Best for Babes

By Elita of Blacktating.com; for the Best for Babes Foundation ©2010

This was an amazing week for Best for Babes, as we found out Tuesday that we won a $20,000 donation from Chase, thanks to all of you who voted in the contest on Facebook!  We are so grateful and want to thank you for all you’ve done for the Mother of All Causes.

Thanks to Tanya at the Motherwear Blog for uncovering even more good news in the Health Care Reform bill related to breastfeeding. Apparently buried in those new regulations is the requirement that insurance reimburse for preventive health services, including breastfeeding education & evaluations, both in hospital and outpatient settings. No one is still sure when this all goes into effect or what exactly it means for moms, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted!

Photo courtesy of The Faster Times

Here’s to the adoptive parents who educated their pediatrician on the importance of human milk and the availability of donor milk through milk banks. Dr. Jack Maypole’s excellent article highlights how he was able to write a prescription for breast milk for the family, the history, availability and safety of human milk. The article points out that we only have a handful of milk banks in the US, while Brazil has about 180. We’re getting better, though: the Mother’s Milk Bank of New England opened this week in Massachusetts.

Whoever said one person can’t make a difference never met Amanda Mack! After receiving a “breastfeeding support bag” from a formula company after the birth of her second baby, Amanda decided to contact all of the companies she knew that truly supported nursing moms and asked them to donate products for a real support bag to hand out at her local hospital. With that, the Laramie Breastfeeding Bag project was born! Amanda has been able to provide 125 bags so far. Interested in creating a bag for your local hospital? Check out the Laramie Breastfeeding Bag project’s Facebook page for details how.

As a mom who worked and pumped, I could so relate to the article This Sucks: Breast Pumping at Work. This is the perfect example of how far we still have to come in this country and why family-friendly policies like paid leave, babies at work programs, on-site day care and protection for moms who are pumping at work are so important.

I’d also like to shine the Blog Spotlight on Anne of Dou-la-la this week for her insightful post on the difference between “can’t” and “won’t” when it comes to breastfeeding. We wish that every mom had the support to meet her breastfeeding goals, but we also wish that moms who didn’t choose to breastfeed felt comfortable enough to be honest about their decision, without worrying they’d be judged for their decisions.

And finally, now that summer is here, we want to remind you of the importance of soaking up some sun so you can make adequate levels of Vitamin D for both yourself and your nursling! It’s particularly important to make sure your Vitamin D levels are adequate if you are a woman of color or live in a northern climate where you go months without a lot of sunshine.

The Best for Babes Foundation is releasing a provocative new breastfeeding ad in a special Pregnancy & Wellness Report to be inserted in USA Today on June 25th in the greater metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.  The Best for Babes Foundation was established in 2007 to fight the barriers to breastfeeding, and to give breastfeeding a makeover by using mainstream marketing and branding.

According to the ad, the real miracle isn’t the bra, but mothers, and their ability to make milk for their own and others’ babies.  Best for Babes urges parents to get the right support to navigate the “Booby Traps“-the cultural and institutional barriers that keep mothers from making informed feeding decisions and carrying them out.  “Most moms want to breastfeed, and don’t realize how they are being undermined by the very institutions that should be helping them.  Whether they breastfeed for 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years or not at all, they deserve to achieve their personal goals.   We’re clearing through the information clutter-much of it misleading-and are showing them how to succeed and who they can trust, much like a personal trainer or nutritionist would for someone who wants to get fit,” says Best for Babes Co-Founder Bettina Forbes.   

The ad, which is part of a series of arresting visuals,  is the first of its kind that aims to raise awareness of the “WHO-Code“-the World Health Organization’s International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and direct parents to hospitals, doctors, employers and resources that are WHO-Code compliant.   “Most parents don’t know that the WHO-Code was created to protect parent’s right to make an informed feeding decision at one of the most vulnerable and precious times of their lives-the birth of a child,   explains Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC and a leading expert on WHO-Code compliance.   “The aggressive marketing of artificial human milk substitutes has been shown to undermine breastfeeding intention and success, and parents should be careful about where they turn for breastfeeding support.” The ad also acknowledges breastfeeding industry companies such as Evenflo, Numom Nutrition, 60 Second Parent, Pumpease, My Baby Experts, Earth Mama Angel Baby, My Milkies, and Be Nice that are WHO-Code compliant and support Best for Babes’ mission to beat the “Booby Traps” and change the cultural perception of breastfeeding.

