It’s October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know that breastfeeding can reduce a woman’s risk of breast cancer? Check out the story below, it talks about a recent study that found moms can cut their risk of breast cancer by up to 59%.

 

 

In celebration of World Breastfeeding Day, Central Texas Healthy Babies Healthy Mothers organized “The Keep Austin Breastfeeding Flash Mob – 2010″ at ZilkerPark. You may ask yourself, “What is a Flash Mob?” (I asked myself the same question.) Well, it is when a group of people do something unexpected in a public place. In this case, a breastfeeding interpretive dance, with a cool breastfeeding rap song at the end! Go Austin! We love how you are raising support for breastfeeding. Check out the video below to watch the action.

That’s right, it is World Breastfeeding Week. Yipee! So, New Life will be giving back to the community double time this week. On Saturday, we will be teaching a free Breastfeeding Basics Class at Nurtured Family, and will then head to Babies R Us for a Q & A Session about Breastfeeding, as part of their World Breastfeeding Event! See our community calendar for details.   

And, to bring your more info on World Breastfeeding Week, who has initiated it, and it’s goals, I’ve included a press release from The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action below. See you on Saturday!   

  

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 2010, 1-7 August 2010  

Towards A Baby-Friendly World   

From 1-7 August 2010, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), and breastfeeding  advocates in more than 170 countries worldwide will be celebrating World Breastfeeding Week for the 19th year with the theme “Breastfeeding: Just 10 Steps. The Research shows that the best feeding option globally is the initiation of breastfeeding within the first half hour of life, exclusive breastfeeding for a full six months and continued breastfeeding through the second year or beyond. Breastfeeding improves short and long term maternal and child health; and thus contribute to the attainment of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) 4: REDUCE CHILD MORTALITY and 5 IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH, to which many countries and agencies are committed. UNICEF recently noted that the reduction of child deaths from 13 million globally in 1990 to 8.8 million in 20081 is partly due to the adoption of basic health interventions such as early and exclusive breastfeeding. More and more studies have shown that implementation of the Ten Steps with continued postnatal support contributes to increased breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding at the local, national and global levels. 2,3,4   

Today, an estimated 28% of all maternity facilities in the world have at some point implemented the Ten Steps which has contributed to an encouraging increase in breastfeeding rates despite aggressive commercial promotion of infant formula and feeding bottles. However this is a far cry from the original goal of ALL maternity facilities practising the Ten Steps by 1995 as stated in the Innocenti Declaration (1990) on the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding which had outlined what countries should do to support breastfeeding.   

In 2005, fifteen years after the original Innocenti Declaration, the Innocenti+15 Declaration had called upon individuals, health care professionals, communities, governments and multilateral, bilateral organisations and international financial institutions to ensure that all women can succeed in breastfeeding.   

In 2007, UNICEF and WHO completed an update and revision of the Baby-Friendly materials which acknowledge new research and experience, and suggest new approaches to Baby-Friendly beyond the maternity hospital in other health settings and in the community.   

 Action at community level is particularly important since globally only 56% of women deliver their babies in a health facility, (only 33% in the least developed countries) and they may be discharged within a day or two. Women need ongoing support in the community whether they deliver in hospital or at home.   

Whilst rates of exclusive breastfeeding have increased in many countries, there has been stagnation or decrease in some, partly because reduced political support for BFHI and poor compliance with the Ten Steps in BFHI certified facilities.   

Recent studies have shown that with more of the Ten Steps in place, the more likely women are to achieve their breastfeeding goals.5 This confirms that importance for every maternity, hospital, clinic and community to strive to increase the number of steps in place, even if they cannot achieve all ten steps immediately. Therefore every step counts!   

 Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding   

Every facility providing maternity services and care for newborn infants should:   

1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
2. Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
3. Inform all pregnant mothers about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed, and how to maintain lactation even if they should be separated from their infants.
6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk unless medically indicated.
7. Practice rooming-in – allow mothers and infants to remain together – 24 hours a day.
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers (also called dummies or soothers) to breastfeeding infants.
10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.

  

    

  

‘Let’s join hands in taking the reliable Ten Steps to making this world a Baby-Friendly World!’   

