Mums who choose bottle over breastfeeding ‘demonised’

Source: BBC

Click here to read full story.

Date of publication: December 2010

In a nutshell: A senior lecturer discusses some of the implications of a strident “breast is best” policy on the attitudes and behaviour of some mothers.

Publication type: Comment

Length of publication: 1 page

Folllow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Breastfeeding under wraps

Source: The Guardian

Click here to read the news item / commentary.

Date of publication: August 2010

In a nutshell: This item discusses the increasing popularity of clothing designed to cover up breastfeeding.

Publication type: News / Comment

Length of publication: 1 page

UNICEF UK and NHS Choices respond to Norweigan research on hormones and breastfeeding

Source: UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative / NHS Choices

Click here to read full statement.

Click here to see NHS Choices statement.

Date of publication: January 2010

Publication type: New story

In a nutshell: UNICEF and NHS Choices give their responses to recent Norweigan research which suggests that “breast is not best” and that hormones “govern the ability to breastfeed” (see above posts).   Their statements point to gaps in the research methodology and to the large body of evidence from other studies which refute the conclusions of this research.  The advice from both institutions  is that “breast is still best”.

Length of publication: 1 page

Bottle feeding simulates child loss: Postpartum depression and evolutionary medicine – a theory

Source: Medical Hypotheses – ScienceDirect

Medical Hypotheses, printed online 8 Aug 2009 – full citation tba – doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.07.016

Follow this link for abstract.

Date of publication: Aug 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: This article speculates that bottle feeding or procedures which prevent breastfeeding may unintentionally trigger a biological or psychological reaction in the mother that suggests the death of the baby, which could thus lead to depression.

 

Length of publication: 3 pages

Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Breastfeeding saves mothers’ lives

Source: Midwives (EBSCO)

Midwives, 2009, 12 (2), p 46

Follow this link for full text

Date of publication: Apr-May 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: A discussion on the affect of breasfeeding on mothers’ mortality rates in “developing” countries.

Length of publication: 1 page

Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Breastfeeding: a natural phenomenon or a cultural construct?

Source: Chapter in book – Squire, C. (2009) The Social Construct of Birth, 2nd edition. Radcliffe publishing Ltd;  Oxford. pp. 305-317. ISBN 978 1 84619 253 1

Date of publication: 2009

Publication type: Book chapter

In a nutshell: The chapter focuses on the social and cultural influences within the UK that might “help or hinder breastfeeding”, noting that despite many UK women being informed and aware of the health benefits of breastfeeding they tend to choose not to breastfeed or curtail breastfeeding  after a short time.

Length of publication: 13 pages

Please contact your local NHS Library to obtain the book. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.