WAPF and breastfeeding

[Guest guest]

I have been meaning to post this for awhile, ever since our discussion

about exactly the place that WAPF gives to breastfeeding, and how many

seem to perceive the message to be somewhat negative, although giving

faint praise to breastfeeding, and more reflective of Sally's

experience, rather than the true nature of things.

Another list was started as a result but it seems to have lost

momentum so I thought I would post some of my preliminary thoughts

here as well as on the NIN list, since I believe there is going to

eventually be a myths and truths about infant nutrition article

submitted to WAPF for publication on their website.

I think the crux of the issue is the belief, justified I think, that

while WAPF thinks breast is best, its material doesn't actually

reflect that in practice. In other words you don't get the sense of a

rock solid commitment to breast feeding that emphasizes doing as much

as possible to bring that reality about for a mother, but rather " yes

breast is the best " but at the slightest hint of trouble adopt the

WAPF formula.

That may or may not be true, and I certainly don't think it is

intended by WAPF, but over and over again people come to the site and

leave with that impression. One reason for that I believe is because

nowhere on the WAPF site is there an extended discussion of how to

work with breastfeeding problems, except for using the formula. So, in

practice, it would seem that " breast is best " is only given faint

praise and then ignored.

And then you get strange anomalies like the article in Wise Traditions

that was celebrating no night feedings (by breast), when night feeding

is integral both to the health of the baby *and* mother. And no less a

WAP supporter like Singer had to point that out in a letter to

the editor. Instances like these do make one wonder about the WAPF

emphasis.

There are many reasons WAPF gives for the need for a good formula, and

while most of those in disagreement with the apparent WAPF position

would be in agreement that the things listed are bad, they would NOT

agree that as a result you then place a baby on formula, even the WAPF

formula. The WAPF seems to go from 1 to 10 (1 being breast and 10

being formula) skipping all the possible steps in between.

That has always been my impression. Yes breast is best BUT.....and

then off to formula, and clearly a lot of people perceive the same

thing. So below I list what I think are some of the steps one should

take when an expectant and eager mother is asking about breastfeeding.

I'm sure I am missing some things but it is a start.

1. Ensure a healthy diet to begin with. The WAPF pregnancy diet page

and the Blue Ribbon baby page are great (with some caveats). My

sister, who is not a WAPer, thrived and had a very easy pregnancy

following a modified version of both of these diets. Most of the

people asking Sally questions are probably already committed to a

better way of eating, so I think it is premature to jump from A to Z

in recommending, if one is having a difficult time breastfeeding, or

one wants advice pre-baby, to use the WAPF formula, which is

essentially what she is saying.

We also know, from Weston Price himself, that the most important

feeding phase *for the health of the baby* is not during or after the

pregnancy, but in the six months or so *preceding* impregnation. So

eager moms to be not only ought to be trained on what to eat prior to

pregnancy, which WAPF is good at, but then ample opportunity and

encouragement ought to be given to get that nutrition out through the

woman's own milk during pregnancy. Very few of us can control the brix

of milk or pasture, but we sure can control, at least somewhat better,

our own nutrient density.

2. Supplement the mom. This is a corollary to one above, if the milk

is not up to speed, then bring the milk producer up to speed before

switching to formula. The above section is more prenatal and during

pregnancy, this is more aimed at someone who is already nursing and

may be having problems.

This is, IMO, the most brillant insight to come out of this thread and

it was provided by none other than Christie (at least on NN, on

NIN there is an unbeliveable wealth of knowledge from some

breastfeeding moms).

And really, think about it, isn't this what we do as adults? Don't we

try to change the milk producer (i.e. better soil, supplements, etc)

without trying to go out and create some formulaic substitute? Often

when we do change the milk itself (like fermentation) for many of us

it is a way to compensate for poor quality milk. It seems silly when

looked at like that. How much more so when that is ALL a baby will be

consuming its first few months on the earth?

Clearly the baby is designed to have mothers milk, so why not help the

mom *produce* a milk that is viable. If the mother or mother to be was

concerned enough to ask the question in the first place, then

presumably she will be concerned enough to make whatever additional

changes are necessary to insure their baby's health.

Sally's emphasis, IMO, might be good for a SADer, who might not want

to make major changes in her diet, or at least the kind of changes we

think are good, but not a WAPer, unless that WAPer is trying to find a

way not to breastfeed, which is a whole nother issue.

3. Hire a *true* professional to help with breastfeeding problems

Why go through all this trouble when a WAPified formula is just a

stone's throw away? Because there is so much more involved with

breastfeeding than just direct nutritional issues. There are bonding

issues, fertility issues, health issues for the mom, immunlogical

factors for the baby, competence/guilt issues, etc. Each issue in and

of itself can be huge, but they are also interconnected in many ways,

*and formula feeding of any sort cannot address any of these issues.*

Having been exposed to so many moms over the years who were not only

champions of breastfeeding, but seeing the difference in their kids,

even as SADers, I'm convinced that folks who advocate formula, even

the WAP formula, as anything other than a last resort, either have

been unduly colored by their own experience, or simply don't know much

about the issue.

Personally, I think Sally's best approach would be to say, this is my

experience, but there may be a better approach for most. It is not

like anyone is saying that formula can't be used, only that there

should be a few other steps in between before getting there.

4. Search for a wet nurse. Wet nursing has a checkered history in that

it often has been sought by people who simply didn't want to nurse,

period. But good quality controlled wet nursing would be a boon to the

few women who just can't seem to pull nursing off, no matter what they

do. And it could give the dad something to do with his nipples other

than to wonder why they are there, LOL!

5. Formula/nursing combo. Perhaps not enough milk is being produced

and for whatever reason the problem can't be overcome. Then a wet

nurse or a supplement might be warranted in this instance.

6. Formula only - The WAPF formula.

--

Life isn't static. People change. Circumstances

change. What may have been true six months

or a year ago may no longer be true now.

Maybe a loved one got sick and died at a

tender age...Maybe they ran into an old high

school buddy who still looks great...At any rate

what they couldn't hear before rings true to them

now. So don't despair. Stick to the task. You will

eventually find yourself surrounded by people who

do care about good food and see it as a

legitimate avenue to great health.

Winning the War on Good Food

http://www.warongoodfood.com