This blog is an effort to set the record straight. I have read some blogs or other material that erroneously associated me with various behaviors or statements, and these call for correction.
“Mothers must not be separated from their infants for more than three hours a day.” I never said that. But I do promote mother-and-baby togetherness.
The 7th rule is: “The woman must not have had a period after 56 days postpartum.” That is not the 7th rule or 7th Standard.
In a book on eco-breastfeeding (in this book breastfeeding is called “responsive breastfeeding”) it says that Sheila “advises prolonging breastfeeding through the first year as baby’s only food.” I would not advise that. I follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 to 8 months.
Several mothers have claimed I require the baby to be carried in a sling by the mother at all times or that the mother must keep the baby on her. I never said that.
“Eco-breastfeeding would say not to let her [the baby] sleep more than three hours without nursing.” That’s not my interpretation.
Read any of my books or talks on natural child spacing. You will not find any of the above statements in them. I encourage interested mothers and couples to read my up-to-date book, The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding: The Frequency Factor, for the facts and for the research showing that breastfeeding does space babies.
Frequency of nursing is very important for extended breastfeeding infertility, but we need to avoid the absolute sort of statements reported above.
NFPI Website: On May 23, we received the following: “I will print off the breastfeeding brochure to hand out so that they have the web address and I will probably print out a summary of the Seven Standards as well. Your website is such a great resource and that is an understatement. I love being able to tell people about the free manual. I send anyone and everyone to your site–secular, Protestant, and Catholic.”
And on May 11another grateful lady said this about our website: “I am sending you this as I head out to buy a basal thermometer and a three ring binder! I just wanted to say how thrilled I am to have found your website, book, and resources. I have looked into NFP before and it always sounded so clinical and like a lot of work. I read your book last night and am thoroughly confident that this is the right choice for myself, my husband, and our family. You have made it so easy to understand, and not cold and clinical. As a convert, I loved the references to Scripture and the Catechism. I had never quite been sure what the “rules” were regarding the marriage act, and I’m so pleased to have such clear guidelines. I would love to have another child, as many as God would allow actually, but we need time to “get on our feet” before we have any more. We really do have serious reasons to wait, we have to be responsible for the children we have, before we have another. My husband and I had been using complete abstinence, rather than an artificial method of birth control, and I have found it to be so damaging to our relationship which is to be expected when you remove the marriage act from the marriage – it becomes just an act. I just thought of that now, but I quite like it! Anyway, I know you don’t need some stranger waffling on and telling you her life story, I just wanted you both to know that I am quite sure you have just changed my life for the better, and, in turn, the lives of my family. Thank you. I am not in a position at this moment to make a donation to you, but I will be soon. I will also be sure to pass your information on whenever and wherever I can.”
Swine flu and breastfeeding: Mothers should continue to breastfeed if she or her baby is suspected of having H1N1. See recommendations by The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.
Sheila Kippley
The Seven Standards of Ecological Breastfeeding: The Frequency Factor