Warmest Greetings,
This month's topic
is Full-Term Breastfeeding (formally Extended
Breastfeeding). One of the reasons for changing
the title of this topic is breastfeeding your
child past 2 years of age (as recommended by the
World Health Organization) is the global norm;
but in the US beyond 1 year of age is called
"extended." If a child and mother chooses to go
beyond a year, it should not be considered
"extended," but normal or "full term."
Many signs in
nature show the incredible benefits of an
offspring wanting to nurse until they outgrow
the need such as immune system maturity (5 years),
teeth placement (2-3 years), and digestive
system development (5 years). When we look
at these internal growth milestones, it can show
us that children were meant to continue to nurse
until all these milestones have been completed.
In an ideal
situation, the child should be the one that
chooses to stop nursing. As an LLL Leader, I
support the choices that each mother makes based
on her unique experience being a mother and
raising a family. When you and your child
decide to stop the breastfeeding relationship is
a personal and private choice. Please join
us at our next meeting to give your input on
your journey with your child in breastfeeding.
Many BLLLessings,
Erin Abrams
LLL Leader of Sturbridge, MA
Announcement:
Our new
location for our nighttime meetings is at
the Southbridge Savings Bank on Rt. 20 in
Sturbridge. Please join us in their
community room - it is easy to access, carpeted
and offers plenty of space for children to romp
around.
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Nighttime Parenting:
Thank you for all that attended our last
meeting, Nighttime Parenting. Our
conversation encouraged all
parenting styles and in the end we all felt
supported that our child's sleeping habits were
normal! Some quick facts about infant and
children's sleeping are:
-
Studies in animals have shown that early
abrupt weaning resulted in a prompt decrease
in REM sleep rather than the more gradual
change in sleep patterns seen with natural
weaning.
-
Infants/Toddler sleep in 20 min. cycles
versus adults have 90 min. cycles (REM
Cycle) which contributes to more waking
opportunities.
-
Studies show infants wake 2-3 times/night.
At 6 months studies report that 52% of
breastfed infants sleep through the night
and after one year, it increases to 67%.
-
Newborns sleep 14-18 hours per day; and
14-16 hours at 6 months, and 12-14 hours
from 6mths to 2 years – when they actually
sleep these hours is their own choice.
-
A baby's immature digestive system isn't
ready for solid food until some time around
the middle of the first year (6-8mths).
Solids given too early may actually upset a
baby's tummy causing a different reason to
wake up at night.
Nighttime Meeting:
Date:
August
20th
Time: 7-8:00PM
Topic:
Full-term Breastfeeding
Topic is flexible, your questions and concerns
are top priority.
Location: Southbridge Savings Bank, Rt. 20
in
Sturbridge
In the tradition
of LLL, please join in the discussion and
support our community . All you have to
bring are your experiences that you have
encountered with breastfeeding and help support
another mother that could use a bit of
breastfeeding wisdom. ;)
Breastfeeding babies and toddlers who would be
unhappy away from their mothers are welcome.
Click here for
directions.
 |
New study shows
breastfeeding
links with less
maternal
cardiovascular
disease
April 28, 2009
A woman’s
breastfeeding
history
continues to
affect her
health even
after menopause,
according to a
new study
announced this
month in
Obstetrics and
Gynecology.
According to the
study, the
longer a woman
breastfeeds, the
lower her risk
of high blood
pressure, high
cholesterol,
diabetes and
cardiovascular
disease. The
massive study,
of over 130,000
women from the
Women’s Health
Initiative,
boosts previous
research from
other large
studies from the
Nurse’s Health
Study showing
that longer
lifetime
breastfeeding is
linked with
lower risk of
maternal type 2
diabetes and
coronary artery
disease.
Women who
breastfed more
than twelve
months had
significantly
lower risks of
these four
conditions. The
study controlled
for many
possible
confounding
factors,
including body
mass index,
family history,
race, age,
number of
children, and
age at
menopause.
These results
further support
the rising
demand for
better support
of breastfeeding
as a women’s
health issue.
