The 10th Breastfeeding Commandment…throw out 1-9…

As a Registered Nurse, Childbirth Educator, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and mother of two breastfed infants…I would like to share with you my strong desire and commitment to provide education to new families throughout our local communities. If anyone was to describe me in my role at Aspen Birth Center, I believe they would include a fair description about my “passion” for helping new families, especially when it comes to learning about breastfeeding.

Now, no pun intended, but tongue-in-cheek mythological articles like “The 10 Breastfeeding Commandments” and “How to Breastfeed the Right Way” are creatures that I personally wish were extinct.  Although, I am sure the intent is to help new mothers, these fictitious examples really have no place in the environment of supporting breastfeeding, and seem only to put strong and highly intelligent women in the position of feeling like they are doing a less than adequate job. Articles such as these truly lend very little support, and it is my advice to steer clear of such beasts. For real questions with real human support, I implore you to seek out the not so rare “breed” of a certified lactation consultant, available at Aspen Valley Hospital. Call (970) 544-1251 for questions or appointments.

The choice to breastfeed is usually very personal and should be made, surrounding your own unique experiences and knowledge gained from information that examines the benefits, based upon current evidence and research. Certainly, not because of anyone else’s desire for you to “do the right thing”.  I would suspect you can figure out what the “right thing” is, for your family-all on your own.

For the information seekers in the group, I can share the health benefits for mom and baby, outlined by The American Academy of Pediatrics. I can tell you about how our Nation’s health leaders, such as the United States Breastfeeding Committee, have been in support of implementing legislation since 2008, in order to advocate protection, promotion and support for the breastfeeding mother in the workplace.  I should mention that the U.S. Surgeon General has notified our nation of their “Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding” in 2011. Promotion of breastfeeding and goals set for improvement have been outlined by our government in the Healthy People 2020 objectives as another resource to peruse if one wants more convincing data? I could go on a bit further, but instead, will close by assuring you that I will be committed to helping you achieve success within the parameter of the decisions you make for your family.