I can often be heard repeating this quote to parents that I work with –

“We don’t know, what we don’t know.
This is usually in response to when I hear parents say things like:
I wish I would have know to offer both sides per feeding.
I wish I would have known that breastfeeding is not suppose to hurt.
I wish I would have known not to pump for 45 minutes.
I wish I would have know that black stools on Day 5 means by baby hasn’t been getting enough.”

I also hear parents say they wish they would have known more details about the health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding when they had their first baby

To which I reply, We don’t know, what we don’t know.

Don’t you agree with this quote? If we don’t have the information we need to do our job well. If we don’t have the help we need to learn a new skill, we are likely going to have many ups and downs until we learn, or someone shows us, or until we figure it out on our own. Thankfully, for many of us, there are allowances for making mistakes while we are learning as it is not a matter of life or death. We have time to figure things out. At the same time, when learning a new skill, we often have these AHA moments, in which we say to ourselves – Boy, that would have been nice to know.

I would like to share with you another quote –

There is strong evidence that breastfeeding helps protect against breast cancer in the mother and promotes healthy growth in the infant.”

I wonder how many of you were ever given this information? I know my kids were never taught this in school. My son, who is a physician, was not told this in all his years of training. When I teach breastfeeding classes, it is rare that a parent tells me that they have been told that breastfeeding helps protect them against breast cancer. They are hearing that it is healthy for the baby and some info is given about health benefits to the mother. This general information needs to be expanded on so parents can really understand just how amazing human milk is. It is rare that they are given specific information about HAMLET cells. When I mention this in my breastfeeding classes, I get a lot of puzzled looks. I then get to explain that researchers have known about cells as early as 1995. They are found in breastmilk and we know they can kill cancer cells. This has been written about, is in scientific journals and yet Why do so many tell me that they have not read or heard of this before, that their healthcare providers have not told them about this, when information like this should be shouted from the rooftops?

Although the special substance, known as HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made LEthal to Tumour cells),

While I cannot shout the health benefits of breastfeeding from the rooftops, I can share some of the most updated researched information here with you on the AAB show. I can plead and beg with you to share this information with your family and friends. The more others know about the health benefits of breastfeeding, the more encouraging they will be. Friends and family members may be more motivated in assisting mothers find the help and support they need in order to reach their breastfeeding goals.

The World Cancer Research Fund International has just published a 92 page report which discusses in detail their recommendations for cancer prevention.
World Cancer Research Fund International is a not-for-profit organization that leads and unifies a network of cancer charities with a global reach, dedicated to the prevention of cancer. They are based in Europe, the Americas and Asia, giving a global voice to inform people about cancer prevention.
The World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute of Cancer Research champions the latest and most authoritative scientific research around the world on cancer prevention and survival through diet, nutrition and physical activity to help people make informed lifestyle choices to reduce their cancer risk.
In their literature they write that their mission is that they want to live in a world where no one develops a preventable cancer
They say their mission is to champion the latest and most authoritative scientific research from around the world on cancer prevention and survival through diet, weight and physical activity, so that we can help people make informed choices to reduce their cancer risk.

I am going to read excerpts from pages 39 and 40 from this report, On page 39, this report states that:

having been breastfed probably protects children against excess weight gain, overweight and obesity and therefor those cancers for which weight gain, overweight and obesity are a cause.

Excess body fatness tends to track into adult life, and excess body fatness during childhood is associated with an earlier menarche in girls, which could increase the risk of several cancers.

In addition, breastfeeding protects the development of the immature immune system and protects against infections in infancy and other childhood diseases. Breastfeeding is vital in parts of the world where water supplies are not safe. It goes on to say that – At the beginning of life, human milk is best.

Since the recommendation is based on exclusive breastfeeding, it is helpful to know that EB is defined as giving a baby only breastmilk and nothing else, no other liquids, not even water, except for liquid medicine or vitamins.

On page 40, the report continues and states that the benefits for both mother and baby are greater the longer the cumulative duration of breastfeeding is. Breastfeeding provides short and long term benefits for mother and baby.

Their conclusion is that a rational approach to the prevention of cancer requires as understanding of its causes and behaviors that affect whether or not people are exposed to certain risk factors.

The report offers The 10 Cancer Prevention Recommendations which describe a way of life that can be confidently expected to reduce the risk of cancer and other diet related diseases. the Panel is confident that each of the Recommendations addresses one of the causes of cancer.

Their recommendations is for people to be a healthy weight, be physically active, limit consumption of sugars, alcohol, starches, fast foods, increase wholegrains and fruits and veggies. And then, and then, and then, yahoo…they have a recommendation for mothers: On the list is For Mothers: Breastfeed your baby, if you can. Breastfeeding is good for both mother and baby. I hope you share in my excitement that he recommendation for mothers to breastfeed their babies has been added to this list, taking its rightful place among dietary and other lifestyle recommendations.

They also recognize the importance of getting this information out there to the public. People need to take on the responsibility to follow the recommendations, they need to be given this information in order to act on it.

They recognize the role our government needs to play in creating environments for people and communities to follow the Cancer Prevention Recommendations.

They also recognize that schools, workplaces, cities, towns and rural communities, media, social media and networks play in getting this information out there.

We don’t know, what we don’t know.

Cancer is a global issue. It causes one in eight deaths worldwide and has overtaken cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in many parts of the world.
The Recommendations presented in this report are designed to be used as the basis for action by people and to inform policy action to reduce the incidence of cancer in general.
You have often heard me saying: Don’t let AAB be your best kept secret. Share the link to this podcast with your friends, family, business owners and your bosses.

The less often I hear parents saying to me: We don’t know, what we don’t know… the happier I will be.

As you know, my mission is to normalize breastfeeding around the world. You have the power to let many people in your world learn more about breastfeeding. Please subscribe to the AAB show and I would really love it if you went into itunes and left a review for the show. Your review helps me to know I am on the right path here and as equally important it helps the show pop up when parents search for breastfeeding shows to listen to. I heavily rely on you, my listeners to help spread the word. If you have been hanging out with me for a while, enjoying the shows and learning all about breastfeeding. If you feel the information you learned from this show has helped you on your breastfeeding journey, please take a few minutes out of your day and get into itunes and leave that review. Thank you for all who take the t ime to do so. It means so much to me. Alllright, until the next show… bye bye

Link for – World Cancer Research Fund Report
https://www.wcrf.org/sites/default/files/Cancer-Prevention-Recommendations-2018.pdf

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0009384

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