For further information contact Julianna Lim Abdullah, IBCLC, International WBW Coordinator   

Tel: (604) 658 4816 Fax: (604) 657 2655 Email: wbw@waba.org.my Website: www.waba.org.my and www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org   

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) is a global network of individuals and organisations concerned with the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide based on the Innocenti Declarations, the Ten Links for Nurturing the Future and the WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. Its core partners are International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), La Leche League International (LLLI), International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), Wellstart International and Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM). WABA is in consultative status with UNICEF and an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) l WABA, PO Box 1200, 10850 Penang, Malaysia l Tel: 60-4-6584 816 l Fax: 60-4-6572 655 l Email: wbw@waba.org.my l Website: www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org and www.waba.org.my   

References:   

1 UNICEF State of the Worlds Children 2010   

2 Merten S, Dratva J, Ackermann-Liebrich U: Do baby-friendly hospitals influence breastfeeding duration on a national level? Pediatrics 2005, 116(5);e702-708   

3 Abrahams SW, Labbok M. Exploring the Impact of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on Trends in Exclusive Breastfeeding, Int Breastfeed J, 2009 Oct 29;4(1):11   

4 Saadeh R and Casanovas M, Implementing and Revitalising the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 2009, 30(2)p S225-9   

5 Declerq E, Labbok MH, Sakala C, O’Hara M. The impact of hospital practices on women’s likelihood of fulfilling their intention to exclusively breastfeed. Am J Pub   

Health 2009 May; 99(5):929.

   

 Press release can be viewed at: http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/pdf/wbw2010pr.pdf .  

 

 

Big bird learns about breastfeeding!

Pregnant? Want to learn more about breastfeeding? Join is this Saturday, the 29th, for our Breastfeeding Basics Class. Learn about your baby’s first feeding, a proper latch, what to expect the first few weeks and beyond, and how our bodies establish a milk supply. The class also discusses dads and breastfeeding, breastfeeding in public, and more. Partners encouraged and children welcome. RSVP to lea@houstonbirthdoula.com. Class is FREE and held at Nurtured Family, 8525 Jackrabbit Rd. Suite B, Houston, TX 77095. Oh, and did I mention, there will be snacks? Yummm.

The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) released the following fact sheet in February:    

The Risk of Cesarean Section 

A Coalition for Improving Maternity Services Fact Sheet   

 Cesarean section is the most common major surgical procedure performed in the United States. The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) is concerned about the dramatic increase and ongoing overuse of cesarean section. The surgical procedure poses short- and long-term health risks to mothers and infants, and a scarred uterus poses risks to all future pregnancies and deliveries. For these reasons, CIMS recommends that cesarean surgery be reserved for situations when potential benefits clearly outweigh potential harms. The cesarean rate can safely be less than 15 percent84 and 11 percent or less in low-risk women giving birth for the first time,28 yet, in 2007 the U.S. cesarean rate was 32 percent.30 When cesarean surgery rates rise above 15 percent health outcomes for mothers and babies worsen,5 and increasing numbers of scheduled cesareans are contributing to the rising number of late-preterm births.2,6   

Cesarean rates have been rising for all women in the United States regardless of medical condition, age, race, or gestational age,52 and while the number of first cesareans performed without medical indication is increasing, no evidence supports the beliefs that these elective cesareans represent maternal request cesareans or that the rise in elective first cesareans has contributed significantly to the overall increase in cesarean rates.52 Elective first cesarean at physician request may, however, play a significant role,39 and the rise in elective repeat surgeries, which has climbed by more than 40 percent in the last ten years, certainly does.64 Although 70 percent of women or more who plan a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) can birth vaginally and avoid the complications of repeat cesarean surgeries,28 almost all women today have a repeat operation because most doctors and many hospitals refuse to allow VBAC.20,35,54   

 A cesarean can be a life-saving operation, and some babies would not be born vaginally under any circumstances; however, it is still major surgery. Women have a legal right to know the risks associated with their treatment and the right to accept or refuse it.14 CIMS encourages childbearing women to take advantage of their rights and to find out more about the risks of cesarean section so they can make informed decisions about how they want to give birth.   

 What are the potential harms of cesarean surgery compared with vaginal birth?   

