Natural Family Planning International

In accord with the intent of World Breastfeeding Week (Aug. 1-7, 2007) to draw attention to the importance and values of breastfeeding, I submit the following:

“The natural law obliges mothers to nurse their babies with their own milk…This obligation is serious, but admits of parvity of matter if there is a serious reason to excuse and a sufficient alternative is provided.” W. D. Virtue, Mother and Infant, p. 278.

A Form Indicating the Risks of Ignoring Advice to Breastfeed
Prior to having eye surgery, my husband had to sign a release form. On this form, in bullets and in bold face, were 24 serious side effects, many leading to blindness. Because of this list of side effects, my husband went back to his primary eye doctor and discussed these serious side effects and what would happen if he chose not to have the surgery. After these consultations, he chose surgery.

Afterwards, my husband conceived of the idea of translating his medical release form into a form for mothers who choose not to breastfeed. So I took his form and followed the format.

Before I provide the form, it should be said that in a few countries mothers who choose not to breastfeed already have to sign a medical release form stating that they are ignoring the medical advice given to them. Someone recently told us this is happening in Australia. As far as I know, this is not happening in the United States.

Some mothers could take offense at such a form, especially those mothers who tried to breastfeed and were unsuccessful. I have the greatest sympathy for them, and they should not feel bad because they gave it their best try. You do what you can within your abilities or situation.

The release form has been a big hit at breastfeeding conferences. This form could be used for educational purposes, such as teaching a high school or college class. If the form is given to the students, the form needs to be explained but I would not read from it The current research is so fascinating that one only has to point to several diseases on the form and give the research. For example, take diabetes protection for the mother. This would be of interest to a class of girls. Tell them that if they breastfeed their baby for one year, they receive a 15% risk reduction for acquiring type-2 diabetes. Nurse two babies, each for a year, and receive a 30% reduction for acquiring this disease. And this protection lasts for 15 years after the birth of your last baby! That is simply astounding. At least it is interesting research.

The form can be modified. Maybe a teacher would prefer to list the benefits of not using formula or give the risks when formula is used. You have to gear it to your audience. Maybe it would provide a shock value at a medical seminar to motivate doctors and nurses to promote breastfeeding via their own words and via posters around the office.
Somehow we have to get the word out to our communities that breastfeeding is the first choice of feeding our babies and that breastfeeding is normal and good.

The tragedy of not breastfeeding is observed especially in other countries. This June it was reported that 160,000 children die each year in the Asia-Pacific region due to the decline in breastfeeding. According to a recent Save the Children report, it is believed that globally 114,000 lives could be saved monthly if breastfeeding rates were improved. In the Philippines the World Health Organization is seeking the help of the Catholic Church to promote breastfeeding because 16,000 babies die in that country every year due to inappropriate feeding.

What are the monetary savings here in the States if 75% of the mothers breastfed after birth and 50% were still breastfeeding at six months? The savings were estimated for the state of Wisconsin and here are the health care savings for that state if the breastfeeding rates attained those goals:
$4,645,250/year Acute Otitis Media
$437,120/year Bronchitis
$6,699,600/year Gastroenteritis
$262,440/year Allergies
$758,934/year Asthma
$578,500/year Type 1 Diabetes
$17,070,000/year Maternal Breast Cancer
$30,984,432/year TOTAL HEALTH COST SAVINGS FOR WISCONSIN

The United States Federal Government has told mothers that their babies are at risk if they do not breastfeed. During these blogs, I have tried to show readers why this is so. Leaving you with that, here is the medical release form. I hope the form does not offend anyone, especially at this time during World Breastfeeding Week.

MEDICAL RELEASE FORM
When Choosing Not to Breastfeed

NAME OF THE BABY:_______________________________________________________

SITUATION: I have chosen not to breastfeed my baby for personal and/or for medical reasons. I understand that not-breastfeeding entails health risks to my baby and to myself. While my formula-fed baby may be healthy, I understand that research shows that breastfed children are overall healthier as babies and also in their later years compared to their formula-fed peers. While I may be healthy now and in later years, I understand that research shows that I may suffer some adverse consequences from not breastfeeding.

RECOMMENDATIONS:* Mothers should do exclusive breastfeeding for six months and nurse for at least one year. Anything less is second best.

ALTERNATIVE: I may choose to use donated breastmilk.

RISKS OF NOT-BREASTFEEDING:*
I understand that medicine, breastfeeding, and formula-feeding are not exact sciences. I understand, however, scientific research shows that not-breastfeeding exposes my baby to increased risks of the following diseases:
• leukemia • lymphoma
• type 1 diabetes • obesity
• diarrhea • type 2 diabetes
• allergies • ear infections
• asthma • respiratory tract infections
• eczema • urinary tract infections
• bacterial meningitis • multiple sclerosis
• botulism • inflammatory bowel disease
• gastroenteritis • necrotizing enterocolitis
• Crohn’s disease • ulcerative colitis
• autoimmune thyroid disease • sudden infant death syndrome

I realize my child may have a poorer school performance with lower cognitive scores during grade school and high school. Likewise there might be more doctors’ visits and hospital visits because I did not breastfeed.

By not breastfeeding I understand that I, as the biological mother, may have an increased risk for the following diseases:
• breast cancer • ovarian cancer • lupus
• thyroid cancer • anemia • osteoporosis (increased chance of a hip fracture) • endometrial cancer • rheumatoid arthritis

I hereby certify that I have read (or have had read to me) and understand the possible risks of not breastfeeding my baby, whether by choice or for medical reasons. All of my questions regarding the risks have been answered to my satisfaction.
Mother’s Signature:_____________________________Date:____________________
Witness/Professional Signature:__________________________Date:______________

*The above recommendations and risks are found at the following websites: American Academy of Pediatrics: aap.org, American Academy of Family Physicians: aafp.org, and the U. S. Breastfeeding Committee: usbreastfeeding.org. See USBC’s “The Benefits of Breastfeeding” and “The Economics of Breastfeeding.”