Unlike government and state breastfeeding campaigns that have come under fire for using scare tactics,  unappealing visuals, or making moms feel judged or guilty, the Best for Babes ad campaign is eye-catching, fun, and designed to cheer on, coach and celebrate moms.  “We want moms to have an awesome, empowering breastfeeding experience, ” says Best for Babes Co-Founder Danielle Rigg.  “All parents want what’s best for their babies.  They deserve support and resources, and those who can’t breastfeed deserve access to the next best substitute:  pasteurized, screened human milk from a registered donor milk bank.”  The six-figure ad campaign was created pro-bono by Frank About Women, a leading marketing-to-women communications group.  It has been positively received for bringing levity and a fresh approach to a persistent public health problem. Best for Babes aims to raise funds to continue the series on billboards and bus stations.   The USA Today Pregnancy & Wellness Report, produced by Media Planet, will reach 2.2 million readers in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York; will be distributed to ob/gyn offices and physicians through the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, will be carried in all Destination Maternity stores, distributed at March of Dimes events, will be circulated to 25,000 members of the United States Breastfeeding Committee and all member organizations, and all physician members of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. 

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The Best for Babes Foundation, a non-profit 501c3, was established in 2007 to give breastfeeding a makeover by using mainstream marketing and branding to inspire, prepare and empower moms, and to raise awareness of and fight the barriers that keep moms from achieving their personal breastfeeding goals, despite their best intentions.  The Best for Babes Web site offers breastfeeding inspiration, help for moms who don’t want to breastfeed, a ground-breaking checklist for expectant moms, important information about navigating the “booby traps,” as well as opportunities to become involved and donate.

For more information about the ad or Best for Babes, visit http://www.bestforbabes.org.

Actress Alysia Reiner & Best for Babes' New Champion for Moms!

Actress Alysia Reiner  has inspired viewers with her film, tv and stage roles, including the films Sideways (for which she won a SAG award), and The Vicious Kind;  guest appearances on 30 Rock, Law and Order (CI) and the Sopranos and numerous award-winning plays.  Alysia is currently appearing in numerous film festivals with SPEED GRIEVING a short film she created, produced and stars in.   

We were thrilled that Alysia approached us to help our cause; she is incredibly warm, grounded, and passionate about her craft and about helping mothers succeed.   She is constantly looking for ways to help us raise awareness and beat the “Booby Traps”.  We are proud to designate Alysia Reiner as our latest Champion for Moms!   By sharing her breastfeeding story exclusively with us, she knew we would  be able to get more evidence-based, accurate information and resources into the hands of expecting and new mothers (we’re both Certified Lactation Counselors).  She was also quoted in the USA Today  story about the gift of donated breastmilk for mothers who are struggling with breastfeeding (or can’t breastfeed or decide not to breastfeed) and who want the next best substitute for their own milk—milk donated by another mother.

Best for Babes:   Who or what inspired you to breastfeed, and to stick with it?

Alysia Reiner:   I always thought it was such a mysterious and magical thing that women can do and always knew I wanted to try, my mom wasn’t able to, but I had heard it wasn’t as easy as one may expect - and then I found  YOUR WEBSITE!  When I found it and read the incredible article about the amazing benefits of breastfeeding, your inspiring interview with Gabby Reece, and maybe most important the BOOBY TRAPS which helped me prepare.

BfB:  That is so cool that our interview with Gabby inspired you!   Did you seek out breastfeeding advice during pregnancy?  From where or whom?

AR:  I went to a great class at Golden Bridge Yoga in LA, I got some helpful videos, read a bunch of books and had a lactation consultant’s number ready for after birth.  I had enough friends have trouble that I knew it wasn’t as ‘natural’ as one may imagine.

BfB:   What kind of birth experience did you have, and how did it impact breastfeeding?  Did you have a “breastfeeding-friendly” ob-gyn, birth center/hospital and pediatrician?  

AR:  I gave birth in a birthing center, had fantastic midwives and an amazing doula - all which helped me  so much because they were all very breastfeeding oriented.  In fact at the center they took the bag filled with formula that they are supposed to give me, dumped all the formula and gave me blankets, witch hazel pads & and Lansinoh instead.  My pediatrician is very breast feeding friendly, and even though Liv is a year now she encouraged me to breast feed Liv through the winter because it would be such a nasty flu season.  Essentially I built a base of cheerleaders.

BfB:  Who or what helped you the most during the learning curve of the first few weeks?