 Health outcomes after a cesarean may be worse because medical problems may lead to surgery. This fact sheet, however, is based on research that determined excess harms arising from the surgery itself. In other words, women with a healthy pregnancy who have a cesarean rather than a vaginal birth are at increased risk for the following complications as are their babies:   

Potential Harms to the Mother   

 Compared with vaginal birth, women who have a cesarean are more likely to experience:   

• Accidental surgical cuts to internal organs.53,60,72
• Major infection.43,48
• Emergency hysterectomy (because of uncontrollable bleeding).38,48,83
• Complications from anesthesia.28
• Deep venous clots that can travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism) and brain (stroke).28,48
• Admission to intensive care.58
• Readmission to the hospital for complications related to the surgery.18,28
• Pain that may last six months or longer after the delivery.19 More women report problems with pain from the cesarean incision than report pain in the genital area after vaginal birth.19
• Adhesions, thick internal scar tissue that may cause future chronic pain, in rare cases a twisted bowel, and can complicate future abdominal or pelvic surgeries.19
• Endometriosis (cells from the uterine lining that grow outside of the womb) causing pain, bleeding, or both severe enough to require major surgery to remove the abnormal cells.27
• Appendicitis, stroke, or gallstones in the ensuing year.18,46,47,50 Gall bladder problems and stroke may be because high-weight women and women with high blood pressure are more likely to have cesareans.
•  Negative psychological consequences with unplanned cesarean. These include: Poor birth experience, overall impaired mental health, and/or self-esteem.12; Feelings of being overwhelmed, frightened, or helpless during the birth.20; A sense of loss, grief, personal failure , acute trauma symptoms, posttraumatic stress, and clinical depression.37
• Death.12,22

Potential Harms to the Baby   

Compared with vaginal birth, babies born by cesarean section are more likely to experience:   

•  Accidental surgical cuts, sometimes severe enough to require suturing.1,28
• Being born late-preterm (34 to 36 weeks of pregnancy) as a result of scheduled surgery.6
•  Complications from prematurity, including difficulties with respiration, digestion, liver function, jaundice, dehydration, infection, feeding, and regulating blood sugar levels and body temperature.25,26 Late-preterm babies also have more immature brains,63 and they are more likely to have learning and behavior problems at school age.25,26
•  Respiratory complications, sometimes severe enough to require admission to a special care nursery, even in infants born at early term (37 to 39 weeks of pregnancy).28 Scheduling surgery after 39 completed weeks minimizes, but does not eliminate, the risk.31,32
•  Readmission to the hospital.25
•  Childhood development of asthma,3,78 sensitivity to allergens,61 or Type 1 diabetes.11
•  Death in the first 28 days after birth.51

 Potential Harms to Maternal Attachment and Breastfeeding   

Failure to breastfeed has adverse health consequences for mothers and babies. Breastfeeding helps protect mothers against postpartum depression, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, ovarian and pre-menopausal breast cancer, and osteoporosis later in life.36,71 Breastfeeding helps protect babies against ear infections, stomach infections, severe respiratory infections, allergies, asthma, obesity, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, childhood leukemia, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and necrotizing enterocolitis (a severe, life-threatening intestinal infection).15,36   

• Women who have unplanned cesareans are more likely to have difficulties forming an attachment to their babies.23
•  Women who have cesareans are less likely to have their infants with them skin-to-skin (cradled naked against their bare chest) after the delivery.20 Babies who have skin-to-skin contact interact more with their mothers, stay warmer, and cry less. When skin-to-skin, babies are more likely to be breastfed early and well, and to be breastfed for longer. They may also be more likely to have a good early relationship with their mothers, but the evidence for this is not as strong.16,57
•  Women are less likely to breastfeed.21,44

 Potential Harms to Future Pregnancies   

 With prior cesarean, women and their babies are more likely to experience serious complications during subsequent pregnancy and birth regardless of whether they plan repeat cesarean or vaginal birth. The likelihood of serious complications increases with each additional operation.28   

Compared with prior vaginal birth, prior cesarean puts women at increased risk of:   

