Bite Back with Abbey Sharp

Breaking Up with “Breast is Best”: Breastmilk vs Formula Myths and Truths with Dr. Lauren Hughes

Episode Summary

In today’s episode of Bite Back with Abbey Sharp, I am chatting with Dr Lauren Hughes about all things breastfeeding. We will be going over the dangers of aggressive “breast is best” initiatives, the *actual* risks of various activities and substances while breastfeeding, debunking common breastfeeding myths, and what the data actually says about the benefits of breastfeeding over formula.

Episode Notes

In today’s episode of Bite Back with Abbey Sharp, I am chatting breastfeeding with Dr Lauren Hughes, a board certified pediatrician, lactation consultant, mom and founder of Bloom pediatrics. I will start by sharing my own personal story about breastfeeding struggles and Lauren and I will vent over the enormous pressures women feel by “breast is best” messaging. We will also talk about the potential dangers to baby and mom of insisting on breastfeeding at any and all costs. Lauren will chat about the *actual* risks of various activities and substances while breastfeeding (alcohol, caffeine, ozempic, smoking, CBD and THC) and discuss whether or not you should change your diet while breastfeeding if baby is fussy. And I will break down the data on the benefits of breastfeeding over formula for baby’s health, and future risk of obesity and low IQ when we rule out socioeconomic confounders (spoiler: the benefits might not be as profound as you might think). Note the purpose of this episode is not to downplay the benefits of  breastfeeding for mom or baby, but to help empower women to feel confident in the feeding choices they make.

Check in with today’s amazing guest: Dr. Lauren Hughes, MD, IBCLC

• Instagram: @bloomdpc
• Website: drlaurenhughes.com

References:

• Cribsheet by Emily Oster
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29191700/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6691042/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37881498/
• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cea.12228
• https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/193490
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0196070994901341#:~:text=Results%3A%20The%20risk%20of%20AOM,who%20were%20never%20breast%2Dfed.
• https://www.pure.fo/en/publications/risk-factors-of-early-otitis-media-in-the-danish-national-birth-c#:~:text=When%20a%20Bonferroni%20correction%20was,a%20risk%20of%20early%20OM.
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29084835/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8696193/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28398851/
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4077166/#:~:text=Results%20from%20standard%20multiple%20regression,of%20the%2011%20outcomes%20studied.
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1633786/
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1633819/

Disclaimer: The content in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is never a substitute for medical advice. If you’re struggling with with your mental or physical health, please work one on one with a health care provider.

If you have heard yourself in our discussion today, and are looking for support, contact the free NEDIC helpline at 1-866-NEDIC-20 or go to  eatingdisorderhope.com.