While over 3/4
of women
initiate
breastfeeding,
most stop in the
first weeks or
months. The
causes are
multi-factorial,
but include
widespread
failure of
hospitals in the
US to practice
evidence-based
care around
breastfeeding,
lack of
insurance
reimbursement
for lactation
care and
services,
aggressive
marketing of
infant formula
by hospitals and
health
professionals,
and lack of paid
maternity leave
and worksite
support. Less
than 3% of US
hospitals are
certified as
“Baby-Friendly,”
and a recent CDC
survey found the
average US
hospital scored
only 63 out of
100 possible
points in their
compliance with
evidence-based
care around
breastfeeding.
The US joins
Lesotho,
Swaziland, and
Papua New Guinea
as the only four
countries in the
world without
paid maternity
leave.
While evidence
around the
health effects
of not
breastfeeding
tends to focus
on the health of
the infant, the
evidence for the
importance of
breastfeeding on
women’s health
is growing.
Previous studies
have already
linked duration
of breastfeeding
with lower risks
of maternal
breast and
ovarian cancer.
“When we fail to
provide the
support young
families need to
breastfeed, we
increase the
risks of health
problems for
mothers and for
babies,” states
Dr. Alison
Stuebe, a North
Carolina
obstetrician and
one of the
authors of the
new study.
Taken from
Massachusetts
Breastfeeding
Coalition:
http://massbfc.org/index.php/2009/new-study-shows-breastfeeding-links-with-less-maternal-cardiovascular-disease/
|
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Excerpt taken from:
Breastfeeding Beyond a Year:
exploring benefits, cultural
influences, and more
Jen Davis
Upton MA USA
From NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 24
No. 5, September-October
2007, pp. 196-201
Why isn't nursing into
toddler-hood "the norm" in
some societies?
Examining the animal kingdom
indicates that extended
breastfeeding is a natural
function. In Katherine
Dettwyler's article, "A Time
to Wean," she discusses
weaning habits of mammals,
especially those of
primates. She looks at a
number of factors that may
influence the age of weaning
for these primates
(quadrupling of birth
weight, attainment of
one-third adult weight,
gestation length, and dental
eruption) and evaluates what
the human equivalent would
be for weaning according to
these factors. For example,
for humankind's closest
relatives, the chimpanzee
and the gorilla, the
duration of breastfeeding is
six times the length of
gestation. "Based on these
comparisons, an estimated
natural age at weaning for
humans would be a minimum of
six times gestational
length, or four-and-a-half
years" (Dettwyler 1995).
Another thing that was
considered in her study was
the fact that many primates
wean their offspring when
their permanent molars come
in, which for humans occurs
around five and a half or
six years of age. Adult
immune competence for humans
occurs around six years old,
"suggesting that throughout
our recent evolutionary
past, the active immunities
provided by breast milk were
normally available to the
child until about this age."
Dettwyler ultimately
concludes:
Non human primate data
suggest that human
children are designed to
receive all the benefits
of breast milk and
breastfeeding for an
absolute minimum of two
and a half years, and an
apparent upper limit of
around seven years.
Human history supports
Dettwyler's studies. Nursing
into toddlerhood was a
common, natural occurrence.
Soranus and Galen, for
example, were two Roman
doctors who wrote what was
to remain the standard
Western reference on infant
care until the 18th century.
Galen believed complete
weaning shouldn't occur
until the child turned
three, and Soranus said not
until a child had all his
baby teeth should he be
weaned (Huggins 2007).
Clearly if extended
breastfeeding was harmful,
it would have negatively
impacted the human race.
"Any serious harmful effects
of long-term nursing would
have crippled the entire
ancient world" (Bumgarner
2000).
In the early part of the
20th century, an
anthropological study was
conducted looking at
childrearing practices in 52
societies. It was found that
only two weaned their
children before the age of
one year. The US middle
class limited infant feeding
more strictly and stopped
breastfeeding earlier than
all but one other society
(Huggins 2007).
In a study done of 64
primitive cultures in 1945,
it was found that only one
culture weaned their
children as young as six
months. Mothers in China and
Japan still nursed their
children for four or five
years well into the 20th
century. During World War
II, Burmese children nursed
until age three or four. Up
until 1950 in Kenya, mothers
nursed until five, and in
Mongolia mothers nursed
until two or three and
sometimes as old as six and
seven. In New Guinea during
the 1960s, children were
nursing freely up until two,
three, and sometimes four
years of age (Bumgarner
2000).
