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Continued from page 1 for two years. Even if the mother is divorced, the father should pay her cost of living so her full attention is on nursing the baby. Because girls usually marry at 15 or less, and boys under the age of 18, the young couple always receives help and guidance from the extended families. Wet nurses were very common until recently, but due to immigration to the United States, wet nurses are not routinely available and there is not the strong maternal family support. This is a great opportunity for lactation experts to work with Islamic women in breastfeeding their infants. There are other cultural groups and unique values to be explored. With increasing diversity among families in the United States, breastfeeding support requires an understanding of each woman's culture. The common trend is that women immigrating to the United States are not continuing to breastfeed. As experts in breastfeeding, we must emphasize the importance of breastfeeding all infants. As Heller (1997) said, "in all families we need to encourage the touch of breastfeeding, that is the way the parent and infant communicate and become attached". Breastfeeding support services need to be provided in a culturally sensitive manner, exploring each woman's cultural heritage. In all |
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cultures we need to encourage breastfeeding as a way the parent and infant can communicate and become attached (Heller, 1997). The opinions of this article are expressly the author's and do not represent opinions of the Medical Department of the United States Navy. BIBLIOGRAPHY Heller, S. (1997) The Vital Touch. New York: Henry Holt and Company. Leininger, N.M. (1985) Qualitative Research Methods in Nursing. Orlando: Grune & Stratton. Riordan, J. & Auerbach, K.G. (1999) Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (2nd ed.). Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Williams, C. & Jellite, D. (1972) Mother and child health: delivering the services. Oxford: Oxford University. Williams, E.L. & Pan, E. (1994) Breastfeeding initiation among a low-income multiethnic population in Northern California. American Journal of Human Lactation: 10(4), 245-251. |
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Nancy E. Wight MD, FAAP, IBCLC
Artificial milk marketing in the USA has never come close to meeting the standards set by the WHO Code. Recently, however, companies are reaching all-time lows in deceptive advertising to the public and to health professionals. We have "Comfort Proteins" (whatever they are) marketed directly to the public, store brand infant formulas, follow-up formulas (to mimic breastmilk as it changes) and any number of "clubs" to join for "savings". Now we also have mothers starting to ask for formula containing DHA (docosahexanoic acid) and ARA (arachadonic acid) as "the breastmilk formula", or "the formula with breastmilk in it"! Where are they getting these words? It's my guess that parents are NOT being told that the DHA and ARA are from bioengineered migcroalgae and soil fungus.
There is also a push towards aggressive marketing to healthcare professionals with the usual freebies: pens, pads, lanyards, stethoscope tags, coffee mugs and various
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foods. In addition, full lunches and dinners are being catered for "educational programs". I was recently chided for "embarrassing" the group when I declined to eat food paid for by an artificial milk company at a research meeting. Add to that the thousands of dollars provided to hospitals for "nursing education" and the discharge bags to mothers, and you have the makings of a true conflict of interest. Here is a quote from the Ross Employee Manual (courtesy of Marsha Walker RN, IBCLC) that you might want to post for staff to see: "Never underestimate the role of nurses. If they are sold and serviced properly, they can be strong allies. A nurse who supports Ross is like another salesman." Please note, formula detail persons are SALESMEN, not "reps"! Marsha Walker RN, IBCLC , through NABA (National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy) has published an eye-opening monograph entitled "Selling Out Mothers and Babies: Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes in the USA". An executive summary is due out soon. Contact Marsha at: marshalact@aol.com. |
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