Oprah is looking for breastfeeding mothers to appear on a future show:

Are You Too Old to Breast-feed?

Are you currently breast-feeding your son or daughter? How old is he or she? Do you wonder what age is appropriate to wean your child? Do you think your family and/or friends feel uncomfortable around you or discussing the topic of breast-feeding?

What is your position on when to wean your child? We want to hear your thoughts.

Please only write-in if you are willing to appear on television.

“Are you too old to breastfeed?” Why no, I don’t think I’m too old to breastfeed — I’m only 37! Just teasing, Oprah. I know what you mean. I am a little nervous though. It seems the topic of extended breastfeeding was not handled well by Tyra Banks on her show. I am trusting you to do your homework before airing a show on the topic of extended breastfeeding. Here are some resources for you:

How Long Should I Nurse My Baby? and A Natural Age of Weaning by Katherine Dettwyler, Ph.D.
Extended Breastfeeding (Beyond One Year), links compiled by La Leche League International
Nursing after the First Year, a collection of articles at Kellymom.com
my own thoughts on extended breastfeeding and weaning

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In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) I bring you some important information on breast cancer:

If you are breastfeeding and scheduled for a breast biopsy, you could participate in a groundbreaking research study. Tanya at the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog explains how “when you make milk, cells from your milk ducts are exfoliated off in the process. These are called epithelial cells, and they’re detectable in your milk. Past research has demonstrated that long before we notice a lump, those epithelial cells start changing in ways that are precursors to the development of breast cancer.” If you participate in the study at no cost to you, your milk sample could help in the development of a non-invasive means of determining breast cancer risk through breast milk.

Boob Maternity and Nursing sells a “Boob Think Pink” nursing top for CDN $65 at Milkface.com. Three Euros from the sale of each tee goes toward breast cancer research.

Breastfeeding 1-2-3 features several articles on breastfeeding and breast cancer:

Leaking Breast Milk after Surgery for Breast Abscess or Lumpectomy
Breast Self-Exams in Lactating Women
Video Demonstration of Breast Self-Exam
Promising Anti-Cancer Powers of Breast Milk
Breast Cancer Testing: X-rays, Mammograms, Ultrasounds, Cat Scans
Breastfeeding after Chemotherapy, Radiation and Lumpectomy
Breastfeeding Reduces Cancer Risk
One-Sided Nursing with Full Supply

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Over 2,000 mothers were studied from the third trimester of pregnancy through the first year of their infants’ lives. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveyed the mothers about their infant feeding practices. Results from this Infant Feeding Practices Study II will be available publicly from the CDC at the end of 2008, but in the meantime the American Academy of Pediatrics reports:

Among the study findings were that one-fourth of mothers do not place their child on their backs to sleep, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and 34 percent regularly co-slept with their infants. In addition, only 8 percent of mothers experienced six baby-friendly hospital practices that encourage and assist mothers with breastfeeding. The more of these practices experienced, the greater the likelihood that mothers would breastfeed for six weeks or longer. Pertaining to food practices, nearly all mothers who fed their infants formula used an iron-fortified product, and more than 20 percent of infants had a food-related health problem, including 6 percent with allergies.

It is not at all surprising to me that mothers are not receiving proper encouragement and assistance in hospitals for breastfeeding. Those findings are consistent with the 2007 CDC National Survey of Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care, which found that 70 percent of birth facilities continue to undermine breastfeeding by marketing formula to new mothers.

Those findings are also consistent with my experience when I prepared to give birth this past July. I researched Baby-Friendly Hospitals and did not find any in my area. When I examined the breastfeeding rates in the hospitals near me, they were disappointingly low. I was glad to have a home birth and a successful start to breastfeeding.

Hopefully the results of the Infant Feeding Practices Study II will inspire additional practice-specific research and lead to greater support for breastfeeding.

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Time for this year’s round-up of breastfeeding calendars! You can have your 2009 calendar shopping make a difference for mothers and babies around the world by purchasing one of the following calendars:

Check out the 12 full-color pictures from the IBFAN Breastfeeding Calendar 2009. The calendar is available from Baby Milk Action for 7, 6 if ordering 10 or more. Add 2 per calendar for shipping and handling outside the United Kingdom (although you might be able to order a calendar from your national International Baby Food Action Netork group). The 2008 Calendar is also available for 3.

The 2009 Australian Breastfeeding Association Calendar features 16 breastfeeding pictures selected from thousands of submissions. It sells for AUD $15 plus postage.

The 2009 Mothering magazine calendar features a variety of photos and includes resources on breastfeeding and other helpful topics. It sells for U.S. $18.95.

You can watch the slideshow of the breastfeeding images from the 2009 Sonoma County Breastfeeding Calendar. The calendar is due out in November.

The New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force held a contest for pictures for its 2009 Breastfeeding Calendar. Watch the task force home page for announcement of the 2009 release. The 2008 version is still for sale.

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Are you participating in the Nestle-Free Week today, October 4, 2008? For more on the why and how of the Nestle Boycott and Nestle-Free Week in particular, visit Baby Milk Action’s Nestle-Free Week planning page.

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