Breastfeeding into
toddlerhood is natural and
beneficial, but how common
is it across the world
today? As explained in A
Nursing Mother's Guide to
Weaning, Margaret Mead
and other anthropologists
discovered that mothers wean
in the way and at the time
that their cultures
prescribe and that peaceful,
cooperative societies tend
to wean later using gentler
methods. Furthermore, it has
been estimated the median
age of weaning throughout
the world is between ages
three and five. That's
years, not months.
Through Norma Jane
Bumgarner's exploration of
traditional cultures in the
modern world, an interesting
picture is painted. The
Siriono people of Bolivia
don't wean before the age of
three. In Mexico, the
Zinacanteco Indians
(descendants of Mayans)
nurse until age four or
five. In East Africa and the
Philippines, nursing for
several years is not rare.
So, how did some cultures
stray so dramatically from
the practice of extended
breastfeeding? As Dettwyler
states, breastfeeding is
both a biological process
and a culturized activity.
As a biological process
it [breastfeeding] is
firmly grounded in our
mammalian ancestry....as
a heavily culturized
activity, it is modified
by a wide variety of
beliefs, not only about
infant health and
nutrition, but also
about the nature of
human infancy and the
proper relationships
between mother and
child, and between
mother and father.
As ideals, expectations, and
family roles shift, so does
the culture. Other issues
that can affect
breastfeeding and weaning
include religious beliefs, a
mother's every day
activities and employment,
and ideas about independence
and autonomy.
To read the full article:
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBSepOct07p196.html
|
|
|
Read
more great articles from New
Beginnings e-Magazine
with your $40/yr. LLL Membership.
More info>> |
Would you like
to see our LLL group reach out to more
mothers and bring more awareness to
breastfeeding? If you have ever thought
of volunteering or giving back a small amount of
your time while making an amazing shift in our
area's thinking, I can not express how rewarding
being a Leader is. For me, it has
given me the opportunity to
connected with so many amazing mothers and
families that they have made me a better mother
and wife. I am truly blessed to be in this
community and help support it.
If you would like to help support our community
and would like to help lead our group, please
contact me.
What is our purpose as LLL Leaders?
Leaders know the importance of one mother
helping another to recognize and understand
the needs of her child and to find the best
means of fulfilling those needs. Leaders
provide information and support so that each
mother can make the decisions which are best
for her family.
What does a
Leader do? Most Leaders fulfill the basic
responsibilities of leadership, which are:
• Helping mothers one-to-one by telephone,
email, or in person.
• Planning and leading monthly Series
Meetings.
• Supervising the management of the LLL
Group.
• Keeping up-to-date on breastfeeding
information.
• Upholding the LLL philosophy
|
LLL Philosophy
|
-
Mothering through breastfeeding
is the most natural and
effective way of understanding
and satisfying the needs of the
baby.
-
Mother and baby need to be
together early and often to
establish a satisfying
relationship and an adequate
milk supply.
-
In the early years, the baby has
an intense need to be with his
mother which is as basic as his
need for food.
-
Breast milk is the superior
infant food.
-
For the healthy, full-term baby,
breast milk is the only food
necessary until baby shows signs
of needing solids, about the
middle of the first year after
birth.
-
Ideally, the breastfeeding
relationship will continue until
the baby outgrows the need.
-
Alert and active participation
by the mother in childbirth is a
help in getting breastfeeding
off to a good start.
-
Breastfeeding is enhanced and
the nursing couple sustained by
the loving support, help, and
companionship of the baby’s
father. A father’s unique
relationship with his baby is an
important element in the child’s
development from early infancy.
-
Good nutrition means eating a
well-balanced and varied diet of
foods in as close to their
natural state as possible.
-
From infancy on, children need
loving guidance which reflects
acceptance of their capabilities
and sensitivity to their
feelings.
|
 |
LLL of
Worcester holds monthly meetings to help
leaders become accredited. Please email me if you are
interested in attending and seeing if
leadership is right for you. |
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You don't have to join LLL to come to
our meetings but by joining LLL of
Sturbridge you help support YOUR
breastfeeding community.