AR:  My doula was amazing, and my friend Catherine who has 4 kids and breast fed them all, came over and set me up in the most amazing way.  Everyone checked our latch a lot and all the research I did came in handy but David was my biggest cheerleader.  He would encourage me and really educated himself to help  (like  supporting me and knowing I wasn’t crazy when I would take Liv off to get a good big mouth latch).  He would write down feeding times,  bring me water & food, he was so amazing.

BfB:   Has breastfeeding detracted from or enhanced your relationship with your husband in any way?

AR:  I think honestly he is in AWE so that’s always good.  But seriously, becoming parents has so many deep ramifications on a relationship, it is hard to pin point what is connected to what.  In general I would say he is just thrilled by it, it really is such an incredible thing our bodies do - that you can feed another human being nothing but this extraordinary liquid and  see a human being grow and thrive!  He is thrilled to see it and see the bond between Liv and I.  Is he jealous sometimes? Sure.  Have there been a few embarrassing intimate moments?  Yep.  He has to share my body, and a very special part of it, that he probably wishes he didn’t have to share sometimes but in general I think we both feel it’s worth it. 

BfB:  What do you like/love about breastfeeding?

AR:  The closeness with Liv.  Being able to soothe, comfort and make her feel safe and loved.  I will be sad to give that up someday  but she loves to hug  and snuggle so much now.  I also LOVE knowing what is going into her body.  I have been so careful about food, additives, chemicals, because I am her source of nutrition, and that feels so good.  I have gotten so healthy.  Show me the wheat grass and super foods!  And Liv is a great eater, LOVES veggies  and I do wonder if it is because I have been so green in my eating. [BfB Note:  Dr. Alan Greene says breastfeeding exposes babies to thousands of flavors!]

BfB:  Has this experience been different in any way from what you expected?  Any obstacles along the way?

AR:  I didn’t expect to love it so much.  To feel so miraculous.  To do it so long.  I thought I would stop when she could ask for it but then she started talking really early - oops.   The obstacles were: the first month is HARD -  just getting used to it, regulating your flow, pumping, all of it.  Again girlfriends helped so much.  Now it’s so easy.

BfB:  What is the most unexpected gift you have received from breastfeeding Livia?

Being able to give my milk to another mother.  I didn’t even know if I would be a make enough for one baby, as a small breasted woman I was actually very concerned about that (as it happens size has nothing to do with milk production).  I have a lot in storage just in case of emergency and never needed it, so I started looking into donating it to a milk bank.  At the same time I spoke to a friend who was having a very hard time with breastfeeding, and suggested she look into milk banks.   Then it dawned on us both that it might be easier to just do a direct donation, similar to when you direct an organ donation or direct a blood donation.   So I am happy to be able to share my milk with another mom’s baby.   Feeding Liv is heaven and such a gift, but sharing my milk was the most incredibly unexpected gift of all. 

*Best for Babes Note:  Although milk-sharing and cross-nursing have gone on since the beginning of motherhood, any exchange of bodily fluids carries a risk of transmitting communicable diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, etc.  and mothers and babies have died from the transmission of diseases.  (Salma Hayek cross-nursed another baby in Sierra Leone but we suspect (and hope) that both she and the baby were tested first, as it is possible for the baby to transmit disease to another mother!)   For that reason, we strongly caution against direct donation and recommend that mothers wishing to donate milk or needing donated milk contact the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA).  HMBANA is celebrating its 100th year of SAFE, RELIABLE milk banking and we hope that someday that ALL mothers who can’t breastfeed, choose not to breastfeed, or whose babies are medically indicated for supplementation will have access to human milk from a registered milk bank, the superior, preferred substitute for direct breastfeeding or pumped breastmilk from the mother .  HMBANA ensures that all milk is properly handled, screened for diseases, and pasteurized before it is given to another baby.    Only if moms demand this superior substitute will it be made more available.

BfB:  How did you juggle breastfeeding and going back to work?  Did you run into any “Booby Traps“?

AR:   I was super lucky going back to work.  In the first couple months, I did a workshop of a new play,  and  the producer &  director were both moms who accommodated the schedule to Liv’s feeding schedule.  My amazing husband brought Liv to the rehearsals, and the studio we were rehearsing at gave me a lovely private room to feed her in.  Next I worked on some TV shows, all of which gave me an extra room or more roomy trailer so I had room for Liv’s stuff, her car seat/stroller and a warm cozy spot to feed her.  The crew were great about communicating to me about the schedule so I could plan her feedings around shots.  I am so grateful to them all because I know that is not always the case.  Now I am running around to festivals with my film ( SPEED GRIEVING - join our facebook fan page!), and it’s much easier because she feeds so much less often, and again my husband had been incredible about helping make it work.

