U. Hospital Seeking ‘Baby-Friendly’ Label
Julie Sibthorp cuddles 2-day-old Ava in her room at University Hospital and says she’s glad that breast-feeding was easy with her older daughter, Lily, 2, since it’s the healthiest choice for newborns. She doesn’t expect any problems this time around, either.
A sleepy Ava’s sporting a tiny T-shirt that reads “I eat at Mom’s.”
In the hallway, Dr. Karen Buchi, a pediatrician who is medical director of the well-baby nursery, and Mary Erickson, a lactation educator, are explaining the importance of feeding infants breast milk. Sometimes, a mother’s or baby’s medical condition makes it impossible. But the benefits are so clear-cut, they say, that barring those complications every woman should breast-feed.
University Hospital is so committed to the concept that it’s launching a three-year effort to become a World Health Organization “Baby-Friendly Hospital.” As part of that, the hospital will no longer accept free infant formula from manufacturers to pass on to new mom-baby duos. There are other steps it must take, as well.
Becoming “baby-friendly” is not as simple as it sounds. Only 48 of the 16,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals worldwide are in the United States; only those 48 of the 6,000-plus American hospitals have the title.
The first step is teaching parents about the importance of breast- feeding to a child’s long-term health, then providing appropriate support for whatever feeding method they choose. While Julie and Jim Sibthorp are convinced it’s the way to go for Ava, lactation experts like Erickson spend a lot of time teaching new mothers how to breast- feed. It’s important, she says, to get started right away. And it’s not easy for everyone.
That’s one reason they’re going to be phasing out the free formula in the next couple of years, Buchi says. If it’s there, a mother may just mix a bottle of formula, without giving the lactation staff a chance to see if they can help Mom successfully breast-feed the baby.
The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends that babies receive breast milk exclusively for six months for the maximum protective effects; then solids can be added. That breast milk should be provided through direct nursing for at least the first two weeks to two months so that the ability is well established. Babies should continue to breast-feed until they’re at least a year old even after they’re eating other things, Buchi says.
Among the benefits for breast-fed babies are a stronger immune system, fewer allergies to food, milk that is “tailor-made” for that specific baby and will change with baby’s needs as she grows. Also, it’s convenient and inexpensive, it’s great for bonding and milk can be pumped and frozen so that women who return to work can still feed their babies breast milk only. And, experts add, breast-feeding helps women lose weight. Although it takes an extra 500 calories consumed a day to produce milk, the body uses as many as 940 calories to produce a liter of milk. So the weight loss is slow and steady.
To some degree, they’re preaching to the choir, Erickson says. At University Hospital, close to 90 percent of women choose to nurse their babies — 65 percent of them starting within an hour of giving birth.
Still, they say, in cases where women simply cannot breast-feed their infants, they shouldn’t feel bad. And even a little breast milk provides some benefit.
“Every mom should feel good about any amount of breast milk she can give her baby,” Buchi says.
As for the decision not to provide the free formula and gift pack from the formula companies, not to worry, says Erickson. Families will still be getting gift bags, but they’ll have the U. insignia and be filled with items like breast pads, diapers, wipes and shampoo.
E-mail: lois@desnews.com