• Uterine scar rupture. Planning repeat cesarean reduces the excess risk, but it is not completely protective.8,49,55,75
•  Infertility, either voluntary (doesn’t want more children) or involuntary (can’t have more children).7,12,56,70,74,79,80
• Cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy (implantation within the cesarean scar), a condition that is life-threatening to the mother and always fatal for the embryo.67
•  Placenta previa (placenta covers the cervix, the opening to the womb), placental abruption (placenta detaches partially or completely before the birth), and placenta accreta, (placenta grows into the uterine muscle and sometimes through the uterus, invading other organs), all of which increase the risk for severe hemorrhage and are potentially life-threatening complications for mother and baby.17,28,85
•  Emergency hysterectomy.42,53
•  Preterm birth and low birth weight.6,40,65,73,76
•  A baby with congenital malformation or central nervous system injury12 due to a poorly functioning placenta.
• Stillbirth.28,29,40,65,76

Cesarean Surgery and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction   

Cesarean proponents claim that cesarean surgery will prevent pelvic floor dysfunction, but it offers little or no protection once healing is complete and no protection in later life.12 Moreover, risk-free measures such as engaging in exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor or losing weight can often improve or relieve stress urinary incontinence (loss of urine with pressure on the pelvic floor such as with exercise, laughing, sneezing, or coughing).9,12   

• Cesarean surgery does not protect against sexual problems,4,33,41 gas or stool incontinence,10,59 or urge urinary incontinence (loss of urine after sudden need to void).10,13,24,62,82  
• Cesarean surgery does not protect against severe stress urinary incontinence.62,82 As many as one more woman in six having vaginal birth may experience stress urinary incontinence of some degree, mostly minor, at six months or more after birth.10,13,24,62,82
• Perhaps one more woman in twenty having vaginal birth will experience symptomatic pelvic floor prolapse (muscle weakness causes the internal organs to sag downwards).45,66,77,81 With three or more vaginal births, this number may be as high as one more woman in ten.66 However, many other factors, including smoking, hysterectomy, hormone replacement therapy, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and urinary tract infections are also associated with pelvic floor prolapse.

 Cesarean Section, Care Providers and Place of Birth   

 To reduce the risk of cesarean surgery, CIMS encourages women to seek providers and hospitals with low cesarean rates (15% or less) and those that support VBAC. Women can access this data from their state health departments. They can also access hospital-specific cesarean rates and rates for other birth interventions for several states at www.thebirthsurvey.com and a listing of hospitals that do or do not support VBAC from the International Cesarean Network at http://ican-online.org/vac-ban-info.   

 Healthy women at low risk for complications should also know that choosing midwifery care or giving birth in a birth center or at home can lower their risk for cesarean section.68,69 Having a doula reduces the likelihood of a cesarean as well.34   

    

This fact sheet was co-authored by Henci Goer, BA and Nicette Jukelevics, MA, ICCE.  

© 2010 Coalition for Improving Maternity Services.   

References:  

 1. Alexander, J. M., Leveno, K. J., Hauth, J., Landon, M. B., Thom, E., Spong, C. Y., et al. (2006). Fetal injury associated with cesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol, 108(4), 885-890.  

  2. Analysis shows possible link between rise in c-sections and increase in late preterm birth. (12/16/08). Retrieved 11/12/09, from http://www.marchofdimes.com/aboutus/22684_48910.asp  

3. Bager, P., Wohlfahrt, J., & Westergaard, T. (2008). Caesarean delivery and risk of atopy and allergic disease: Meta-analyses. Clin Exp Allergy, 38(4), 634-642.   

 4. Barrett, G., Peacock, J., Victor, C. R., & Manyonda, I. (2005). Cesarean section and postnatal sexual health. Birth, 32(4), 306-311.   

 5. Betran, A. P., Merialdi, M., Lauer, J. A., Bing-Shun, W., Thomas, J., Van Look, P., et al. (2007). Rates of caesarean section: Analysis of global, regional and national estimates. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol, 21(2), 98-113.   

 6. Bettegowda, V. R., Dias, T., Davidoff, M. J., Damus, K., Callaghan, W. M., & Petrini, J. R. (2008). The relationship between cesarean delivery and gestational age among us singleton births. Clin Perinatol, 35(2), 309-323, v-vi.   

