tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28262903.post347063172695082922..comments2023-11-02T05:10:06.555-07:00Comments on Homebirth Diaries: Knocking Down BarriersLaborPaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10294812248596629837noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28262903.post-29130871966494789452008-05-19T22:18:00.000-07:002008-05-19T22:18:00.000-07:00When I was in residency I did a small survey among...When I was in residency I did a small survey among mothers who receive WIC about their breastfeeding attitudes and practices. To gather survey recipients, I sat in the WIC office and asked folks to take my survey while they were waiting. I was really disappointed in this particular WIC office's breastfeeding support. (This was an inner city WIC office with a largely AA population, with a <5% other racial backgrounds.) Even the client sign in sheet they used had a formula company logo on the top - and it was simply a photocopied sheet with name and time signed in on it, but they chose to keep photocopying a sheet with a logo on it! The mothers who were breastfeeding were often still badgered into accepting ABM, because "you won't be able to keep it up, and when you run out you need to have formula around"<BR/>I was also disappointed to see that having a healthcare provider recommend or encourage breastfeeding seemed to do very little in my study population - most people reported at least one physician encouraging breastfeeding, but it didn't correlate at all with initiation or continuation rates, while having a supportive family member, especially a mother, did.<BR/>In my current practice in a more rural/small town setting, the WIC office is more supportive, having a full time IBCLC on staff and offering individualized help if needed, and high risk infant follow up including home visits. Breastfeeding moms often seem to feel more supported here - although some of that may just be timing as it is almost 10 years later.<BR/>I'm always interested in the barriers out there to breastfeeding initiation - and I'm especially interested in ways to encourage continuation. I feel like I have a pretty high initiation rate, but still have a huge drop offs well before I'd like. I always wonder why folks will wean over the oddest, least evidence based advice from a doctor, and yet don't stick it out when given supportive, evidence based reasons to continue!doctorjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07570496336872952499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28262903.post-55686813517480569872008-05-19T09:56:00.000-07:002008-05-19T09:56:00.000-07:00Interesting comments ladies. I won't post my powe...Interesting comments ladies. I won't post my powerpoint (intellectual property) but I will continue to discuss some of the research I found. KBH, the doctor's note thing is not true (wish it were). Our government continues to be the largest purchaser and purveyer of infant formula. However the mistrust/misinformaion certainly prevails.LaborPaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10294812248596629837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28262903.post-75199627634647905232008-05-18T13:12:00.000-07:002008-05-18T13:12:00.000-07:00As BOTH a breastfeeding mother and a recipient of ...As BOTH a breastfeeding mother and a recipient of WIC I find this very interesting... I recently heard that WIC was no longer able to give out free formula unless the client had a doctors note stating they couldn't breastfeed for medical reasons. I'm not sure if this is completely accurate, but either way I have mixed feelings. I'd really like to see your powerpoint... maybe you could post it on the blog somehow? There's definately a change that needs to happen culturally and in the establishment. I've found so much mis-information and dis-trust (towards me) in the WIC office. I believe that they assumed I was poor and dumb and that maybe it would be easier to track my baby's 'low' weight (but normal for a breastfed baby) so that they could meet their federally mandated standards if I would just formula feed. Then again I wasn't your typical breastfeeding mom or WIC mom.... college educated, lots of family support, married, breastfeeding a toddler, and pregnant AND very up to date on child development.KBHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04879654413097659251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28262903.post-9065616089046209352008-05-18T13:10:00.000-07:002008-05-18T13:10:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.KBHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04879654413097659251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28262903.post-57623044597085843362008-05-15T14:09:00.000-07:002008-05-15T14:09:00.000-07:00I know this is too true, but when faced up against...I know this is too true, but when faced up against two problems: having to work to make ends meet and needing money to buy the pump and the time to pump, there will continue to be a low breastfeeding rate in the WIC women. I think many of them know it is better, but are stuck in between a rock and hard place. Maybe WIC could start subsidizing pumps or have a loaning program.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03593882598668421250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28262903.post-14498274140146944852008-05-15T07:00:00.000-07:002008-05-15T07:00:00.000-07:00WIC gives free formula...why bf? I think that's t...WIC gives free formula...why bf? I think that's the attitude.<BR/><BR/>DawnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com