LLLI's Response to AAP SIDS
Recommendations
La Leche League
International
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: 847-519-7730: Mary Lofton ,
MLofton@llli.org, ext. 271; Mary Hurt , MHurt@llli.org, ext.
286, or Katy Lebbing ,
KLebbing@llli.org, ext. 245.
Schaumburg, IL (October 2005) La Leche League International (LLLI)
is concerned about the October
10, 2005 policy statement on Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) issued by the American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) Task Force on SIDS. The recommendations
about
pacifiers and cosleeping in the statement reflect a lack of
basic understanding about
breastfeeding management.
Pacifiers, which are recommended in this policy statement, are
artificial substitutes for what the breast does naturally.
Breastfed babies often nurse to sleep
for naps and bedtime. The recommended
pacifier usage could cause a reduction in milk supply due to
reduced stimulation of the breasts and may affect breastfeeding
duration.
LLLI recognizes that safe cosleeping facilitates breastfeeding.
One important way cosleeping can help
a mother's milk supply is by
encouraging regular and frequent feeding. Well-known research on
safe cosleeping practices by Dr. James
McKenna, Director of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory
at Notre Dame University was
disregarded by the task force.
Also, the obvious omission of input by the AAP's Section on
Breastfeeding may account for the fact that breastfeeding
management issues were not taken into
consideration. Dr. Nancy Wight, President
of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine , comments that
this statement "represents a truly astounding triumph of
ethnocentric assumptions over common
sense and medical research." Dr. Wight also
states, "There are many physician members of the AAP who
do not agree with these
recommendations."
Although the authors do state that breastfeeding is beneficial
and should be promoted, their recommendations about pacifier use
and cosleeping could have a negative
impact on a mother's efforts to
breastfeed. The statement causes confusion for parents and falls
seriously short of being a useful and comprehensive policy.
LLLI, a non-profit organization that helps mothers learn about
breastfeeding, has an international Professional Advisory
Board. The LLLI Center for
Breastfeeding Information is one of the world's
largest libraries of information on breastfeeding, human
lactation, and related topics. Monthly meetings are offered to
pregnant women and nursing mothers and
babies to learn about breastfeeding
management. To find local groups call 800 LA LECHE or visit
www.lalecheleague.org.