 7. Bhattacharya, S., Porter, M., Harrild, K., Naji, A., Mollison, J., van Teijlingen, E., et al. (2006). Absence of conception after caesarean section: Voluntary or involuntary? BJOG, 113(3), 268-275.   

 8. Blanchette, H., Blanchette, M., McCabe, J., & Vincent, S. (2001). Is vaginal birth after cesarean safe? Experience at a community hospital. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 184(7), 1478-1484; discussion 1484-1477.   

 9. Bo, K. (2009). Does pelvic floor muscle training prevent and treat urinary and fecal incontinence in pregnancy? Nat Clin Pract Urol, 6(3), 122-123.   

 10. Borello-France, D., Burgio, K. L., Richter, H. E., Zyczynski, H., Fitzgerald, M. P., Whitehead, W., et al. (2006). Fecal and urinary incontinence in primiparous women. Obstet Gynecol, 108(4), 863-872.   

 11. Cardwell, C. R., Stene, L. C., Joner, G., Cinek, O., Svensson, J., Goldacre, M. J., et al. (2008). Caesarean section is associated with an increased risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus: A meta-analysis of observational studies. Diabetologia, 51(5), 726-735.   

 12. Childbirth Connection. (2004). Harms of cesarean versus vaginal birth: A systematic review. Retrieved 4/17/2004, from http://childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10271   

 13. Chin, H. Y., Chen, M. C., Liu, Y. H., & Wang, K. H. (2006). Postpartum urinary incontinence: A comparison of vaginal delivery, elective, and emergent cesarean section. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct.   

 14. Coalition for Improving Maternity Services. (2007). Step 2: Provides accurate, descriptive, statistical information about birth care practices. J Perinat Educ, 16(1), 20S-22S.   

 15. Coalition for Improving Maternity Services. (2009). Breastfeeding is priceless: There is no substitute for human milk, a cims fact sheet. Retrieved 11/12/09, from http://www.motherfriendly.org/pdf/BreastfeedingisPricelessMarch2009.pdf   

 16. Crenshaw, J. (2009). Healthy birth practices from lamaze international. #6: Keep mother and baby together-it’s best for mother, baby, and breastfeeding. Retrieved 2009, from http://www.lamaze.org/Portals/0/carepractices/CarePractice6.pdf   

 17. Daltveit, A. K., Tollanes, M. C., Pihlstrom, H., & Irgens, L. M. (2008). Cesarean delivery and subsequent pregnancies. Obstet Gynecol, 111(6), 1327-1334.   

 18. Declercq, E., Barger, M., Cabral, H. J., Evans, S. R., Kotelchuck, M., Simon, C., et al. (2007). Maternal outcomes associated with planned primary cesarean births compared with planned vaginal births. Obstet Gynecol, 109(3), 669-677.   

 19. Declercq, E., Cunningham, D. K., Johnson, C., & Sakala, C. (2008). Mothers’ reports of postpartum pain associated with vaginal and cesarean deliveries: Results of a national survey. Birth, 35(1), 16-24.   

20. Declercq, E., Sakala, C., Corry, M. P., & Applebaum, S. (2006). Listening to mothers ii: Report of the second national u.S. Survey of women’s childbearing experiences. New York: Childbirth Connection.   

 21. Declercq, E., Sakala, C., Corry, M. P., & Applebaum, S. (2008). New mothers speak out:. National survey results highlight women’s postpartum experiences. . New York: Childbirth Connection.   

  22. Deneux-Tharaux, C., Carmona, E., Bouvier-Colle, M. H., & Breart, G. (2006). Postpartum maternal mortality and cesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol, 108(3), 541-548.   

 23. DiMatteo, M. R., Morton, S. C., Lepper, H. S., Damush, T. M., Carney, M. F., Pearson, M., et al. (1996). Cesarean childbirth and psychosocial outcomes: A meta-analysis. Health Psychol, 15(4), 303-314.   

 24. Ekstrom, A., Altman, D., Wiklund, I., Larsson, C., & Andolf, E. (2008). Planned cesarean section versus planned vaginal delivery: Comparison of lower urinary tract symptoms. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct, 19(4), 459-465.   

