Claudia Booker of Birthing Hands DC will speak live on the WPFW radio show "On Parenting" the third Monday of every month at 7:00 - 8:00 pm.

Tune in to WPFW in the Washington, DC, metro area at 89.3 FM.

Visit www.wpfw.org for more information.

07-21-08 Topic: Breastfeeding © 2008 BirthingHands of DC

Jack Petrash: Good evening. Tonight we’re going to be talking to Claudia Booker. She is our guest and our host for this show In July. Claudia has been with us on each show; she has spoken with us about conception, pregnancy and childbirth and I always introduce Claudia as doula coming from Birthing Hands of DC. Claudia, I’d like you to say a little bit about yourself so our listeners will know more about you and your work.

Claudia Booker: Well thank you, Jack. It’s nice to be here this evening. I am a doula, midwife birth assistant, childbirth educator, and breastfeeding counselor and have a company called Birthing Hands of DC. We provide a full range of birthing care, doula services, breastfeeding education and support, and related services to prepare women and their families living in the Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia areas for birth, motherhood and a new family member. I spend wonderful hours of my life meeting with expectant moms and dads who are preparing to have a baby, advising them on the selection of care provider, birth setting and available birth to prepare them for the birth experience they desire.

Jack Petrash: Now Claudia, I'm sure that one of the questions you encounter right after child birth is a question about breastfeeding.

Claudia Booker: Yes, Jack, and actually, I would advise women that these questions need to be addressed very early on when women are pregnant because it is something you should plan, educate yourself and find support before your baby is born. The most important thing to remember is that breastfeeding is a wonderful gift you give your child each and every day.

Jack Petrash: Now I know that it’s a large commitment on the part of the mom to take on this work and I know it a wonderful commitment with great benefits. What are the benefits to a child when they’re breastfed?

Claudia Booker: Well the first benefit for the child and the mom both is the feeling of comfort and parental bonding it provides to both of them. This is a time that you and your child get to cuddle—what a better way to find solitude in this stressful world we live in today than for both the mom and the baby to have this refuge together; to know that here I am with someone who loves me and someone I love. It’s a time you really get to bond with your child, especially if you add skin-to-skin contact. Plus, you are giving your child the health benefits of your breastfeeding. At the same time your body is producing oxytocin (the “Love Hormone” they talk about) so that mom gets the love hormone going and starts to feel really good about her baby, and she forgets about the stress of the day, really gets to enjoy this love-in between a mom and her baby. What a very special time!

Jack Petrash: What a wonderful beginning for children.

Claudia Booker: Yes.

Jack Petrash: To start with that connection, the reassuring feelings will affect everything about the way babies grow—even their brain development. What are the physical advantages to a baby when they’re breastfeed?

Claudia Booker: Human milk provides your baby with the complete nutrition she needs —there is no need for supplements and water. Next, breast milk contains the same immunities that the mother carries for different bacteria and virus that the baby may be exposed to. Those same antibodies pass to the baby through the milk so the baby gets protection against things in her normal environment and I don't just mean big flu germs but also from the normal everyday household germs that are around us. 

Back in the days of the Hippie Movement, when the flu would go around the house the mom would catch the flu, express her milk and serve it to all of her children so that the whole house would acquire her antibodies against the latest flu and not get sick.

Because breast milk is easily digestible, it substantially reduces the incidences of colic. Also, because breast milk is not a sugar-rich substance, there is less chance of our child getting a taste for sugar and having obesity problems when they get to be older. We also discovered now that a breastfed for at least one year has a lower chance of getting type 1 and type 2 diabetes and we are all very much aware of how we’ve seen obesity and diabete is becoming a real problem for our elementary and high school children.

Breastfeeding also protects your baby from gastrointestinal problems, respiratory problems and ear infections; it can protect your baby from developing allergies, from SIDS, and from childhood leukemia.

Jack Petrash: Now Claudia you explain so well the benefits to the baby, what are the physical health benefits to the mother?

Claudia Booker: Well, in addition to the first benefit I already talked about—the wonderful love hormone, oxytocin, flowing through the breastfeeding mother, which helps her to relax and reduces the stress of the day, there is more. Next, is the mother’s feeling of accomplishment and self confidence, “I can take care of feed nurture protect my baby by myself. I don't need to go to the store. I don't need to rely on something that come in a can. I have the ability all on my own with a good diet, lots of water, and a calmness I can take care of my baby”. Breastfeeding can be a real confidence and self-esteem builder, especially for young mothers! Also, some side benefits that everyone would like to know: because breastfeeding burns up many calories, breastfeeding moms have a really easy time losing weight, especially abdominal weight. So, all of the sisters who want to get those six-pack abs back, breastfeeding is a good way to do it! And, if you breastfeed for a year at least, you significantly lower your chance of breast and ovarian cancers an osteoporosis in late life.

Jack Petrash: Claudia, I'm sure that one of the questions you face from moms who are thinking of breastfeeding is, “Is it hard?”

Claudia Booker: Is it hard? Well it’s something you’ve never done before so with all things you haven't done before, you have to have some practice time, you have to spend time learning, going places for help, research, talking to folks. It’s the first time you’ve ever done this. What I like to compare it to the first boy-girl dance in junior high school. From what I remember—the boys were at home with their moms practicing that little “box step”; we girls were in our kitchens usually with a dish towel tied to the refrigerator door and practicing the latest moves that we saw on “Teen-A Rama”. So, the night of the dance comes and the principal said, “OK boys, go dance with the girls”, and you make it to the middle of the floor; your hands are sweaty and his hands are sweaty and you say,”OK”. And what do you do? Both of you take two steps forward and you bump right into each other! The first days of breastfeeding can be just like that. It is something you both have been wanting to do; you know this is something that going to be fun but you really don't know how to work out the dance—who goes forward and who goes back. Beginning breastfeeding is like that. The baby wants to eat and you want to nurse. How do you work out that first dance? That is the challenging part.

Jack Petrash: Now Claudia what would you say are the important things for moms to remember when they start to do this important work for their children?

Claudia Booker: First thing is, before your baby is born, go somewhere and get some breastfeeding instruction. I recommend for District residents: the local office of WIC (Women, Infants and Children). If you can't get there, I recommend Howard University program called B.L.E.S.S. Initiative that is managed by the wonderful Gwen West. She has spent years helping new mothers of the District with breastfeeding instruction, support and advice on postpartum feeding issues. If you’re downtown I recommend you go see Pat Shelly at the Breastfeeding Center of Washington where she offers free lunch-time breastfeeding classes. She is also available for postpartum breastfeeding issues.

Next, find someone or a group in your community who will offer you informational and emotional support, encouragement, and mentorship with breastfeeding. For instance, there are local chapters of Mocha Moms, and you can connect with them in person or online. Also, Metro Breastfeeding Village meets the third Saturday of every month in the District. And there are local chapters of the La Leche League.

Finally, be patient and forgiving with yourself and your baby. Neither of you have done this before. If you feel that you are starting to get frustrated, take a break, calm down, take a breather, have a cup of calming tea, and then try breastfeeding again. Your baby can pick up on your stress and anxiety about this process—this is meant to be enjoyable for both of you once you both get the hang of it, it’s going to work out. Mothers have been breastfeeding our babies since the beginning of time—it will work out for you! Just be patient and you two will master this dance.