Written by Fed is Best Co-Founder, Christie del Castillo-Hegyi, M.D.
In the latest issue of The Journal of the American Medical Assocation (JAMA), pediatricians and public health investigators Dr. Valerie Flaherman, M.D., M.P.H. and Dr. Isabelle Von Kohorn, M.D., Ph.D. co-wrote an editorial on the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF)’s updated recommendations for primary care interventions that support breastfeeding. Continue reading
Written by Fed is Best Foundation Co-Founder Christie del Castillo-Hegyi, M.D.
Not many people know the rest of my breastfeeding story, the part that happened after my son’s hospitalization. People assume that because I spend most of my time advocating for safe infant feeding practices by educating moms on how to breastfeed safely, that I am against breastfeeding or want mothers to feel like exclusive breastfeeding is unsafe. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
Clearly if a mother has enough breast milk, exclusive breastfeeding is a wonderful way to feed her child, if that’s how she chooses to feed them. But I had to learn the hard way that being a good mother is not defined by exclusive breastfeeding.
A Review of the Literature by Dr. Christie del Castillo-Hegyi
We have received some questions here at the Fed is Best Foundation regarding the science of infant feeding and preventing accidental newborn starvation from insufficient breast milk intake. Some have said there is no evidence that insufficient milk intake in newborns causes brain injury, developmental delays and disabilities. We’d like to take the opportunity to open up a discussion on this very important topic.
The general body of medical and scientific literature largely supports that babies who are not fed enough calories and fluid through breastfeeding can develop excessive jaundice, severe dehydration and hypoglycemia – all complications that can cause brain injury if not corrected. This isn’t exclusive to humans. In fact, the basic rule of nature is that no creature, particularly mammals, can live without food. Continue reading
This article originally appeared on Jamie Quitain-Good’s blog The Starfish Diaries, in August 2013. It is reproduced here with her permission.
At the hospital
We were expecting Bradley Boy to come out anytime between Christmas and New Year that year, but God knew how much we wanted to hold and kiss him so He sent him out a little early. One month early – he was born at 36 weeks and 5 days. And between the house moving (which by the way coincided perfectly with my nesting!) and planning for his arrival, thinking I still had a month to prepare, we were absolutely not ready when he came out.
His clothes were not washed. His crib and car seat were not out. My hospital bag wasn’t ready. I thought I still had a month to get all those done. Everything else was not ready, but I knew there was one thing I was ready for. One thing I dreamed about night and day, one thing I talked to my husband incessantly about, one thing I knew I would do no matter what. I would give him the best and nothing less. I would BREASTFEED.
Continue reading
We found a gem of a slideshow over on The Stir at Cafe Mom, called Judge Less: Fed Is Best? Continue reading