 25. Engle, W. A., & Kominiarek, M. A. (2008). Late preterm infants, early term infants, and timing of elective deliveries. Clin Perinatol, 35(2), 325-341, vi.   

 26. Engle, W. A., Tomashek, K. M., & Wallman, C. (2007). “Late-preterm” infants: A population at risk. Pediatrics, 120(6), 1390-1401.   

 27. Goer, H. (May 11, 2009). Do cesareans cause endometriosis? Why case studies and case series are canaries in the mine. Science and Sensibility, 11/12/2009, from http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?p=147   

 28. Goer, H., Sagady Leslie, M., & Romano, A. (2007). Step 6: Does not routinely employ practices, procedures unsupported by scientific evidence. J Perinat Educ, 16(1), 32S-64S.   

 29. Gray, R., Quigley, M., Hockley, C., Kurinczuk, J., Goldacre, M., & Brocklehurst, P. (2007). Caesarean delivery and risk of stillbirth in subsequent pregnancy: A retrospective cohort study in an english population. BJOG, 114(3), 264-270.   

 30. Hamilton, B. E., Martin, J. A., & Ventura, S. J. (2009). Births: Preliminary data for 2007. Natl Vital Stat Rep, 57(12), 1-23.   

 31. Hansen, A. K., Wisborg, K., Uldbjerg, N., & Henriksen, T. B. (2007). Elective caesarean section and respiratory morbidity in the term and near-term neonate. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 86(4), 389-394.   

 32. Hansen, A. K., Wisborg, K., Uldbjerg, N., & Henriksen, T. B. (2008). Risk of respiratory morbidity in term infants delivered by elective caesarean section: Cohort study. BMJ, 336(7635), 85-87.   

 33. Hicks, T. L., Goodall, S. F., Quattrone, E. M., & Lydon-Rochelle, M. T. (2004). Postpartum sexual functioning and method of delivery: Summary of the evidence. J Midwifery Womens Health, 49(5), 430-436.   

 34. Hodnett, E., Gates, S., Hofmeyr, G., & Sakala, C. (2007). Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev(3), CD003766.   

 35. International Cesarean Awareness Network. (Feb 20, 2009). New survey shows shrinking options for women with prior cesarean. from http://www.ican-online.org/ican-in-the-news/trouble-repeat-cesareans   

 36. Ip, S., Chung, M., Raman, G., Chew, P., Magula, N., DeVine, D., et al. (2007). Breastfeeding and maternal and infant health outcomes in developed countries. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep)(153), 1-186.   

 37. Jukelevics, N. (2008). Understanding the dangers of cesarean birth. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.   

 38. Kacmar, J., Bhimani, L., Boyd, M., Shah-Hosseini, R., & Peipert, J. (2003). Route of delivery as a risk factor for emergent peripartum hysterectomy: A case-control study. Obstet Gynecol, 102(1), 141-145.   

 39. Kalish, R. B., McCullough, L., Gupta, M., Thaler, H. T., & Chervenak, F. A. (2004). Intrapartum elective cesarean delivery: A previously unrecognized clinical entity. Obstet Gynecol, 103(6), 1137-1141.   

 40. Kennare, R., Tucker, G., Heard, A., & Chan, A. (2007). Risks of adverse outcomes in the next birth after a first cesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol, 109(2 Pt 1), 270-276.   

 41. Klein, M. C., Kaczorowski, J., Firoz, T., Hubinette, M., Jorgensen, S., & Gauthier, R. (2005). A comparison of urinary and sexual outcomes in women experiencing vaginal and caesarean births. J Obstet Gynaecol Can, 27(4), 332-339.   

 42. Knight, M., Kurinczuk, J. J., Spark, P., & Brocklehurst, P. (2008). Cesarean delivery and peripartum hysterectomy. Obstet Gynecol, 111(1), 97-105.   

 43. Koroukian, S. M. (2004). Relative risk of postpartum complications in the ohio medicaid population: Vaginal versus cesarean delivery. Med Care Res Rev, 61(2), 203-224.   

 44. Labbok M, & Taylor E. (2008). Achieving exclusive breastfeeding in the united states. Washington D.C.: United States Breastfeeding Committee.   

