#bfcafe

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[fuckyeahbreastfeedingscienc-blog]

http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/1897.html

[fuckyeahbreastfeedingscienc-blog]

Awesome as fuck organisations that support breastfeeding - La Leche league international

La leche league is basically the organisation that started breastfeeding peer support around the world. LLLI has been operating in various forms around the world since 19-fucking-56. When the organisation first started, breastfeeding rates in the US were as low as almost 20%.

LLLI "leaders" are trained in supporting breastfeeding mothers and are mothers who have breastfed their own babies.

They provide peer support at meetings, as well as phone and email support. There is currently a LLLI presence in over 65 countries.

So a big old FUCK YEAH to all LLLI leaders past and present for the rad work you've done to support breastfeeding.

P.S - LLLI declined a request from breastfeeding Dad Trevor in 2012. Trevor is a transman who birthed and breastfed his baby, with support from LLLI volunteers. Trevor wanted to pay it forward by training to be a LLLI leader, but his request was declined because he does not identify as a mother. Not fuckin good enough. LLLI said that they would review their decision, but it has been over 12 months with no word. LLLI, you've done fucking amazing work, so please stop being dicks about this.

[fuckyeahbreastfeedingscienc-blog]

[fuckyeahbreastfeedingscienc-blog]

FUCKING LEGENDS of breastfeeding science - Dr Tom Hale, PhD

Dr Tom Hale is a fucking legend.

The amount of mums who get told that they need to stop breastfeeding when they are taking medications is fucking astounding. In almost all of these cases, it's completely unnecessary for mums to stop breastfeeding. There are very very few medications that are not compatible with breastfeeding, and for most that aren't there's a safe alternative.

What's really fucked up, is that the information sheet inside most medications, including over the counter medications, warns against using them while breastfeeding. For the most part, this is a mixture of breastfeeding being bundled in to the same risk category as pregnancy (the drug entry into human milk is completely different than crossing the placenta so this is completely inappropriate) and drug companies being scared of litigation, and being overly cautious.

Enter Dr Tom Motherfucking-legend Hale.

Dr Tom is the executive director of the infant risk centre in Texas, USA. The purpose of the infant risk centre is to provide evidence based information to parents and health professionals on the risk level of different medications and other environmental chemicals during pregnancy and lactation. You know, actually giving people the information that they need to make informed choices. FUCK YES. 

But what's that I hear you say? You wish that all pharmacists and health professionals knew all of the cool shit about medication and mothers milk that Dr Tom Hale does? Well, he's got you covered there as well. "Medication and mothers milk" is the name of a book by Dr Tom that is reviewed every few years and is the fucking raddest book around about what is and isn't safe for use during breastfeeding. If you ever get advice from a health professional about medication that sounds a bit dodgy, as them to check this book.

But they don't have Dr Toms rad book? Well, it's a good thing that Dr Tom has an app. Fuck yes, an app to let you have up to date information at your fingertips about medications and breastfeeding.

Thanks Dr Tom, you are a true fucking legend.

[fuckyeahbreastfeedingscienc-blog]

FUCK YEAH, PARTNER SUPPORT FOR BREASTFEEDING

Are you a partner or support person to someone breastfeeding their baby? Don't know how you can have input to breastfeeding if you don't have lactating breasts?

Guess what? SCIENCE says you're really fucking important to the breastfeeding process.

A recently published study called "Maternal perceptions of partner support during breastfeeding" spoke to breastfeeding women, and asked about their perception of how much their partner supported breastfeeding.

The study showed that women who have partners who are active and supportive rate higher in breastfeeding self efficacy (how confident they are) and rate higher in breastfeeding commitment and satisfaction.

YES. Breastfeeding support people out there, this is a big FUCK YEAH to you, because your support improves how satisfied your partner is with breastfeeding. 

Suggestions for partners to support breastfeeding - 

Attend breastfeeding education

Get information about how breastfeeding works

Speak to your partner about what their breastfeeding goals are

Advocate for what your partner wants with health professionals if your partner is unable to

Let your partner know that they are doing a great job

Offer encouragement and support

Take photos of your partner breastfeeding if they want them

Help your partner with night feeds by bringing baby to them to breastfeed

Offer a massage during or after a breastfeed

Help your partner to build a network of support people for breastfeeding

[fuckyeahbreastfeedingscienc-blog]

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