© 2006 Sheila Kippley. Reproduction permission is given for purposes of breastfeeding education. This release was adapted from the release form her husband had to sign for eye surgery. This one-page form is available upon request.

Message: Please breastfeeding your baby exclusively for six months and continue to nurse for at least one year and hopefully at least two years.

PS: Sorry. It was impossible for me to line up the “side effects” columns properly.

Sheila Kippley
NFP International
www.NFPandMore.org
Author: Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood (Sophia, 2005)
Natural Family Planning: The Question-Answer Book (e-book
at this website, 2005)

In accord with the intent of World Breastfeeding Week (Aug. 1-7, 2007) to draw attention to the importance and values of breastfeeding, I submit the following:

“Probably no formula – no artificial baby food – EVER WILL MATCH THE BENEFITS OF HUMAN MILK whose nutritional and immunological benefits are marvelous and unique.” W. D. Virtue, Mother and Infant, 239.

Recent Breastfeeding Research

Breastfeeding is best. No doubt about it. As parents, we should all agree that we want to do what is best for our children. After childbirth, that choice is easy. We can do all we can to breastfeed within our capabilities.

Recent research has greatly stimulated interest in promoting breastfeeding, especially among health authorities. Today’s blog calls attention to some recent studies.

Children who are breastfed will more likely have better vision than those who are formula-fed. This study supports the growing body of evidence suggesting that breastfeeding is beneficial for visual development, according to Dr. Atul Singhal. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2007)

A three-month blitz of a “babies are born to be breastfed” campaign occurred in upstate New York using billboards, posters, and public service announcements during popular TV shows. The campaign was a success by raising the approval rating of public nursing from 54% to 69% among women and from 35% to 46% among men. (Herkimer County, N.Y., June 2007)

Breastfeeding initiation may be more successful when a mother lies flat or semi-reclined on her back with baby on her tummy. The babies nursed better when mothers used whatever position was comfortable and tried various positions, if needed. (Royal College of Nursing Conference, Dr. Suzanne Colson, May 2007)

Breastfeeding protects women from breast cancer, even those women who have children later in life. Dr. Giske Ursin, MD, PhD, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, said, “Our most important finding here is that breastfeeding seems to modify the increased risk that comes from having children later in life.” Thus she added, “We believe that breastfeeding should be encouraged for all women.” (American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, April 16, 2007)

Breastfeeding protects against the incidence or severity of a childhood sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD) which affects 3% of children. (SLEEP 2007, 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, June 11, 2007)

In developing countries, instructing HIV-infected mothers to breastfeed would result in 300,000 children becoming infected with HIV, but would save 1.5 million babies from death due to other diseases. There is a six-fold relative risk of death from infectious diseases in babies fed formula compared to those exclusively breastfed. In a 4-year study in South Africa, 4% of babies who were exclusively breastfed contracted HIV. (14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, February 26, 2007)
[IMPORTANT: The website for correct information about breastfeeding and HIV/AIDS is www.AnotherLook.org.]

Breastfeeding for 13 months or longer reduces the mother’s risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that affects three times more women than men. The longer a mother breastfed, the lower her risk of developing RA later in life. (Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, Barcelona, June 15, 2007)
[IMPORTANT: To be able to breastfeed for 13 months or longer, a woman should consider a form of breastfeeding similar to eco-breastfeeding.]

“Research in developed and developing countries of the world, including middle-class populations in developed countries, provides strong evidence that human milk feeding decreased the incidence and/or severity of a wide range of infectious diseases including bacterial meningitis, bacteremia, diarrhea, respiratory tract infection, necrotizing enterocolitis, otitis media, urinary tract infection, and late-onset sepsis in preterm infants In addition, postneonatal infant mortality rates in the United States are reduced by 21% in breastfed infants.” (Special Report from ACOG: “Breastfeeding: Maternal and Infant Aspects,” ACOG Clinical Review, January-February 2007)

Message: All mothers should strive to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of life.

Sheila Kippley
NFP International
www.NFPandMore.org
Author: Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood (Sophia, 2005)
Natural Family Planning: The Question-Answer Book (e-book
at this website, 2005)

In accord with the intent of World Breastfeeding Week (Aug. 1-7, 2007) to draw attention to the importance and values of breastfeeding, I submit the following:

“The most suitable milk for an infant is that of his own mother.” W. D. Virtue, Mother and Infant, 1995, 238-9.

There is more evidence that breastfeeding IS excellent for baby’s health LATER IN LIFE. Breastfeeding has long-term benefits.
Research has already confirmed that breastfeeding provides clear short-term benefits to the child against morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases. However, there is a continuing debate regarding the long-term benefits of breastfeeding.To determine the long-term consequences of breastfeeding, the World Health Organization commissioned two independent studies in Switzerland and in Brazil. Breastfeeding studies restricted to “infant” outcomes were excluded.

Those persons who had been breastfed were more likely to experience the following benefits: a lower mean blood pressure and total cholesterol, a higher performance in intelligence tests, and a lower prevalence of overweight/obesity and type-2 diabetes.

Click here to download the report.
The message today is: Please breastfeed your baby for his benefit. The benefits from breastfeeding will last for years to come.

Sheila Kippley
NFP International
www.NFPandMore.org
Author: Breastfeeding and Catholic Motherhood (Sophia, 2005)
Natural Family Planning: The Question-Answer Book (e-book
at this website, 2005)