Help me educate an ignorant GP

[minties]

Okay, so I took DD to the GP today for her 4 month vaccinations. Our usual doctor (who is wonderful) wasn't available so we had to see someone else. She started off by telling me how healthy and happy my DD looked, then asked me if I had started her on solids yet.

I answered that I hadn't yet and was waiting until she was 6 months as is the recommendation of WHO, ABA, AMA etc, etc. She looked at me like I was an idiot and told me that she had read 'a study' stating that solids were to start at 4 months or baby risks malnutrition (I asked for info on this study and she just changed the subject). I stated again that the recommendation was for exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age. Her answer was that 'exclusive breastfeeding' simply meant that I didn't need to introduce formula until 6 months but still needed to be giving rice cereal as it contained important things that my breastmilk was lacking such as carbohydrates and folate. WTF???

Aaargh, so anyway this went back and forth for a while until she finally said I could go against her advice if I wanted to but I wasn't doing the best for my baby. Needless to say, I left shaking mad. I got a complaint form from the receptionist and fully intend to follow this up. If I hadn't known better I would have been terrified and running out to get rice cereal for my poor malnourished baby Is it any wonder that the rate of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months are so low in this country.

So, I am researching as much as I can to send off with my complaint and hopefully prevent her from giving such terrible advice in the future. Anyone know of any good studies or info I can add to my list? Thanks

ETA: especially interested in anything that discusses folate content in breastmilk (and babies requirement for folate) as according to her there is none...

[TurnedBatty]

I cant help, but good on you for following it up! Solids are started way too early sometimes! A gp should know basic information.

[Mrs Nietzsche]

What a #)(UI) idiot. I would ring the ABA for advice, maybe they have an info pamphlet. Honestly what a stupid fool. Wtf carbs and folate... IDIOT!!!

eta can't remember off hand re folate but I know it's one of the nutrients that breastmilk can still supply a huge percentage of daily needs for even at AGE 2 YEARS OLD let alone 6 mths, the silly cow.

[MimiGrace]

Just did a quick google search ( i know i had a list of all the ingrediants they've found in Breastmilk so far - but i'm not sure where i misplaced it). -well apparently jabberjaw found it

anyway.
this site is all about folate
and basically says that a lactating woman should be consuming 600(μg/day) of folate, where as an infant 1-3 should be consuming 150(μg/day) [note its a child 1-3, that means that babies get it from breastmilk and we don't need to give them any more than that-at least that's what i'm getting from the site]

and then a factsheet that i think i'm maybe allowed to link to?

• Premature babies who were breastfed for the first 4-5 weeks had an average of 8.3 points higher on IQ tests 7.5 years later. (From The Baby Book by William and Martha Sears. See the books page.)
• There are at least 400 nutrients in breastmilk that are not found in formula.
• The nutrients in breastmilk are specifically designed for the human infant and therefore are more easily absorbed by the baby's system. For example, between 50-75% of the iron in breastmilk is absorbed whereas only about 4% of the iron in formula is. Since less nutrients are absorbed from formula, the nutrients are passed through your baby's digestive system as waste (explaining why the stools of formula fed babies smell while those of breastfed babies do not) and may over-tax the waste-disposal system of formula-fed babies. The stools of breastfeed babies are non-offensive because there is less waste from breastmilk.
• Breastmilk composition changes according to the time of day, and changes as your baby grows, giving him exactly what he needs.
• Each drop of breastmilk contains white blood cells and immunoglobins which help reinforce the baby's immature immune system.
• Colostrum contains an antibody (IgA) only available to the baby by breastmilk (it is not passed through the placenta) which protects the baby from germs which enter the baby from the throat, lungs, and intestines. These germs are only a problem after delivery and therefore the mother provides this for the infant at its time of need (delivery) through colostrum. These antibodies are most plentiful a few hours after birth so it is important to feed the baby during this time. (From The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League)
• Mother can make antibodies on demand for germs encountered by baby. If a baby is infected by a germ for which an antibody is not present in the mother, the germ is passed from the baby to the mother by sucking at the breast. The breast in turn produces an antibody for the germ and passes it back to the baby. (From The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League)
• Body fat of a breastfed infant is different from that of a formula fed infant and specifically designed for the baby. The fat in breastmilk contains high levels of cholesterol which not only help the brain and nervous system develop but may protect the grown adult from having high cholesterol levels.
• Long term benefits include increased protect
• Breastfed babies have fewer ear infections, allergies, diarrhea, bacterial meningtis, and lower risk of SIDS. It may also protect against diabetes and childhood lymphoma.
• Studies have shown breastfed babies have better oral development and fewer dental problems.
• Breastmilk contains sleep-inducing proteins to relax your baby. Also the act of baby sucking releases hormomes in the mother which relax her.
• Breastmilk contains a large amount of water so breastfed babies normally do not need any additional juices or water.
• Women who breastfeed reduce their risk of ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, and early breast cancer.

