Breastfeeding - Nature's Perfect Nourishment
God created it, Science confirms it, Nature celebrates it!

"Breastfeeding is the most precious gift a mother can give her
infant. When there is illness or malnutrition, it may be a lifesaving
gift; when there is poverty, it may be the only gift"
Ruth Lawrence, M.D.

RESOURCES

Breastfeeding Files / Links

Breastfeeding In Recent News

Area La Leche League Groups

Lactation Consultant USA

Mothers' Milk Bank North Texas

Mothers' Milk Bank of Austin

CDC Report - 2006

Biological Nurturing
Does nursing seem 'natural' to you?

Resources for Women of Color

Little-Known Facts on Breastfeeding

AAP Guidelines on Breastfeeding

'Pediatrics' Article on BF Policy

Benefits of Extended Breastfeeding

La Leche League International Center for Breastfeeding Information

The CBI is one of the world's largest libraries of breastfeeding information,
and La Leche League's 'Answer Pages' is grouped by Topic.

FACTS ABOUT BREASTFEEDING - - - - BREASTFEEDING ANSWER PAGES

Benefits of Extended Breastfeeding

The American Academy of Pediatrics' Recommendations:

"...I'm OK with it...what's your take on continued nursing?"

Toddler Breastfeeding? Why on earth?

Not Just For Babies

10 Good Reasons to Breastfeed Your Toddler

Take a look at Biological Nurturing!

Many mothers tell us that breastfeeding does not feel 'natural' at all !
'Positioning' mother and baby to help attachment at breast often
prescribes methods that seem awkward and difficult.

A 'Back to the Future' strategy supporting mother-knowledge with research evidence,
and summing up what mothers who love to breastfeed have experienced

This 'recipe' illustrates the "how-to's' of Biological Nurturing,
a newly developed mother-centered approach to breastfeeding

For a more scientific approach, read Susan Coleson's article
in Midwifery Today entitled Womb to World .

BREASTFEEDING IN RECENT NEWS

"STRONG EVIDENCE BASE FOR BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING",
ACCORDING TO Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine

March 19, 2009 - "Breastfeeding offers irrefutable and long-lasting
health benefits for both mother and baby, which are supported by
a comprehensive body of scientific research".


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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued
NEW GUIDELINES FOR BREASTFEEDING - which include birthing
practices that promote breastfeeding, and skin to skin contact
immediately following birth, as well as avoiding vigorous suctioning.

Zach Koller - 6 mo happy nursing baby

Human milk is recommend by AAP for all infants in whom
breastfeeding is not specifically contraindicated and provide
parents with complete, current information on the many
benefits and techniques of breastfeeding.

Go to: http://www.medpagetoday.com/tbindex1.cfm?tbid=472

Current Breastfeeding Rates - quoted from the CDC

Breastfeeding rates in the United States increased significantly
between 1993 and 2006. The percentage of infants who were
ever breastfed increased from 60% among infants born in
1993-1994 to 77% among infants born in 2005-2006.

In 2005-2006 the rates of breastfeeding exceeded the Healthy
People 2010 goal of 75%. The rates of breastfeeding at 6 months
of age did not achieve the Healthy People 2010 target goal of 50% (2).

Breastfeeding rates were associated with race-ethnicity, maternal
age, and family income status, thus underscoring the need to
continue breastfeeding promotion and intervention activities that
target diverse populations.

Diet is an integral component of infant and child growth and development,
and healthy feeding practices have benefits that continue into childhood
and adolescence. Breastfeeding benefits mothers and babies.
Information on breastfeeding is posted on the HHS Blueprint for
Action on Breastfeeding website (4).
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db05.htm

Support breastfeeding mothers and watch these numbers go up!

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Breastfeeding Stats - CDC numbers in 2003
70.9% initiated any breastfeeding in the hospital
62.5% initiated exclusive breastfeeding in the hospital

36.2% was breastfeeding some at 6 months
14.2% was exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months

17.2% were breastfeeding at 12 months

5.7% were breastfeeding at 18 months

LITTLE - KNOWN FACTS
ABOUT BREASTFEEDING / BREASTMILK

? HOW FAST DO BREASTS PRODUCE MILK ? - Dr. Peter Hartmann's research has
shown they produce 11-58 ml per hour per breast. (30 ml = 1 ounce)

? HOW MUCH MILK DOES THE BREAST MAKE ?
The average volume of breast milk produced during the first 6 months for a single baby
is about 1 litre (33 1/3 ounces) per day. This amount varies according to baby's needs.

