Canada Breastfeeds News
Canadian Paediatric Society nutrition advice laced
with artificial feeding
The damaging effects of conflict of interest continue to be
evident in statements put out by the Nutrition Committee of the
CPS. Although Dr. Doris Yuen has assumed the position of chairperson,
the lack of conviction that breastfeeding is the normal and optimal
way to feed infants persists. A recent article, in the CPS journal,
Paediatric Child Health, entitled Feeding premature infants after
hospital discharge is one such example. It seems the only options
are commercial premature infant formulas and human milk supplemented
with fortifiers. Although the article aims to outline factors
to consider when prescribing appropriate nutritional supplements
at hospital discharge, no mention is made of the risks or benefits
associated with these choices. Equivalency is assumed, yet for
premature infants this choice can make a significant difference
in health outcomes. Premature infants who are artificially fed
risk increased death, developing necrotising enterocolitis, acute
respiratory disease, lower IQ and increased behavioural and learning
problems as well as increased infectious and autoimmune disease.
Interestingly, no mention is made of the increasingly used
and rediscovered Kangaroo skin-to-skin method of caring for premature
infants. This wonderfully simple care method has repeatedly been
shown to be beneficial to both mother and infant, improves breastfeeding
success, enhances both growth and development and reduces illness
and mortality.
The same journal contained four- full page advertisements
by Mead Johnson. Clearly the CPS does not want to compromise
the hand that feeds it.
From The UK Association for Milk Banking
Although milk banks all but disappeared during the 1980s and
early 1990s–in 1991 the number had dwindled to only six
active banks–today that number ha more than doubled. This
increase reflects a growing awareness of the importance of human
milk for pre-term babies and the need to provide an alternative
source of breastmilk when the mother is unable to provide her
own.
Canada’s action plan
Thanks to the diligent work of Micheline Beaudry, Canada’s
Action Plan for Food Security includes, as a key action, the
promotion and protection of breastfeeding for Canada. “For
the majority of infants, breastfeeding is the most important
guarantee of food security. It ensures a safe, secure and nutritionally
complete food source” the report notes. Further, the report
recommends the implementation of the International Code of Marketing
of Breast-Milk Substitutes, the implementation of the Baby-Friendly
Hospital Initiative and work toward employment conditions that
are supportive of breastfeeding women.
The report also focuses on Canada’s international support
programmes. It notes that the WHO estimates of 1.5 million baby
deaths every year can be averted by adequate breastfeeding, which
plays a “key role” in the nutrition, health and development
of children in developing countries. Action recommended includes
the promotion of the Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes
and the support for international efforts to promote, support
and protect breastfeeding.
Canada’s Action Plan for Food Security,
A Response To The World Food Summit, Agriculture Canada, 1998.
Canada launches the BFHI
Canada’s progress in realizing the Baby-Friendly Hospital
Initiatives has been slow and reluctant, despite the urgings
of those in the breastfeeding community To date there are still
no hospitals designated as Baby-Friendly. Although the initiative
has been in place since 1990 and INFACT Canada has been promoting
the initiative since its inception, it was not until November
1998 that Health Canada and the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada
launched the programme nationally. Now that a number of assessors
have been trained and the programme has been officially launched,
this important initiative can finally be realized for Canadian
mothers and their infants. |