The $40
LLL Regular Membership
includes a discount in the
LLLI Online Store,
a subscription to New Beginnings
e-Magazine and much more. To find
out more benefits and other levels of
membership, visit
http://www.llli.org/membership.html.
|
|
 |
New
Beginnings e-Magazine
Free with a
1 year membership - LLL Online
Bi-Monthly magazine is filled with
valuable information on breastfeeding
and mother-to-mother sharing.
|
|
Please mail
it directly to our group as your money
will be directly contributing to your
local community. You can send
check made out to LLL of Sturbridge, MA
and mail it to PO Box 523, Sturbridge,
MA 01566. |
 |
Are you on
Facebook?
Then join LLL online! Many of us
have busy lives and can't connect during our
meeting times. Facebook allows you to post
a question to fellow Breastfeeding mothers and have an
instant community when you need
support. We also use it to announce what
we are doing that day and if any other
like-minded moms want to join in. Search
for LLL of Sturbridge and
ask to join! |
Advertisement:
Save the Date: Featuring the EcoKids Discovery
Trail!
(Click on logo for more info)
Advertise with US!
If
you or someone you know would like to advertise
in our monthly newsletter, please spread the
word. Money received will help support our group
and the community we share. Our newsletter goes
out to over 70 people and is hopefully shared
with more as some on our list are doulas, nurses
and midwives. We are a specific
market of mothers, families, nursing moms,
nutrition focused and many homeschoolers.
Advertising rates begin at $10/month!
WHAT A DEAL!!
Items and events in this category are not
associated with LLL and are listed here as a
service to the community.
If you know of a community event, please email
Erin at
info@lllsturbridge.org by the first of the
month.
2009 Summer
Concert Series - Sturbridge Town Common
Joshua Hyde Library, Sturbridge
On going Story Hour times - check website.
Sample of July events:
Books on the Bandstand - Tues at 10:30AM on the
Town Common
PJ story Hour: July 22nd at 6:30PM
Space Crafternoon: Thurs July 16th at 2PM (ages
4-10)
Full Schedule of Events at:
http://www.town.sturbridge.ma.us/Public_Documents/SturbridgeMA_LibCal/?FormID=158&Date=20090501&calView=0
Old Sturbridge Village
Story/Craft Time
Wednesday's at 10am, OSV offers a preschool
story and craft program. The program lasts
about 45 minutes and includes a story and a
related hands-on activity in the Village with a
costumed staff person. It is a lot of fun
and quite a unique preschool experience.
The cost is $3 per week for members' Children
and $7 per week for children of non-members.
Adults are required to accompany the children,
but are not charged admission to the program.
No registration is required. More info:
508-347-3362 or
www.osv.org.
Music Man
Location:
Sturbridge Coffee House
Fee: Free
Date(s) and Time(s): Tuesday from 4-5PM;
Fridays from 10-11am
More info: Friday mornings have been so
popular that SCH has added him to Tues.
afternoons. Armed with his guitar,
harmonica and childhood classic songs, the Music
Man gets the kids full of energy. www.sturbridgecoffeehouse.com
Story time for PreSchoolers at Broad Meadow
Brook Programs
Location:
Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in
Worcester
Fee: Adults $5.00 m/ $6.00 nm, Children
$5.00 m/ $6.00 nm
More info:
http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Broad_Meadow/index.php
Save the Date: Featuring the EcoKids Discovery
Trail!
(Click on logo for more info)
La Leche League International has a
mother-to-mother forum on their website that is
a great resource for mothers to share
experiences on their time. Much like how
LLL meetings first began: experienced mothers
helping new moms, and friends supporting each
other, the online forum is another way to tap
into a breastfeeding
support group. To connect to the forum, go
to:
http://forums.llli.org.
Southbridge Savings Bank
in Sturbridge - Our meetings
are held in the Community Room
connected to the bank.
From Rt. 20: SSB is located on Rt. 20 (West
bound side) between Hobbs Brook
Plaza (WalMart) and Wendy's.
From the Pike: Take exit 9
(Rt. 84/Rt. 20/New York) and take
exit 3A (Rt. 20 East), go about a
mile and you will see the bank after
Wendy's on the opposite side.
Submission
are accepted by the first of each month, if not
they will be included in the following month's
newsletter. Please send submissions to
info@lllsturbridge.org.
To
Unsubscribe, please email
info@lllsturbridge.org. |
