WBW Day 3
The WBW 2020 Message from UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO) calls on governments around the world to protect and promote skilled breastfeeding counseling and support for every family.
International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) have these qualities built into the IBCLC Code of Professional Conduct. Principle #1 of the CPC is to provide services that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.
These seem like basic provisions but I’ll add detail as to why these things need government support. Bold bullet points are from the WBW 2020 Message.
INVEST to make skilled breastfeeding counseling available to every woman. Ensuring availability of skilled breastfeeding counseling to every woman will require increased financing for breastfeeding programs and improved monitoring and implementation of policies, programs and services.
Breastfeeding counseling doesn’t mean support only for people who are having trouble latching. It includes basic breastfeeding education for all.
I dare say it should also include breastfeeding education along with sexual education in high school or before. If kid is old enough to have sex, they’re also old enough to know how babies eat and why it is important. Teen parents are very high risk for not breastfeeding for a multitude of reasons…lack of education shouldn’t be one of them.
TRAIN health care workers, including midwives and nurses, to deliver skilled breastfeeding counseling to mothers and families.
I don’t know why they call out midwives and nurses. They are far more likely to be educated on breastfeeding and counseling than doctors.
DOCTORS should be called out. (Sorry doctors. Nurses’ counseling skills are on point! And if you’re offended by this statement, you might be the problem.)
All health care workers need to be comfortable with breastfeeding counseling and support, not just those who work in perinatal units/offices.
Example: Dentists. All dentists should be educated on how breastfeeding for 2 years affects oral and facial development and that night time breastfeeding does NOT cause tooth decay (cavities)…an improper swallowing and mouth breathing (usually paired with tongue and lip ties) can cause tooth decay. Breastfeeding isn’t the issue. But how many dentists tell moms to wean at night because their toddler has tooth decay? Lots. Again, breastfeeding isn’t the issue. Look for other causes. Dentists, please educate yourselves.
ENSURE that counseling is made available as part of routine health and nutrition services that are easily accessible.
Babies go to the pediatrician on a schedule. Pediatricians are great general care providers but very few are breastfeeding specialists.
Breastfeeding is the canary in the coal mine. If breastfeeding is not going well, that is a red flag for other developmental or nutritional concerns.
Routine check ups with a feeding provider (IBCLC, whether breast or bottle fed) can help catch problems early on and even PREVENT feeding and nutritional concerns from becoming serious health problems.
PARTNER and collaborate with civil society and health professional associations, building strong collaborative systems for provision of appropriate counseling.
Community organizations and professional associations should all have policies and protocols in place to support and protect breastfeeding.
Health associations need statements on support and promotion of breastfeeding
Community organizations need statements on the protection of workplace pumping and protecting breastfeeding in public spaces
Privately owned businesses should also have the same statements and policies
Paid parental leave should be paid by all governments and both parents should be encouraged to use their leave
I do realize this is an actual thing in many countries but sadly, here in the US, the government seemingly doesn’t give a shit about parents or babies…see next point.
PROTECT health care workers from the influence of the baby food industry.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Implementing The Code would cover this whole topic if all countries would make it law. Protect humans, not big business.
The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (AKA The Code) is a document drafted in 1981 by WHO, which calls on countries to provide adequate information on appropriate infant feeding and to regulate the marketing of breastmilk substitutes, bottles and teats.
It’s a 24 page document that, summed up, prohibits companies from marketing formula, bottles and teats. It doesn’t mean these things aren’t available. Of course people do need to use these things. The Code is about advertising.
As of 2011 (old, I know. My guess is they update it every 10 years) 103 countries have built some or all of The Code into their laws. 6 countries have taken no action, one of them being the US. Congrats, U.S….all you care about is money.
Speaking of money, did you know the American Academy of Pediatrics accepts money from formula companies (Mead-Johnson (Enfamil), Abbott (Similac)) ? That’s a pretty big conflict of interest.
Might this be why the AAP has a recommendation of breastfeeding to 1 year and beyond while WHO says 2 years and beyond?
The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative has brought parts of The Code to light for hospitals and hospital-affiliated clinics. A big rule was banning hospitals from giving out promotional Similac/Enfamil/Gerber (Nestle) diaper bags full of coupons, coolers, and (of course) free formula.
The BFHI certification has become so expensive that many hospitals are relinquishing their Baby Friendly status. How do you think this will affect breastfeeding rates?
Formula companies use predatory marketing strategies (extrapolate this article to pregnant parents and the effect is the same) to provide health care workers with free pens (nurses LOVE pens), mugs, formula for their babies (not kidding), and even measuring tape. Measuring tape? Yes. Head circumference is measured with a paper measuring tape, often emblazoned with a formula company logo, which often goes home with parents as a keepsake.
The baby food industry is just a big business. They don’t care about babies. They care about money. They ruthlessly promote products to health care workers because they know families will see the logos in clinics and hospitals and think, “Well, if my clinic uses ____ brand, that must be the one to buy.” $$$$$
Thanks for listening to my Ted Talk. What was supposed to be a brief explanation of WHO’s Message became…extensive. The more links I found, the more angry I became. Why don’t we have more support for people? Why isn’t healthcare available and affordable (U.S.)? If the government was really concerned about money, they’d spend a little $ on breastfeeding support to save $9.1 billion annually (if 90% of WIC families gave only breastmilk for 6 mo).
Though provoking questions:
Did you have the support and information you needed to breastfeed your baby? What may have improved your experience?
What did your healthcare team do or say that helped/hindered your feeding goals (breast, bottle, pumping, induced lactation, relactation…)?
Did your hospital/doctor’s office have free formula or formula sponsored items in the office?
I’d love to hear about your experience!