? HOW LONG DO THE BREASTS CONTINUE TO PRODUCE MILK AFTER THE VERY
LAST FEEDING OF A WEANING ? - Research suggests at least 42 days.

? BREAST MILK AND FORMULA ARE ABOUT THE SAME, RIGHT ?
Lead poisoning lowers IQ by 4 points. Artificial baby milks reduce the IQ
of tube-fed preemies by about twice that much, 7 to 8 points. [Lancet 1992]

? WHAT IS DHA (docosahexanoic acid) AND ARA (arachidonic acid)
MADE FROM THAT ARE NOT ADDED TO ARTIFICIAL BABY MILKS AND
ADVERTISED TO MAKE THEM, "JUST LIKE BREAST MILK" ?
DHA is fermented micro algae and ARA is soil fungus. Human DHA and ARA are
from a mammalian source, are only TWO of HUNDREDS of amino acids
found in breast milk that all work interactively, and are used differently
in the body than those from plant sources.

? HOW IS IRON HANDLED DIFFERENTLY BY BREASTMILK ?
Lactoferrin, which binds iron in the intestines to deprive bacteria of what they
need for survival, is made in the milk ducts. It is thought to be one of
the factors that protects breastfeeding women from later ductal cancers.

BABIES 'MOTOR' BETTER WITH BREASTMILK

Mother's milk supplies near-ideal nutrition to an infant.

A new study that looked at some 18,000 babies also
finds that breastfeeding confers motor-coordination
benefits on them in their first year of life.

Sacker, A., M.A. Quigley, and Y.J. Kelly. 2006.

Breastfeeding and developmental delay: Findings from the Millennium
Cohort Study. Pediatrics 118(September):e682-e689. Available at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/118/3/e682.

To moms out there with a freezer full of breastmilk that is 'just sitting' !

Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas
http://www.mmbnt.org/
is always happy to receive donor human milk

Milk Donations Donor mothers are:
healthy women who are currently breastfeeding an infant
less than one year of age and who have a surplus of milk.

Donor mothers must be:
* In good general health and breast feeding a thriving infant
* Willing to have blood tests to rule out communicable diseases
* Not regularly using medications except for progestin-only birth
control, thyroxin, insulin, prenatal vitamins, iron or calcium
* Free from smoking, illegal drug use and regular alcohol use
* Tested negative and not at risk for HIV, HTLV,
Hepatitis B or C, and syphilis.
* Willing to donate a minimum of 100 ounces.

Donated milk is pasteurized to kill bacteria or viruses. It is then frozen
for up to one year. A newborn can consume about 30 ounces a day.

Donor Health Screening:
Donor mothers are screened for health history and medication use.
A blood test screens for HIV, HTLV, hepatitis B & C, and syphilis.
Any positive blood test makes a woman ineligible to donate milk.
The Mothers' Milk Bank of North Texas will cover the cost of blood
screenings for donor mothers.

Exclusions:
A Woman may NOT donate if she:
* Is at risk for HIV or has a sexual partner at risk for HIV
* Uses illegal drugs * Smokes
* Has received blood products or an organ or tissue transplant
in the last 12 months
* Regularly drinks more than 2 oz of liquor daily
* Has a baby who is not thriving on breastfeeding
* Her doctor believes there is a contraindication to milk donation
* If a woman regularly uses medication, her file is reviewed by
the medical director prior to accepting her as a donor.
Some medications are acceptable, such as progestin-only birth
control pills, thyroxin, insulin, and similar replacement hormones,
prenatal or similar multi-vitamins, and iron or calcium supplements.
* Donor mothers are instructed to refrain from donating
during any period of time in which they use other medications.

Other Considerations:
Mothers may donate until their infant is one year of age.
Payment to Donor Mothers: None.
Mothers donate their milk. The milk bank covers the cost of their
blood tests and provides containers in which to collect and store milk.
http://www.mmbnt.org/