BT Calgary Blogs

I soooo felt for this mom, and all moms, who feel terrible if they aren’t able to breastfeed. Of course, it’s best, but if it just isn’t working, it’s time to let go and move on! I was able to breast feed my daughter but I knew so many moms who were not able to do so and felt like failures. I don’t believe this is a healthy mindstate for any mom, and by proxy for any baby. This story shows, hey, get a back up plan ready to go. So if you find in the middle of the night after lots of trying and seeking lots of help from the lactation consultants and breast feeding just isn’t happening, you have the best formula for your baby, and you and the little one can relax.

Here’s the story.

Melissa Parsons had her baby Maiya two months ago. She just assumed she’d breast feed her, and didn’t really have any other feeding plan.

“I wasn’t really thinking about feeding her, I was thinking about buying a crib, diapering her and basically the labour.”

And according to a recent survey, Parsons isn’t alone. Just 20 percent of new moms reported being concerned about what to feed their babies.
But pediatrician, Doctor Peter Nieman says it’s important to think ahead.

“I tell my patients when you’re drowning, it’s too late for swimming lessons.  So the point here is just have a plan, be prepared.”

Because the poll also showed says Nieman, “fifty percent of moms plan to exclusively breast feed according to the Leger poll, but interestingly enough, out of that 50 percent 4 out of 10 ended up using formula.”

So if breast feeding simply isn’t working for you -like Doctor Nieman says, have a back up plan ready to go. Make sure you have some formula on hand and make sure you know which one to choose because there are a lot of options.
While health professionals agree, the breast is best, if you must use formula, Doctor Nieman recommends looking for 4 things.

“Firstly, if the formula contains probiotics, secondly a really good protein, for example a whey protein in contrast to cow’s milk protein, also a formula that will reduce allergies and lastly the addition of omega 3s and 6s, these are essentially fatty acids that help with the baby’s brain development, eye development and helps the immune system by reducing the risk of allergies.”

Parsons tried to breast feed Maiya for a month – but it just wasn’t working.

“Basically she just had trouble latching on and after some help from people as well we still had problems.”

And Parsons was at a loss. She says, “I didn’t know what to do by that point really, because you think you need to breast feed, but she was crying and hungry.”

This is why Doctor Nieman stresses the back up plan.

“For many moms choosing the right formula is very tough, very difficult, the labels are confusing.”

After discussions with her doctor, Parsons eventually got Maiya on a good formula – and now all is well.

“She’s very happy, she’s gaining weight like nobody’s business, she’s really happy, we’re both really happy.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

- visit Doctor Nieman’s website -

http://healthykids.ca/