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St. Louis Post-News Dispatch |
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St. Louis Post-News Dispatch Dr. Peggy DeFelice knows breast-feeding. The Pennsylvania pediatrician is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, a member of the board of directors of the Nursing Mothers Advisory Council. She brings to her enthusiasm for breast-feeding years of education and observation, plus experience. Plenty of experience. DeFelice has nursed five children - three of them at one time. Nursing her sons, now 7 and 5 years old, simply confirmed her belief that, apart from nutritional and health benefits, breast-feeding was a precious, private time for mother and baby to share. Her triplet daughters raised more complicated issues. But DeFelice was determined to try to nurse them anyhow. As a pediatrician, she said, she was well aware of the health advantages associated with breast-feeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that mothers breast-feed exclusively for the first four to sixth months and continue to breast-feed (along with other foods) for the first year. The benefits include improved immunity for the baby and a decrease in infections. But most of all, she wanted the time. "So many people want to be helpful when you have a baby - especially with triplets!" said DeFelice, who recently weaned the girls, now 15 months old. "But this was one thing only I could do, and it gave me time with each of them individually. "The first few weeks, I was pretty much continually nursing. But in two months or so I had them on a schedule. And I did introduce a bottle (to supplement breast milk) relatively early. But the nursing was wonderful." About 60 percent of new mothers in this country now try breast-feeding, and about 22 percent continue nursing for up to six months. De-Felice thinks there are two main reasons why breast-feeding may not work out: inexperience and social pressure. Both, she thinks, are problems that can usually be solved with a little thought and patience. Some mothers expect to be able to breast-feed "naturally," without any difficulty, and give up if it doesn't work out that way. That's usually not necessary, DeFelice says. "Breast-feeding is a new skill," she points out. "We have to be patient with ourselves as new moms while we learn it." It takes patience and sometimes a little help. Many doctors today are well-informed about breast-feeding, she says; you can also talk to lactation consultants (often nurses) and nursing mother support groups, such as La Leche League or those organized through hospitals, for good tips. Babies are different from each other, so don't expect your baby to nurse the way your sister's baby did, or even the way your older child did. "Some babies nurse gently, some don't. One of mine was a little barracuda," DeFelice noted. Observe what makes your baby comfortable, or fidgety, and adjust your position and schedule accordingly. Social pressure is another factor that discourages some mothers who are trying to nurse. Everyone feels free to give new parents advice, including total strangers. When that happens, DeFelice says, feel free to smile and ignore it. It's much trickier when the concerns come from "people who have a special interest in the baby - like the grandparents," she said. "They do want what is best for the baby, but that may not be what the parents want to do. "I tell parents to be pretty honest about it. Say, `Mom, I really appreciate that you care so much about the baby, and I love that you love him. Let's work together on this. I appreciate your letting me be the mom here.' " Sometimes the concerns aren't what they seem to be. "Our mothers often did not nurse - they were not encouraged to nurse," DeFelice points out. "That's just a matter of education. Give them the information. To me, the AAP recommendation says it all right there." The "right" age for weaning brings up other pressures. A lot of criticism may be directed toward mothers who wean "too long." After the baby is a year old, the issues aren't nutritional, but social. "When a toddler asks to nurse, in words, it can be embarrassing," DeFelice said. "Mothers struggle with that. And questions do come up. "So, when the child is older, it calls for a little more privacy. . . It is up to the mom." Copyright (c) 1998, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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