and contact the ABA - they may have extra resources to make sure that they inundate the doctor with tons and tons of pamphlets about why she's a quack

[kstar23]

what a load of garbage!
I have never heard that b4, in fact i have heard the opposite non-stop.
Some doc's are incredible, hence why I only go if absolutely neccessary.

Good luck with you complaint xxx

[Bellini]

Jeepers that's scary. How many people out there are misinformed because of GP's? Eek!

I agree to contact the ABA.

[JabberJaw]

BREASTMILK

Water
Carbohydrates (energy source)
Lactose
Oligosaccharides (see below)
Carboxylic acid
Alpha hydroxy acid
Lactic acid
Proteins (building muscles and bones)
Whey protein
Alpha-lactalbumin
HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made Lethal to Tumour cells)
Lactoferrin
Many antimicrobial factors (see below)
Casein
Serum albumin
Non-protein nitrogens
Creatine
Creatinine
Urea
Uric acid
Peptides (see below)
Amino Acids (the building blocks of proteins)
Alanine
Arginine
Aspartate
Clycine
Cystine
Glutamate
Histidine
Isoleucine
Leucine
Lycine
Methionine
Phenylalanine
Proline
Serine
Taurine
Theronine
Tryptophan
Tyrosine
Valine
Carnitine (amino acid compound necessary to make use of fatty acids as an energy source)
Nucleotides (chemical compounds that are the structural units of RNA and DNA)
5’-Adenosine monophosphate (5”-AMP)
3’:5’-Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (3’:5’-cyclic AMP)
5’-Cytidine monophosphate (5’-CMP)
Cytidine diphosphate choline (CDP choline)
Guanosine diphosphate (UDP)
Guanosine diphosphate - mannose
3’- Uridine monophosphate (3’-UMP)
5’-Uridine monophosphate (5’-UMP)
Uridine diphosphate (UDP)
Uridine diphosphate hexose (UDPH)
Uridine diphosphate-N-acetyl-hexosamine (UDPAH)
Uridine diphosphoglucuronic acid (UDPGA)
Several more novel nucleotides of the UDP type
Fats
Triglycerides
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (important for brain development)
Arachidonic acid (AHA) (important for brain development)
Linoleic acid
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
Conjugated linoleic acid (Rumenic acid)
Free Fatty Acids
Monounsaturated fatty acids
Oleic acid
Palmitoleic acid
Heptadecenoic acid
Saturated fatty acids
Stearic
Palmitic acid
Lauric acid
Myristic acid
Phospholipids
Phosphatidylcholine
Phosphatidylethanolamine
Phosphatidylinositol
Lysophosphatidylcholine
Lysophosphatidylethanolamine
Plasmalogens
Sphingolipids
Sphingomyelin
Gangliosides
GM1
GM2
GM3
Glucosylceramide
Glycosphingolipids
Galactosylceramide
Lactosylceramide
Globotriaosylceramide (GB3)
Globoside (GB4)
Sterols
Squalene
Lanosterol
Dimethylsterol
Methosterol
Lathosterol
Desmosterol
Triacylglycerol
Cholesterol
7-dehydrocholesterol
Stigma-and campesterol
7-ketocholesterol
Sitosterol
β-lathosterol
Vitamin D metabolites
Steroid hormones
Vitamins
Vitamin A
Beta carotene
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B8 (Inositol)
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
a-Tocopherol
Vitamin K
Thiamine
Riboflavin
Niacin
Folic acid
Pantothenic acid
Biotin
Minerals
Calcium
Sodium
Potassium
Iron
Zinc
Chloride
Phosphorus
Magnesium
Copper
Manganese
Iodine
Selenium
Choline
Sulpher
Chromium
Cobalt
Fluorine
Nickel
Metal
Molybdenum (essential element in many enzymes)
Growth Factors (aid in the maturation of the intestinal lining)
Cytokines
interleukin-1β (IL-1β)
IL-2
IL-4
IL-6
IL-8
IL-10
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)
Macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF)
Platelet derived growth factors (PDGF)
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
Hepatocyte growth factor -α (HGF-α)
HGF-β
Tumor necrosis factor-α
Interferon-γ
Epithelial growth factor (EGF)
Transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α)
TGF β1
TGF-β2
Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) (also known as somatomedin C)
Insulin-like growth factor- II
Nerve growth factor (NGF)
Erythropoietin
Peptides (combinations of amino acids)
HMGF I (Human growth factor)
HMGF II
HMGF III
Cholecystokinin (CCK)
β-endorphins
Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP)
β-defensin-1
Calcitonin
Gastrin
Motilin
Bombesin (gastric releasing peptide, also known as neuromedin B)
Neurotensin
Somatostatin
Hormones (chemical messengers that carry signals from one cell, or group of cells, to another via the blood)
Cortisol
Triiodothyronine (T3)
Thyroxine (T4)
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (also known as thyrotropin)
Thyroid releasing hormone (TRH)
Prolactin
Oxytocin
Insulin
Corticosterone
Thrombopoietin
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
GRH
Leptin (aids in regulation of food intake)
Ghrelin (aids in regulation of food intake)
Adiponectin
Feedback inhibitor of lactation (FIL)
Eicosanoids
Prostaglandins (enzymatically derived from fatty acids)
PG-E1
PG-E2
PG-F2
Leukotrienes
Thromboxanes
Prostacyclins
Enzymes (catalysts that support chemical reactions in the body)
Amylase
Arysulfatase
Catalase
Histaminase
Lipase
Lysozyme
PAF-acetylhydrolase
Phosphatase
Xanthine oxidase
Antiproteases (thought to bind themselves to macromolecules such as enzymes and as a result prevent allergic and anaphylactic reactions)
a-1-antitrypsin
a-1-antichymotrypsin
Antimicrobial factors (are used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects, such as bacteria and viruses.
Leukocytes (white blood cells)
Phagocytes
Basophils
Neutrophils
Eoisinophils
Macrophages
Lymphocytes
B lymphocytes (also known as B cells)
T lymphocytes (also known as C cells)
sIgA (Secretory immunoglobulin A) (the most important antiinfective factor)
IgA2
IgG
IgD
IgM
IgE
Complement C1
Complement C2
Complement C3
Complement C4
Complement C5
Complement C6
Complement C7
Complement C8
Complement C9
Glycoproteins
Mucins (attaches to bacteria and viruses to prevent them from clinging to mucousal tissues)
Lactadherin
Alpha-lactoglobulin
Alpha-2 macroglobulin
Lewis antigens
Ribonuclease
Haemagglutinin inhibitors
Bifidus Factor (increases growth of Lactobacillus bifidus - which is a good bacteria)
Lactoferrin (binds to iron which prevents harmful bacteria from using the iron to grow)
Lactoperoxidase
B12 binding protein (deprives microorganisms of vitamin B12)
Fibronectin (makes phagocytes more aggressive, minimizes inflammation, and repairs damage caused by inflammation)
Oligosaccharides (more than 200 different kinds!)

[minties]

Thanks everyone for your support!

JabberJaw - what a beautiful list - It made me smile to read through it. Breastmilk is awesome
Can you point me in the direction of where the info came from?

ETA - you beat me to it haha

[JabberJaw]

Got it here

[emcooper]

Well done for putting in a complaint. I dread to think how many breastfeeding relationships have ended due to such poor information from health professionals. It seems the well informed ones are few and far between these days. I will interested in the response you get.