 45. Larsson, C., Kallen, K., & Andolf, E. (2009). Cesarean section and risk of pelvic organ prolapse: A nested case-control study. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 200(3), 243 e241-244.   

 46. Lin, S. Y., Hu, C. J., & Lin, H. C. (2008). Increased risk of stroke in patients who undergo cesarean section delivery: A nationwide population-based study. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 198(4), 391 e391-397.   

 47. Liu, S., Heaman, M., Joseph, K. S., Liston, R. M., Huang, L., Sauve, R., et al. (2005). Risk of maternal postpartum readmission associated with mode of delivery. Obstet Gynecol, 105(4), 836-842.   

 48. Liu, S., Liston, R. M., Joseph, K. S., Heaman, M., Sauve, R., & Kramer, M. S. (2007). Maternal mortality and severe morbidity associated with low-risk planned cesarean delivery versus planned vaginal delivery at term. CMAJ, 176(4), 455-460.   

 49. Loebel, G., Zelop, C. M., Egan, J. F., & Wax, J. (2004). Maternal and neonatal morbidity after elective repeat cesarean delivery versus a trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery in a community teaching hospital. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med, 15(4), 243-246.   

 50. Lydon-Rochelle, M., Holt, V. L., Martin, D. P., & Easterling, T. R. (2000). Association between method of delivery and maternal rehospitalization. JAMA, 283(18), 2411-2416.   

51. MacDorman, M. F., Declercq, E., Menacker, F., & Malloy, M. H. (2008). Neonatal mortality for primary cesarean and vaginal births to low-risk women: Application of an “intention-to-treat” model. Birth, 35(1), 3-8.   

52. MacDorman, M. F., Menacker, F., & Declercq, E. (2008). Cesarean birth in the united states: Epidemiology, trends, and outcomes. Clin Perinatol, 35(2), 293-307, v.   

53. Makoha, F. W., Felimban, H. M., Fathuddien, M. A., Roomi, F., & Ghabra, T. (2004). Multiple cesarean section morbidity. Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 87(3), 227-232.   

54. Martin, J. A., Hamilton, B. E., Sutton, P. D., Ventura, S. J., Menacker, F., Kirmeyer, S., et al. (2007). Births: Final data for 2005. Natl Vital Stat Rep, 56(6), 1-103.    

Photo Credit: http://www.dsact.org/images/CSection.jpg

Last Monday, a new study was released analysing the benefits of breastfeeding. Currently, only 12% of mothers follow the governments recommendation to exclusively breastfeed babies for the first six months of  life. The cost of this shockingly low statistic is estimated to cost our country $13 billion, and even more unfortunately, the lives of 900 babies per year. Risks of formula feeding to a baby include: stomach viruses, ear infections, asthma, diabetes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, childhood leukemia, and later in life, obesity. Also, mothers that do not breastfeed are at greater risk for ovarian and breast cancers.

 In the article listed below, Pediatrician Larry Gray of the University of Chicago says ”it’s reasonable to strive for 90 percent compliance” with our governments recommendation. It should also be noted that the risks of formula feeding have been known for many years. So, why are our breastfeeding rates so low? Some attribute it to lack of education and support for mothers, others to the maternity care system and outdated hospital policies.

Some of the things I believe would greatly increase our country’s breastfeeding rates include:

• updating hospital policies that encourage immediate breastfeeding after birth, “rooming in”, lots of skin to skin contact, and ending the distribution of “gifts” to new mothers from formula companies. These “gifts” often include formula or coupons for formula. (Yes, hospitals allow this!)
• all post-partum nurses to be trained in lactation.
• better access breastfeeding information to all expecting mothers and their support persons, including free breastfeeding classes offered throughout our communities.
• regulations against the advertisement of formula to the general public.
• expecting women with little or no support to have access to birth and postpartum doulas.

It is the job of our generation to ensure that breastfeeding becomes the norm. We owe it to our children. Not only do they deserve the best start in life by being breastfed themselves, but when it comes time for them to bear babies of their own, they deserve to have a community that views breastfeeding as the natural, normal way to feed a child.

See the news story mentioned above here: 

Breast-feeding could save lives, money:

Cost-analysis study shows profound health benefits