Breastmilk Protects Babies so Why Aren’t We More Supportive?

There was a great article in the New York Times about Breast Milk Sugars Give Infants a Protective Coat

It looks at different properties in breastmilk.

“We were astonished that milk had so much material that the infant couldn’t digest,” Dr. German said. “Finding that it selectively stimulates the growth of specific bacteria, which are in turn protective of the infant, let us see the genius of the strategy — mothers are recruiting another life-form to baby-sit their baby.”

Some of these sugars that were not digestible are used to coat the gut and protect the baby.  How cool is that?  I learned about this originally in my Lactation Education Training from CAPPA.

Such findings have made the three researchers keenly aware that every component of milk probably has a special role. “It’s all there for a purpose, though we’re still figuring out what that purpose is,” Dr. Mills said. “So for God’s sake, please breast-feed.”

When we continue to learn all the amazing benefits of breastmilk, how can we not

• as a country
• as medical workers
• as hospitals
• as women

TRULY support moms in breastfeeding their babies.  A lot of changes need to be made for this to happen, if we start with the hospitals I think changes can be huge.

I read this sad but true look at how hospitals undermine moms attempts to breastfeed. Running a Road Race Without Shoes –

It’s an absurd way to start a marathon. And if you’re a mom who planned to breastfeed and birthed in an American hospital, it also sounds familiar.  Breastfeeding after an American birth is disturbingly similar to running a road race without shoes.