Guest guest Posted October 9, 2008 Report Share Posted October 9, 2008 Dear Senate this is a request for information. One unintended side effect of the push to increase breast feeding seems to be a problem of failure to thrive. I have recently had a case of life threatening starvation because the mother had formed the clear impression in her baby friendly hospital that Formula feeding is dangerous for the baby. This is not the only case we are usually keeping an eye on five or six mothers and babies who are struggling with breast feeding. There would be far more but mothers decide to supplement when faced with a hungry baby In the light of this experience I have reread the health promotion literature produced by DOH which we hand out as well as CHPP and I have started to ask myself the question. Is the campaign veering into the area of moral crusade, There is a lot of emphasis on scary things which can happen to bottle fed babies and a linking to the concept of the breast feeding mother as a "good" mother. HCP's such as myself now have commissioner breast feeding targets so feel a pressure to push breast feeding. The incident has left me asking a number of questions which seems not to be covered anywhere 1. When should a mother supplement breast feeding? 2. Is formula feeding really dangerous when given to a well cared for baby in a loving affluent home? 3. Is the present situation actually damaging the cause of breast feeding in the UK? 4. Is cronically underfeeding a newborn baby for a prolonged period more or less dangerous than supplimenting? 5. Is this just a problem unique to my particular part of the world? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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