Information Overload On Breastfeeding Advice

There is an information overload out there when it comes to breastfeeding advice for mothers. It is getting more and more difficult for mums to be able to pick out what is useful, and it can be overwhelming. Now, even the governments slogan ‘Breast is Best’ is coming under attack, because some critics say that it portrays breastfeeding as something out of the ordinary and to be aspired to, when it should just be considered a normal, natural thing to do.

Lies, damn lies and statistics… There has been some doubt cast lately on the statistics surrounding the health benefits of breastfeeding. Professor Michael Kramer, a leading world health organization advisor and professor of paediatrics has said that much of the evidence used to persuade new mothers to breastfeed is either wrong or obsolete. He is quoted as saying; ‘the public health breastfeeding promotion information is way out of date. There is very little evidence that it reduces the risk of leukaemia, lymphoma, bowel disease, heart disease and high blood pressure.’

Michael Kramer’s main premise is that a significant class division exists when it comes to measuring the length of time that mothers manage to breastfeed. He argues that many of the supposed benefits of breastfeeding can be explained by the differences in lifestyle of the predominately middle class mothers who manage to breastfeed for any significant amount of time.

So where does all the information and conflicting views leave the Mother who is feeling pressure to breastfeed? Well, the “experts” can argue about what is the route cause of the statistics until they are blue in the face. I am sure that most mums are intelligent enough to ‘hedge their bets’ and work out that it is definitely a healthy and natural thing to try and do. Aside from any practical issues to consider, such as an early return to work; the fact remains that it is a choice for mums to make, but a recent poll found that 9 out of 10 wished they had continued for longer. There are the undoubted emotional and psychological benefits for mother and baby. The suckling of the baby directly after birth helps the uterus contract, something that bottle feeding cannot do. When the baby latches on, it triggers this necessary internal reaction in the uterus which, in turn, stops the mother from hemorrhaging.

So it is a case of getting the right advice and trusting your judgment. But before you go trawling through all the information just bear a few things in mind:

Don’t just expect it to come naturally (it takes practice and consistent effort in most cases).

It may well be painful, particularly in the early days, but persist for as long as you can, under the advice of a doctor if necessary.

Don’t be overly concerned if the baby seems constantly hungry. As long as you are producing milk that is good. It is a case of supply and demand – you will catch up!

Don’t worry about feeding in public! It is not a big deal, and there are lots of great products on the market such as breastfeeding covers and aprons that can give you some support if you feel you need it.

Ranking: 5