Author: B. Jody Segrave-Daly, RN, IBCLC

Newborn receiving phototherapy treatment.

Hospital Drops Baby Friendly Program After Doctors Baby Was Harmed

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Written by an anesthesiologist and Intensivist physician

“The biggest achievement of my life as a physician was stopping my hospital’s Baby-Friendly program after my child was harmed.”

It was September 20th, and we were headed to the hospital for my induction.  I was nervous, as any first-time mother would be. I was worried that I was doing the wrong thing, even though I knew the literature, and my physicians supported my decision for an elective induction at 40 weeks. I was already dilated to 4 cm and my baby had dropped way back at 33 weeks.  We all thought it would take just a hint of Pitocin, but I labored for 24 hours until my son was born. I was later told that he was born with a compound hand (up by his head), causing the prolonged pushing time and his distress with each contraction.

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Before and after photos of a baby.

Because of the support I received from Fed is Best, we were able to understand that a feeding tube was not a failure.

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By a Fed is Best Supporter

After having difficulty breastfeeding my older son, I was determined to have a healthier feeding experience the second time around. I learned, through incredible suffering with PPD, that the most important thing was a healthy baby and mother. This time, I had a plan: I was going to give my baby both breastmilk and formula.

My second son was born on his due date. The birth was without complications, and he latched within an hour of being born. I did have some damage to my nipples initially, but we met with a lactation consultant shortly after discharge and she was incredibly helpful. She helped me position my son correctly, and I stopped experiencing pain when he latched. My nipples were healed within a week, and my son regained his birth weight as well. By the time he was two weeks old, he took in 2.5 ounces after about ten minutes of nursing, as measured by a weighted feeding. 

To be sure I was successful with breastfeeding, I sought out every resource imaginable. A nurse came to our home for two months, and my son was gaining so well, we were discharged from her services. Every week, she weighed my son, checked his vitals, and tracked his growth. In fact, she was impressed with his weight gain.  For a while, he gained over eight ounces a week. He would not take much from a bottle, but nursing was so easy that I really didn’t mind. I was on an extended leave from work and thought we had time to figure out bottle feeding. Continue reading →

Antibodies and breastfeeding: infant immunity.

Will Breast Milk Protect My Baby From Getting Sick? Passive Immunity 101

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Written by Jody Segrave-Daly MS, RN, IBCLC

As a veteran neonatal nurse and lactation consultant, parents often ask me how the antibodies found in breast/human milk work to protect their babies. Published research on immunology is highly technical and difficult to understand, and unfortunately, the readily available information (especially on social media) contains a lot of false and conflicting information. So, I’m here to share evidence-based information about this important topic in a way that is easier for most parents to understand.

How does the immune system work?

Our immune system is very complex, but generally speaking; it is responsible for fighting off both germs that enter our bodies from our environment and also for protecting us from diseases like cancer that occur within our bodies. I will be focusing on how the immune system fights off germs, which it does by producing antibodies.

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Newborn baby sleeping on mother's chest.

Baby-Friendly USA Acknowledges Their Mistakes; Are They Going To Make Real Changes In The New Year Or Are They Providing Lip Service To Mothers?

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Dear BFUSA,

Thank you for your long-overdue public acknowledgment endorsing what the Fed Is Best Foundation has been fiercely advocating for over the past 3 years. 

According to your recent blog post you now agree with us that:

1. Delayed onset of copious milk production is common. 

BFUSA: “Delayed lactogenesis is actually increasingly common because the risk factors for it are potentially increasing,” Dr. Rosen-Carole says. “When a baby is born into that situation, the goal is to closely monitor what the baby is doing, instead of giving a bottle right away. “If the baby is hungry and they’re not getting enough milk out of the mother’s breast, then they need to be supplemented,” she says. 

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Baby bottle-feeding with breast pump nearby.

Mothers Describe Their Triple Feeding Experiences and The Impact It had On Their Mental and Physical Health

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Written by Jody Segrave-Daly, RN, IBCLC and Lynnette Hafken, MA, IBCLC

 What is “triple feeding?” 

Mothers who triple feed will feed their babies at the breast, immediately pump and deliver any expressed milk (and/or formula supplement) through a bottle or sometimes even a syringe to the infant.  

Triple feeding originated in the NICU for premature infants who were learning to breastfeed but were unable to empty the breast completely. In order to preserve or increase the milk supply, the breasts were pumped after nursing and the milk was saved for the next supplemental feeding. In this way, the premature baby was nurtured until he or she was strong enough to only nurse from the breast. This was sustainable because the parent has access to nurses and lactation professionals to assist her during the triple feeding cycle.

For full-term babies with ineffective milk removal or moms with low milk supplies, the triple feeding cycle at home is recommended by some lactation consultants.   Continue reading →