Fed is Best? **Trigger warning**

[cagoldi]

**Content warning**



Baby died of dehydration. I haven't had an opportunity to look into the links provided in the article yet, so I don't know about the "studies show" claims at this time. I know we've talked in the past about how the "Breast is Best" mantra can be damaging, but I'm sure this must be extremely rare.

fedisbest.org/2017/02/given-just-one-bottle-still-alive/

[wineallthetime]

So horrible. When I read this story a few days ago I'd assumed it'd be about a family who was told they needed to supplement/pump/ect to get the babies weight up but refused because they believed "breast is best". Still would be absolutely terrible, but the fact that medical professionals couldn't see that this baby was starving is mind blowing.

[JoeLies]

I read this the other day and it made me so angry. As new parents, we are so vulnerable and clueless. We look to medical professionals because they should know better. This family was so horribly failed.

One of my former co-workers also delivered at the same baby friendly hospital I did, about 6 months before Colin was born. She had major production issues and her daughter was experiencing some jaundice. She said a couple of the nurses and the LC actually gave her grief when they went back a couple days later to check in, because she'd supplemented with formula. Fortunately she realized that feeding her baby was more important than pleasing them, but it made me wary of the whole baby friendly thing from the start. I'm not surprised that there's a bit of a backlash, but it's ridiculous that it takes tragedies to make it happen.

[yummeecookee]

This is so so so terrible. Like wine said, it's absolutely mind boggling that these medical professionals missed on what was happening. I would really like to believe that if someone had truly recognized what was going on, they would've directed this family to formula.

[yummeecookee]

JoeLies, I'm glad your coworker followed her motherly instincts and supplemented when needed.

[cagoldi]

Pete and I discussed this last night and he just couldn't understand how this could happen.

I certainly don't have much trouble. I was very upset about switching to formula with a Dude and although Pete recognized I was anxious, he couldn't appreciate why I was so worried. The father in the article apparently felt he same way and said he didn't want to offer a bottle because he didn't want to "ruin" the baby.

I agree I'm most troubled by the reassurances these parents received from medical staff. We're really at their mercy and need them to help us make sense of behavior, especially as first-time parents.

I did get around to looking at some of the studies mentioned and plan to check out the claim about the baby-friendly hospital initiative tonight. I do agree that there should be more education about formula. It's great that support and resources for breastfeeding have dramatically increased the last few decades, but it's like there is a pervasive fear of FF now.

I do recall one mom from the board in early days when our babies were still little saying that she would rather her baby be hungry than offer formula. I wonder how common that line of thinking is?

[wineallthetime]

Mar 5, 2017 18:24:41 GMT -5 cagoldi said:

Pete and I discussed this last night and he just couldn't understand how this could happen.

I certainly don't have much trouble. I was very upset about switching to formula with a Dude and although Pete recognized I was anxious, he couldn't appreciate why I was so worried. The father in the article apparently felt he same way and said he didn't want to offer a bottle because he didn't want to "ruin" the baby.

I agree I'm most troubled by the reassurances these parents received from medical staff. We're really at their mercy and need them to help us make sense of behavior, especially as first-time parents.

I did get around to looking at some of the mentioned and plan to check out the claim about the baby-friendly hospital initiative tonight. I do agree that there should be more education about formula. It's great that support and resources for breastfeeding have dramatically increased the last few decades, but it's like there is a pervasive fear of FF now.

I do recall one mom from the board in early days when our babies were still little saying that she would rather her baby be hungry than offer formula. I wonder how common that line of thinking is?

I struggled to produce enough. I think of all tbose MOTN feedings where I nursed for an hour and he screamed and screamed and screamed. Later I realized he was hungry. In the moment I thought he had a hard time settling.

Around that time a dr recommended breastfeeding, pumping and then bottle feeding. A friend got the same advice and didn't take it, saying her milk would be enough.

Makes me nervous that both of those senerios could've gone wrong.

[73jewels]

Wow wedding. Thank god for your doctor!

I was super lucky and had no issues breastfeeding Sam. So I was thrown for a loop when I had issues with Ben. Our pedi NP is also a lactation consultant and at his 2 week appt I broke down crying from the pain I was having. She had me make an appt with her and we met a few times. At our 2nd appointment she said 'I'm a huge advocate for breastfeeding, and I'll work with you if that's what you want. However, your pain is very severe. I need to make sure this is what YOU really want. If not, we can discuss your other options. There is nothing wrong with stopping if this is too hard. What's important is that your baby is fed, and he needs a healthy mom, so you make the best choice for you.'

As a LC I never expected to hear that from her. We ultimately worked through my problems, but I respect her so much for not pushing me.

[JoeLies]

I feel like I was super lucky because Col's pediatrician, when I first met him when I was still pregnant, suggested that who knows? I may find that I'm better off sneaking to my car for a nap when I went back to work, rather than pumping. He was very upfront that they'd help make sure he was fed because that was the important thing. I always remembered that and although I put a lot of pressure on myself, I rationally knew that formula was completely fine.

guster - I remember reading an article in maybe late 2015? Basically pointing out various ways the baby friendly initiative was potentially harmful. Maybe your hospital was smart enough to stay on top of the topic and adjust as needed.