Infant Feeding + Modern Epidemics: Talk by Maureen Minchin (2019)
Maureen Minchin is coming to Singapore!
BMSG is proud to host her public forum, Infant Feeding and Modern Epidemics: Obesity, Allergies, Autism, Diabetes. This is in partnership with the Association for Breastfeeding Advocacy in Singapore (ABAS), with the support and sponsorship of the Health Promotion Board (HPB)
Date: Saturday, 24 November 2018
Time: 2-4pm
Venue: HPB Auditorium
Admission is FREE! Click to register
About the Talk
Can a milk hypothesis explain the global emergence of modern epidemics? Maureen Minchin discusses the harmful effects of artificial feeding on generations of women and children, and on the environment, providing us with a clearer understanding of how milk matters to human health and the critical importance of breast milk in infant feeding.
Maureen Minchin’s latest book, Milk Matters: Infant Feeding and Immune Disorder, was written in 2015 and is regarded as a key work in understanding the critical importance of breastfeeding and its role in shaping infant and human health and development.
Who is Maureen Minchin?
Pioneer lactation consultant, medical historian and health educator, Maureen Minchin, has been advocating for breastfeeding for many decades. Here is a quick look at some of the work that she has done, using Singapore’s favourite lingo: acronyms and short forms!
IBCLC – She was a pioneer in creating and formalising the lactation consultant profession. In 1984, she helped form the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE), the certifying body for lactation professionals (International Board Certified Lactation Consultants)
Unicef – The United Nations Children’s Fund aims to look after the needs of women and children, and so infant feeding practices fall under its purview. Maureen has been a consultant to Unicef and the World Health Organisation (WHO), particularly in the area of BFHI (see below)
“The Code” – She also initiated the formation of the committee for the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (“WHO code” for short), and got the code adopted by the World Health Assembly and Unicef in 1981.
BFHI – Maureen was also part of the team to create and implement the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. In her role as an accredited BFHI Educator and Assessor, she inspected and advised hospitals in her home country of Australia, and in other countries around the world.
MM – This stands for Maureen Minchin, and also the title of her latest book, Milk Matters. Milk Matters is a seminal work that is described by one expert as a book that will “ultimately bring about the demise of the infant formula industry”, and another reviewer as “the most complete source for research on infant feeding and the effects on our immune system and functioning that is in existence today.”
About Milk Matters
This is really a trilogy of books, covering the science of infant feeding, the history of infant formula and breastmilk substitutes, and a practical guide for parents on feeding and dealing with allergies in babies.
- Book One:The milk hypothesis, immune disorder and allergy epidemics – This book discusses the effects of artificial feeding, and how these effects pass on for generations of humans, potentially changing our genes.
- Book Two:Creating a ‘perfect’ breastmilk substitute: reality and myth – This book takes a closer look at the science of infant formula, and whether it can mimic the benefits of breastmilk (the answer is no).
- Book Three: Crying Out for Attention – This book is more for parents, explaining the symptoms and effects of allergies on babies, including crying and other behavioural issues.
Sources:
http://infantfeedingmatters.com/
https://www.laleche.org.uk/maureen-minchin-womens-milk-necessary/
http://evolutionaryparenting.com/review-milk-matters-by-maureen-minchin/
https://breastfeeding.support/milk-matters-infant-feedingand-immune-disorder/