 I think for me it was such a diplomacy game.  It was so important to explain right off the bat that  I love to work, I am grateful to be invited to collaborate as an artist,  AND this was a priority for me (just to be clear, even though I did pump and that was available to her just in case I wasn’t available, it was always my preference to be with her),  AND at the same time be clear that I am a professional and I will show up as such - it’s such a balance.

BfB:  Experience is the best teacher.  Is there anything you learned along the way that you are inclined to share with her moms?

 AR:        1) BE PREPARED:   EDUCATE YOURSELF AS MUCH AS YOU CAN BEFORE YOU HAVE THE BABY.

                2) HAVE SUPPORT  & CHEERLEADERS.

                3) KNOW THAT THE FIRST FEW WEEKS ARE ROUGH,  BUT IT REALLY DOES GET EASIER.

BfB:   Thank you so much for that awesome, perfect advice, and for helping us inspire, prepare and empower more moms!   

Best for Babes Notes for Moms:

1.  Tips for expecting moms:   Find out what inspires and motivates you to breastfeed, and prepare yourself for breastfeeding by reading The Learning Curve of Breastfeeding and the Ultimate Breastfeeding Checklist to hit the ground running! 

2.  The Right Gear:   While all you really need for breastfeeding is at least one boob and a baby, here are our 4 top must-haves:  the Simply Breastfeeding DVD, the Earth Mama Angel Baby Breastfeeding Support Kit, a My Brest Friend breastfeeding pillow, and a comfy chair with a stool (or a stack of books in a pinch).   Chances are you already know about having a comfy, non-underwire nursing bra or tank top.      

3.  Your birth experience can dramatically impact your breastfeeding experience and success.   Read Your A-Team to find out what you should ask your hospital and physicians about breastfeeding to know if you will get real help or just lip service. 

4.  Demand Donor Milk:  Only if moms start requesting donor milk from a registered milk bank will it be made available!   Too many doctors don’t even know about it, too many hospitals don’t carry it.   Start spreading the word about this superior substitute for a mother’s own milk.  Hopefully you won’t have breastfeeding problems, but if you do, you deserve the best supplement-pasteurized, screened, donated human milk from a milk bank.

5.  Going Back to Work:   Read great info and tips on going back to work, and an inspiring story on starting a corporate lactation program.

Special thanks to People.com for spreading the word about this interview.

In a Newsweek Exclusive, the IRS has confirmed that mothers who have suffered a double mastectomy can not deduct the expense of infant formula.

We certainly sympathize with the Harris family-Best for Babes Co-Founder Danielle Rigg is a breast cancer survivor who also endured a double mastectomy.  And we understand the frustration with perceived double standards when ”condoms, hypnosis, yoga and even dancing lessons” are considered medical costs with a doctor’s note that can then be “deducted as pre-tax income for medical expenses not covered by insurance.”  Breast cancer survivors should not be penalized when they can not breastfeed.

We wonder, however, if Newsweek, Mr. Harris and his wife would consider using their considerable connections and resources to advocate for donor milk and human milk banks.   The World Health Organizations states that pasteurized, screened donor milk is a superior choice to infant formula.    Best for Babes believes milk banks should be as ubiquitous as blood banks.   Formula is an adequate substitute for human milk, but it is certainly not “medicine”, in fact, formula is associated with considerable health risks.   Formula-fed babies have 3 times as many hospital visits, so actually using formula instead of donor milk means greater health care costs for all of us. 

Since “Dr. Scholl’s footpads, sunscreen, birth control, and prescription sunglasses all qualify as medical care for the ‘diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease,’ according to the IRS”, it would be worth finding out if donor milk can be deducted as a medical expenses, since human milk mitigates, treats and prevents disease. 

In addition to Newsweek, allies of the Harris family include former California governor Gray Davis, a family friend, Rep. Henry Waxman, who wrote a letter to the IRS supporting the Harrisons. ”Breast-cancer survivor organization Susan G. Komen for the Cure, also urged the IRS to reconsider, and the law firm Kirkland & Ellis took the case pro bono, putting one of its top tax attorneys, Todd Maynes, on the job.”   

Boy wouldn’t those “heavy-hitters” be helpful in getting more human milk banks established and ensuring that all mothers who can’t breastfeed due to a double mastectomy have access to the very best substitute for their own milk, screened, pasteurized, donor milk.  Because then we would be truly saving more lives in one fell swoop. 

Let’s PUMP for the cure right under our nose, literally!