Official recommendations say that the ideal thing for a baby is that breastfeed for 6 months exclusively. They say it for years and thanks to the insistence and that more and more women have this information, breastfeeding rates are increasing and more and more mothers are making it.
However, there are still many (mostly in reality) who fail to comply with the recommendation and that is why they are still studying what are the factors that prevent women from achieving it (we saw a few weeks ago that being overweight or obese affects makes more women stop breastfeeding because they think the baby is hungry), confirming in a study that recently pacifier use helps exclusive breastfeeding be interrupted.
No pacifier until the month of life
Normally already the pacifier is avoided during the first month in breastfed babies for a double question: do not be confused when breastfeeding and do not lose shots.
The breast is breast opening your mouth a lot. The more open is better, maman, so it is interesting that from the beginning they open it a lot and do not leave it closed, in small, because then they take less milk, hurt and cause cracks. As the pacifier is taken with the mouth more closed, because it does not cause the need to open it, many babies get used to this grip in a certain way and then try to repeat it in the chest, generating the discomfort that we commented and that would not have appeared have been used
Also, since they have a tiny stomach, they get tired eating and sometimes they even suck less than they need (because they fall asleep), it interests take every opportunity to eat, that as soon as they are a little awake, mamen, that as soon as they make a groan they are eating, because if instead of breastfeeding they put on the pacifier they run the risk of falling asleep sucking it, thus losing a shot.
For these two reasons it is recommended not to use the pacifier in the first month of life of the baby, and from the month of life do what makes parents feel more comfortable. Many offer it to the baby and he accepts it, many offer it and the baby does not want it in paint and many do not get to offer it because every time the baby complains he has the breast to breastfeed, eat and calm down again.
The pacifier as a distorting element of exclusive breastfeeding
The study I speak of was conducted in Brazil, where they have achieved an incredible 50% of mothers who give SCI (exclusive breastfeeding) at 6 months. To do the study they surveyed a large number of women in 1999 and again in 2008 (a total of 42,395 children under 6 months).
When analyzing the data, they saw that the prevalence of SCI increased from 25.1% in 1999 to 40.3% in 2008. In the same period of time, pacifier use decreased from 58.5% to 41.6%. After analyzing all the possible data of confusion and the variables that could cause that there was no causality (that left breastfeeding for another issue not related to the pacifier), they saw that the use of the pacifier had a very significant relationship with the interruption of breastfeeding.
In 1999, babies who used a pacifier had 165% more likely to leave the LME than those who do not. In 2008, those who used a pacifier had 177% more likely to leave the LME before 6 months. To give you an idea, 100% would be twice as likely to quit, so 165% and 177% are more than double.
In conclusion to the study, the authors comment on the following:
The use of the pacifier was the most important risk factor for the interruption of the LME. Effective strategies to reduce pacifier use among infants under 6 months can further improve the rates of SCI in Brazil.
That is, they suggest that mothers and fathers continue to be supported so that do not abuse the pacifier and, if possible, do not use it, so that the prevalence of breastfed babies up to 6 months is higher.
Another study that analyzed the fulfillment or not of the Ten steps for a successful breastfeeding of the WHO showed that when step 4 (breastfeeding within the first hour of life) was not fulfilled or step 9 (not giving children) breast fed teats or pacifiers), breastfeeding was reduced on average 11.8 weeks, which is almost 3 months.
But the pacifier is beneficial because it protects against Sudden Death Syndrome, isn't it?
It seems. A study conducted in 2012 in which a group of 260 babies who died from SIDS was compared with a group of 260 healthy babies found that the use of the pacifier seems to be protective, probably by facilitating a less deep sleep by sucking it into moments. In numbers, they saw that children who used a pacifier were 70% less likely to die suddenly.
Another study we discussed recently concluded that the pacifier is positive in case of colecho, but that it does not make much difference if the baby sleeps separately, adding that sleeping with the baby after 3 months decreases the risk of sudden death by 90%, regardless of whether or not they used a pacifier.
So, soother yes or no soother?
Neither yes, nor no, not quite the opposite. They are data and every father and mother has to do with them what they consider best:
- Giving the pacifier to the child is practical for some parents and protects against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but is associated with a shorter duration of breastfeeding.
- Not giving him the pacifier means that there is no element to calm him beyond his chest (and arms, sometimes), but thus breastfeeding lasts longer. Breastfeeding alone also protects against SIDS, and combined with colecho even more.
If my experience is useful to you, tell you that with the first one we tried to give him a pacifier because we thought it was the right thing to do, give him a pacifier, because all the babies were carrying them, but as he refused completely despite trying several models and sizes We do not insist. With the second and third we don't even try. We had already gotten used to living without a pacifier and we didn't see the need to add another dependency factor to the children (or ourselves). Come on None of my 3 children have ever used a pacifier.
But this is what we did, which doesn't have to be better. With this information, parents who use a pacifier can fight to counteract the trend. Knowing that it is a risk to achieve exclusive breastfeeding for six months, you can fight to achieve it equally. Let's say that the good thing you can extract from this information is that now you know it and you can avoid it.
Photos | iStock
In Babies and more | When is the use of the pacifier harmful? AEP recommendations on the use of the pacifier, why the pacifier calms the baby (and we are all happier, but especially him)
