I had a thought today that I would like to know the answer to. With so much publicized research being done on the properties of breast milk (antimicrobial, stem cell properties, brain development and so on), where is the research into real lactation problems? Where is the safe approved drug to increase milk supply (Metclopramide isn’t really ‘safe’ and Domperidone isn’t really ‘approved’), where are the actual diagnoses for supply problems? Maybe companies would rather head toward synthesizing the properties of breast milk rather than helping to fix bodies to produce it. After all it’s only several hundred thousand women a year, and formula does exist (my tongue is so far into my cheek it might poke through…)
I don’t know. I suspect there is not a satisfactory answer.
So I leave you with this. A short guide to various posts that are intended to be helpful.
I need help:
How to interview a Lactation Consultant
11 things a Lactation Consultant should know how to do (IMO).
I find my tongue tie resources out of date, though you can see my experience here. For better information I would urge joining this Facebook group. They maintain lists of providers and are fairly knowledgeable about what is to be expected. If a provider is not on their list people can often recommend local alternatives (for instance I know of at least 4 laser tongue tie release places in New Zealand now, but none has made the general list. Do see the New Zealand Tongue Tie resources page instead.)
I need to combination feed-how do I do this?
Managing long term
What is causing this?
My most popular post
I think I no longer feel bad, because it isn’t something I did wrong. It’s purely a medical issue. A medical issue that some people would have me believe is my fault. A medical issue I cannot get satisfactory treatment for and that is largely undiagnosed. That makes me mad.
I lie. I still feel bad and somewhat inadequate, but I no longer feel guilt. I do wonder how much of my feeling bad is a normal level for someone suddenly faced with a non-life threatening failure of a body part. Somehow I can’t imagine people feel a mix of loss of gender identity and self loathing after losing a kidney or having a splenectomy. Or losing a finger or a limb. I’m sure there are other mixed feelings but I wonder how often self hatred/loathing/failure is a part of that.
Filed under: Causes and solutions, Combination feeding, Guides, Information and thoughts Tagged: 98% of women can breastfeed, at breast supplementing, bottles and breastfeeding, breast feeding, breastfeeding, breastfeeding help, breastfeeding issues, breastfeeding problems, breastfeeding support, combination feeding, combofeeding, extended breastfeeding, formula feeding, keeping supply when back at work, lactation aid, lactivism, mixing breast and formula, problems, risk factors, SNS
