They said what?!

It's amazing how the information that's available differs so drastically, depending on who you talk to.  Nursing in public tends to bring up conversation freely and lately, I've spoken with some moms and moms-to-be about breastfeeding. I am absolutely floored about the things that they have heard from others, read about and even what their pediatrian or OB has told them.  Now I do not claim to know all about bf by any means, but I do research using breastfeeding friendly sites (not endorsed by formula companies), La Leche League recommended books, attend support groups and educational classes, etc. I recently met a mother that is currently pregnant again. She is still nursing her 1 yr old and wants to continue throughout her pregnancy, but her doctor said because she's pregnant she should wean her nursling due to the dangers it posseses to her unborn baby.  Wow.  She was obviously upset by this and I suggested that she attend a local La Leche League Support Group and gave her the info for the one I attend.  I mentioned that tandem nursing is very normal and told her to check out kellymom.com and to get a different opinion.  I do not know this moms history, but if she has a healthy pregnancy, she shouldn't have to stop nursing.  It baffles me the things that OB's tell their clients.  When a gorilla or chimp gets pregnant and they have a nursling, do they tell their nursling "oh, no honey.  No more milk for you," before they are ready? No.  Those babies typically nurse to five - seven years of age!  The contractions that a pregnant woman in a healthy pregnancy may experience while nursing are the SAME contractions that she would experience as she would during sex. Unless there's is no bleeding, weightloss or signs of preterm labor, nurse on!
Another mom made mention that her OB told her that her milk wasn't enough and she needed to supplement with formula.  Now, I'm not against formula supplementing if their are true issues, like glandular or you had your breasts removed, severe difficulties with low supply, etc.  However, these are rare cases and not the norm.  The norm is that a bf mom can nurse her baby just fine without any additional assistance.  But it seems that its the other way around, and that's a problem.  Too many moms are not being supported by their pediatricians to continue to bf but offer alternatives, i.e formula, instead.  They give their reason and then offer a sample can of formula!  This doctor is clearly not breastfeeding friendly - run quickly.  I don't understand the mindset other than they receive perks, just as some doctors do for prescribing certain medications.  If a mom does formula, it's almost a gaurentee that she isn't told that if she mixes formula with her breastmilk in the same bottle, she is essentially killing her breastmilk and it was basically pointless.  The proper way to supplement is to give the breastmilk in either nursing session or in it's own bottle THEN give the formula.  Why?  Breastmilk is alive and formula isn't.  Simple as that. The problem of forced supplementing can start as early as your baby's birth during your hospital stay.  A mom told me that she had her heart on exclusively bfing, but the nurses forced her to give formula because the baby was "hungry".  I'm sorry. This nurse needs to have her license revoked or moved out of the nursery.  Is she aware that aa mothers milk doesn't come in for three to seven days and that the baby during this time needs only the colostrum that mom provides being that his stomach is around the size of a quarter? Best for Babes Foundation calls these situations "Booby Traps" that stand in the way of moms everywhere to have a successful breastfeeding experience.  We need to give moms the knowledge and power to stand up against these traps and to know that they are doing what's best for their babies.  If formula supplementing is what's best, that's fine, too.  But if a mom knows that she is capable of having an enjoyable bf relationship that helps her baby to thrive and creates a beautiful bond, show her support to make that happen.  It's more than a desire for most moms, it's a need.  It breaks my heart everytime I hear a mom say "I wanted to breastfeed longer, but we just couldn't." with their reasons ranging from low supply, being too painful, but the biggest one was they didn't have support from their loved ones or physicians.  Attend support groups, find other moms who have been successful, and educate yourself.