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AIBU?

To object to magazine - anti breastfeeding?

44 replies

gemma4d · 28/08/2011 13:35

Read this and had to read it again - am I sleepdeprived or is this really anti-breastfeeding?

Jaundice, a yellowy tinge, is quite normal at 3-10 days of life because of a build up of waste products and am immature liver. It's very common in breastfed babies, causing floppiness, a change in crying and fits.

OP posts:

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VeronicaCake · 28/08/2011 13:38

It isn't anti-breastfeeding, it is just very badly written and only contains inadequate information. It would be better to say jaundice is common and benign. If it persists it may need treatment. Physiological jaundice affects babies regardless of feeding method. Breastfeeding jaundice is a poorly understood phenomenon where jaundice persists a bit longer than usual. But it is usually benign too and stopping breastfeeding is not necessary or appropriate.

bubblesincoffee · 28/08/2011 13:39

It depends on the rest of the article, but in itself, it's not anti breastfeeding. It's a fact. As long as that fact is balanced by saying that this is common, and completely normal so that mums can get reassurance if this happens, and that bf'ing is still best, it's fine.

squeakytoy · 28/08/2011 13:42

It isnt anti anything. It is just factual and informative and probably aimed at stopping new mums from panicking.

faverolles · 28/08/2011 13:48

Actually, I don't think it is that factual. Jaundice in breastfed babies can last a lot longer than 10 days, and if I had read that after dd or ds3 were born, I would be panicking.
Jaundice is considered normal in newborns, and (according to my MW anyway) is far more common in breastfed babies because milk takes a few days to come in. It can take up to 6 weeks to disappear completely.
If the jaundice is because of a physiological problem, it doesn't make any difference if the baby is bf or ff.

StewieGriffinsMom · 28/08/2011 13:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gemma4d · 28/08/2011 14:16

The way I read it, it says fits are common in breastfed babies (implying not in ff babies) because of jaundice - but I can see their are other ways of reading it.

OP posts:

WidowWadman · 28/08/2011 14:34

Instead of "causing" they should have written "can cause" but other than that it is factual, not anti-breastfeeding. Or do you think that the fact that breastfed babies are more likely to develop jaundice or have it for longer be hushed up, so that the "breast is best" message doesn't get disturbed?

I'm all for promoting breastfeeding, but it shouldn't include lying or withholding information.

DogsBestFriend · 28/08/2011 14:39

It isn't anti anything.

I chose to formula feed both my children. The elder was perfectly fine, the younger had jaundice for a couple of days after her birth.

Make of that what you will.

faverolles · 28/08/2011 14:39

I thought fits connected to jaundice were the more severe form that affects bf and ff babies.
Sounds to me like they've crossed wires somehow and not been clear about what they mean.
The sort of jaundice commonly found in breastfed babies is harmless. It needs to be monitored, to make sure the baby is feeding enough. (or am I misinformed?)

joric · 28/08/2011 14:44

OP- too sensitive ...'Anti breastfeeding' no... You are being precious.

grubbalo · 28/08/2011 14:59

Agree with the others, it's badly written but I don't think it's anti breastfeeding. When DS1 was born the (lovely) midwife who really got bf established between me and my son said to me that I should fully expect him to get jaundice as breastfed babies delivered via ventouse are prime candidates to get it. The bit that's particularly stupid in the article you've quoted above is to then imply jaundice is something to desperately worry about - whereas in the majority of cases it really isn't. I would suggest a much longer, more useful paragraph has been summarised into a short sentence which doesn't explain things properly.

milkmilklemonade · 28/08/2011 15:42

Yes you are and a bit precious and delicate. Not everyone wants to, likes it or thinks it is the be all and end bloody all

joric · 28/08/2011 15:48

:o @ milklemonade!!

faverolles · 28/08/2011 15:50

Erm, milk, did you read the op?
She was asking about the wording in an article, not waxing lyrical about breastfeeding.

joric · 28/08/2011 15:54

Faver- no, OP asked if the article was anti- breastfeeding ... No talk about wording being bad in OP.

joric · 28/08/2011 15:58

And OP's tone was... 'OMG!!! Scandal!! This could be taken as anti- breastfeeding !!!'
So what if it was? There's plenty of Anti-FF rubbish out there.

BTW, I BF until DD was nearly 3

cat64 · 28/08/2011 16:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BumWiper · 28/08/2011 16:09

Seriously?This bothers you?
Theres nothing anti-breastfeeding in that snippet.Likely to make new mums panic over jaundice?Yes.Anti-breastfeeding?No.

faverolles · 28/08/2011 16:10

Fair enough joric, I just couldn't work out what the op had said to merit this reply "Not everyone wants to, likes it or thinks it is the be all and end bloody all"

SoupDragon · 28/08/2011 16:12

"And OP's tone was... 'OMG!!! Scandal!! This could be taken as anti- breastfeeding !!!'"

Really? Where? lease point it out because I can't see a single explanation mark or inference of scandal, just a question.

BimboNo5 · 28/08/2011 16:13

Why does everyone look for snipes regarding breastfeeding that just aren't there? Bit like the women who 'challenge those staring at them' when they breastfeed in public when they are just people who happen to have eyes that glance in their direction!

BumWiper · 28/08/2011 16:15

Peers into computer screen daring anyone to object to her feeding The Baby whilst MN'ing

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SoupDragon · 28/08/2011 16:16

it's very common in breastfed babies, causing floppiness, a change in crying and fits.

The italicised bit is where it is badly worded. It should have been split off separately to the comment about breastfeeding because it is not limited to breastfed jaundice but applies to all jaundice. Also jaundice does not cause those symptoms, it may cause some, all or none of them. DS2 had breastfed jaundice and the only symptom was the fact that he looked like Tango Man.

It is not anti breastfeeding but it is very badly written and gives false information.

SoupDragon · 28/08/2011 16:18

Bimbo, probably for the same reason people see snipes about formula which are not there and challenge people for staring at them bottle feeding/judging when they just happen to be looking that way.

BumWiper · 28/08/2011 16:21

If people are looking at my boobs then I need to wear a warning.

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