Tongue-tie

Over the last few years, there has been an increase in this diagnosis, which can make it very difficult for baby to breastfeed. I have met heroic parents who have struggled to nourish their baby as they waited to have this condition confirmed. It can be very challenging. But surgery is a serious choice and does not come risk-free. If there is a question of your baby having “oral ties”, I know you will want to do some research. Here are two sources to get you started.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17931-tongue-tie-ankyloglossia

Congratulations to Colorado Moms!

Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issue a Breast Feeding Report Card for the Nation. Complete statistics can be viewed on their website. Breast feeding is an important way to reduce many illnesses and obesity. The 2012 report shows that almost 90% of Colorado mothers exclusively breast fed their babies for the first six months, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Academy further advises that breast milk should be a continued source of baby nutrition through the second year. Most mothers want to breast feed and if the hospital they choose to deliver in has the designation of “Baby Friendly” they will receive the support they need. Colorado, Arizona, and North Dakota have the most hospitals that have met the criteria for being Baby Friendly. In these hospitals, a lactation consultant sees every family, pacifiers are not routinely used, and mothers are not sent home with a complimentary bottles of formula.

Ironically, there has recently been a furor about breastfeeding near Denver. A mother who was nursing her 10 month old at a city-owned water park, was asked by an employee to not nurse in public. This is in direct violation of Colorado laws which permit breast feeding in all public and private places. The city apologized to the mother but nevertheless, quite a lot of emotion was expressed on both sides.

Perhaps when a few more generations of children grow up seeing babies being nursed everywhere, then our culture won’t be so apt to view this as extraordinary. 

Cow’s milk protein increases risk of diabetes in infants

In American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (June 8 2011 issue) preliminary results with 230 infants shows that for children who received cow’s milk formula during infancy (usually means the first year of life) the incidence of type I diabetes was significantly more likely. When the cow’s milk protein was broken up so no intact cow’s milk protein remained, the incidence of type I diabetes for those infants genetically at risk was reduced by 60%. Another great reason to breast feed for at least the first year of life.

flu shot and breast feeding

Nursing mothers, a note about the flu shot. You should know that if you are breastfeeding and choose to receive this year’s flu vaccination, your baby may show signs of mild illness, including sleepiness, irritability, red eyes and generally not feeling well for up to 3 days. This is a result of mother’s immune response to the vaccine and not a direct response to the vaccine itself. Many pediatricians are encouraging parents to receive the vaccine and this should not be a reason to disregard that advice.