It's in the Bag

The idea is so simple it's hard to believe it has been overlooked for so long. In hospitals around the country, new mothers go home with a bag of goodies provided by companies whose sole purpose is to sell their product – formula. Breastfeeding advocates have long decried these goody bags whose tempting wares are often the breastfeeding undoing of many an exhausted mother. A small group of women were inspired to come up with bags of their own, bags that encourage breastfeeding, not bottle feeding!

Sally L. Gartner, RNC, IBCLC, is the in-patient obstetric nurse and breastfeeding coordinator for the birthing center at Coshocton County Memorial Hospital in Coshocton, Ohio. Her interest in breastfeeding was both personal and professional, and her deep-seeded belief is that breast truly is best.

"I know that breast milk is the optimum nutrition for a baby," she says. "It is not only species specific but 50 percent genetically specific to the particular child. Thus a baby has less risk of developing allergies. Breast milk also has many infection-fighting properties."

Gartner goes on to list other breastfeeding advantages, the psychological closeness, the health benefits for premature babies and the benefits for mothers, such as a decreased risk of breast cancer and a possible decrease in post menopausal osteoporosis. In the immediate postpartum period, breastfeeding decreases postpartum hemorrhage and also helps the mother get back to her pre-pregnancy weight.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.