Las Cruces Sun-News August 3, 2011 Section: Lifestyle Article ID: 18604178 Moms need support for breastfeeding success LAS CRUCES - When she started breastfeeding her baby, (insert name here) found it more challenging than she ever anticipated. Renee Beltran's name fits in that blank. So does Alfa Huerta's. They are not alone. According to the latest data and interpretations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most American mothers want to breastfeed their babies, and they try it. But low breastfeeding rates at three, six and 12 months show that U.S. mothers encounter plenty of obstacles. Those difficulties, combined with increasing awareness of the profound health benefits of breast milk, can lead to compounding stress for mothers. "It's a lot of pressure," said Beltran, a mother of three and a leader for the local chapter of La Leche League, an organization that offers breastfeeding support and education. "Knowing it's the best thing, but not knowing how hard it can be." Aug. 1 to 7 is World Breastfeeding Week, but women such as Beltran, who work on the front lines of breastfeeding awareness, education and support, seem to be making progress in the Land of Enchantment year-round. New Mexico's statistics in the latest CDC report compare favorably to many states. Healthy People 2010, a set of science-based, 10-year objectives designed to promote national health, lists five breastfeeding benchmark goals. New Mexico met those goals in three of the five categories. The other two goals are each a percentage point or less away from being achieved. Still, the CDC reports that American mothers might not be getting the breastfeeding support they need. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants breastfeed for at least a year (it could go on as long as baby and mother desire). Local experts agree that education and support are critical for mothers who want to breastfeed their children following those guidelines. There are plenty of local resources for education and support, if you know where to look. Marisol Kearney knows firsthand. She was unable to breastfeed her first child. Before she had her second baby, Kearney got help from a local counselor. "It was just so encouraging that there was someone I could talk to and trust," said Kearney, who turned that experience into a breastfeeding counselor position for WIC. Beltran said there are two common problems mothers have when they initially start breastfeeding: Pain and short supply. She said proper breastfeeding should never result in extreme pain for the mother. Beltran described the sensation as "discomfort." She added that there are, "very few instances when a low supply can't be managed or boosted." Dealing with these problems, plus the intense life changes a new baby brings, not to mention sleep deprivation, can grind on the mother's will. "They get worn down by it," Beltran said. "People around them have to be supportive." Beltran said she encounters a lot of women who give up on breastfeeding because it hurts or because they think the baby isn't receiving enough milk. Huerta's challenge was pain. Now three months old, her son Matthew was nursing for an hour. "I struggled a lot," she said. After learning how do deal with the biggest obstacle (inverted nipples), Huerta found her comfort zone. She nurses Matthew when she's home and pumps at work. WIC has pumps available, and there are several independent local women who rent hospital-grade pumps. "He prefers it from the tap," she said. Jackie Hall is pregnant with her first child. She sought information because she wanted to breastfeed and didn't have family around with useful advice. Hall said her mom didn't breastfeed and her aunts had difficult experiences. "It's really common for women today to say, 'I've never seen anyone breastfeed,'" Beltran said. "We have a motto of mother-to-mother support." Employer support is also critical. New Mexico is one of 16 states with legislation mandating employer lactation support, according to the CDC report. Sheryl Barham, a local teacher, and mother to Avelyn, who is five months old, said her boss has been very supportive. She took extended leave and will be part-time when she returns to work. "We all just do the best we can in any given situation," Beltran said. "We know that breastfeeding is best, but we all come from different life situations." James Staley can be reached at (575) 541-5476 On the web: Aprendamos Intervention Team - www.aitkids.com International Lactation Consultant Association - www.ilca.org La Leche League - www.lalecheleague.org New Mexico Women, Infants and Children - nmwic.org Local resources: Aprendamos Intervention Team A privately-owned organization started by a team of therapists, Aprendamos Intervention Team aims to help families of children with a variety of developmental delays, or risk of delay. As it pertains to breastfeeding, the organization helps children that face nursing obstacles because of the delays. La Leche League The local branch of this international organization offers meetings and consultations for mothers and expectant mothers. There are two meeting per month, conducted by experienced mothers who have not only breastfed, but are also trained and accredited. The first meeting is at NMSU's Family Resource Center at 10 a.m. The other is at a private residence, at 6:30 p.m., for working mothers. New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force Formed in 1988, the task force is a coalition working toward the goal of increasing the frequency and duration of breastfeeding in New Mexico. It includes medical professionals, employees of state agencies, members of breastfeeding organizations and concerned citizens. New Mexico Women, Infants and Children A federal program that provides supplemental food for women, infants and children, WIC also has multiple resources to aid breastfeeding. It offers peer counselors, breast pumps, group discussions and a variety of media (pamphlets, books, DVDs). text4baby Women can sign up for the service by texting baby (or bebe for Spanish) to 511411. The text4baby program is a service of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. Pregnant women and mothers will receive three free text messages each week timed to their due date or baby's date of birth. The messages are ad-free and focus on a variety of topics, including breastfeeding. New Mexico law Section 28-20-1: Right to breastfeed: "A mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be present." Section 28-20-2: Use of a breast pump in the workplace: "In order to foster the ability of a nursing mother who is an employee to use a breast pump in the workplace, an employer, including the state and its political subdivisions, shall provide: 1) a space for using the breast pump that is: clean and private; near the employee's workspace; and not a bathroom 2) flexible break time An employer shall not be liable for: 1) storage or refrigeration of breast milk; 2) payment for a nursing mother's break time in additon to established employee breaks; 3) payment of overtime while a nursing mother is using a breast pump. Source: New Mexico Statutes Annotated 1978, accessed via laws.com Benefits of breastfeeding For baby Protects against infection Reduces incidents of diarrhea Enhances vaccine response Associated with lower incidence of RSV Protective against SIDS Higher IQ Enhanced social development Increased dental health Lower risk of diabetes and cancer For mother Delays fertility Decreases risk of many cancers, including breast and ovarian Decreases odds of osteroporosis Promotes postpartum weight loss For society Improved vaccine effectiveness Financial savings to governments and families Decreased medical expenses More ecological — Source: Dr. Jon Ahrendsen, via breastfeeding.com Copyright (c) 2011 Las Cruces Sun-News, a MediaNews Group Newspaper. |