Abstract
The number of mothers initiating breastfeeding has increased dramatically over the last decade but the percentage of mothers who terminate breastfeeding prematurely has remained constant. When mothers experience difficulty with breastfeeding, many physicians fail to diagnose and manage the problem effectively. Some physicians assume that mothers dislike breastfeeding and, in a misguided attempt to help, recommend the introduction of a bottle to solve the problem. They do not explain to the mother how the delicate symbiotic relationship of the nursing dyad may be upset by bottle feeding, and how a downward cascade to premature weaning may begin. Bottle feeding is a specific therapy for breastfeeding difficulties. If, after careful consideration, it is the therapy of choice, then the physician must give full and accurate information to the mother about the possible health hazards and consequences of introducing bottle feeds. Then the mother can make an informed decision about when to introduce a bottle, what to put in it, which nipple to use, and what the outcome might be. The physician should support the mother in whatever informed decision she makes. The author of this article reviews the issues of introducing bottle feeding and informed consent.
Keywords: breastfeeding, bottle feeding, informed consent
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Addy D. P. Infant feeding: a current view. Br Med J. 1976 May 22;1(6020):1268–1271. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6020.1268. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Beske E. J., Garvis M. S. Important factors in breast-feeding success. MCN Am J Matern Child Nurs. 1982 May-Jun;7(3):174–179. doi: 10.1097/00005721-198205000-00017. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Clark L. L., Beal V. A. Prevalence and duration of breast-feeding in Manitoba. Can Med Assoc J. 1982 May 15;126(10):1173–1175. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ellis D. J., Hewat R. J. Breast-feeding: motivation and outcome. J Biosoc Sci. 1984 Jan;16(1):81–88. doi: 10.1017/s0021932000014814. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Goodine L. A., Fried P. A. Infant feeding practices: pre- and postnatal factors affecting choice of method and the duration of breastfeeding. Can J Public Health. 1984 Nov-Dec;75(6):439–444. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gray-Donald K., Kramer M. S., Munday S., Leduc D. G. Effect of formula supplementation in the hospital on the duration of breast-feeding: a controlled clinical trial. Pediatrics. 1985 Mar;75(3):514–518. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hayden G. F., Nowacek G. A., Koch W., Kattwinkel J. Providing free samples of baby items to newly delivered parents. An unintentional endorsement? Clin Pediatr (Phila) 1987 Mar;26(3):111–115. doi: 10.1177/000992288702600301. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lynch S. A., Koch A. M., Hislop T. G., Coldman A. J. Evaluating the effect of a breastfeeding consultant on the duration of breastfeeding. Can J Public Health. 1986 May-Jun;77(3):190–195. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Persson L. A. Multivariate approaches to the analysis of breast-feeding habits. Bull World Health Organ. 1985;63(6):1129–1136. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Woolridge M. W. The 'anatomy' of infant sucking. Midwifery. 1986 Dec;2(4):164–171. doi: 10.1016/s0266-6138(86)80041-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]