have a new baby and they were fab