Breast-feed or else
That's great. No one doubts that breast milk - refined by mother nature over a few million years of evolution - is the perfect food to nourish a human infant. The evidence is compelling: human milk lowers the risk of early infections and SIDS, and may provide long term benefits with reduced allergies, obesity and risk of various other diseases. Let's take "breast is best" as a given.
But how far should we go to encourage moms to breast-feed? Or, more precisely, how far should we go to discourage moms not to breast-feed. Here's where the controversy lies, fueled by a recent article in the New York Times (from which I shamelessly stole the title of this blog).
What controversy? Have a look at this spot which has been aired on TV.
Hmmm... What do you think? Realistic, tough-love way to get across the risks of not breast-feeding? Justifiable scare tactics, given what we know? Isn't a little parental guilt-tripping a small price to promote infant health?
To help you better understand the benefits and risks, let's take a closer look at one of the many studies, in this case breast-feeding's protective effect on early respiratory infections.* This study showed (and the headlines trumpeted) that breast-feeding cut the incidence of respiratory infections in the vulnerable first month of life about in half.
Sounds impressive. It is impressive. But let's dig deeper and put the findings in perspective:
- The protective effect, curiously, was true only for girls; breast-feeding didn't seem to provide protection for boys.
- Breathing infections occurred in 241 of 13,224 (1.8%) infants in the first month of life. Put another way, 98% of the infants did not contract a respiratory infection, regardless of whether or not they breast-fed. So, yes, breast-feeding conferred an advantage, but the odds are great that an infant will be fine either way. An important benefit, to be sure (every little bit helps when it comes to prevention!), but not exactly the same as not riding a bucking bronco in the third trimester, is it?
On top of that, is it fair to scold those who decide not to breast-feed (or do so for a short time) when we as a society are unsupportive of breast-feeding moms? Very few companies, for example, have a designated area where a working mom can express her breast milk or have on-site child care. And, anyway, we weirdo Americans think it's obscene for a mom to breast-feed her infant in public. Perhaps working to change corporate America's practices and American attitudes towards openly breast-feeding would be a better use of our efforts.
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One of the scourges of 21st century pediatrics, in my view, is its incessant parent-bashing (anyway, most of you parents are plenty good at feeling guilty about your parental "shortcomings" without my help). Parenting is a tough and complicated business, almost all of you are conscientiously doing your best, and kids are resilient. Sure, breast-feeding is best and if you can do so, great. But if you don't, odds are still that your child will be just fine - unless, that is, you feel so anxious and guilty about it that it ruins your emotional well-being and undermines your relationship with your little one.
Promote the benefits of breast-feeding? By all means. Beat moms over the head who decide not to? It's not fair. It's not justified. It stinks.
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* Study cited
"Reduced risk of neonatal respiratory infections among breastfed girls but not boys." Pediatrics: Oct., 2003
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/112/4/e303
Related Topics: Is Guilt Getting the Best of You?, Breastfeeding 101: A Mother's Guide
Technorati Tags: infant care, breastfeeding
58 Comments:
"We as a society are unsupportive of breast-feeding moms...we weirdo Americans think it's obscene for a mom to breast-feed her infant in public. Perhaps working to change corporate America's practices and American attitudes towards openly breast-feeding would be a better use of our efforts."
Bingo. I was getting all worked up by your post--until I got to this part. Thank you for saying what I was going to say.
BTW, educating pediatricians, FPs, and OB/Gs about bf'ing would be a help too, not to mention neonatal nurses. I'm still astonished by how much misinformation is out there among primary care professionals. How many bf'ing efforts have been derailed by a well-meaning dr. telling a woman to supplement, when it's only day 2 pp & the milk hasn't come in, or by the nurses giving formula samples "just in case," or by the OB saying "don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work"--before the baby is even born?
I'm afraid I'm not being as coherent as I'd like to be. So thank you for this post, and I'll stop now while I'm still making a reasonable amount of sense.
Oh my God, I agree 100% with Dr. Parker! Gotta check my horoscope - must be something weird going on in the heavens (not including blistering heat and suffocating humidity!).
best,
Flea
Great post! I totally agree that there is a double standard in our society. Everyone is telling us we HAVE to breastfeed, but unless we're stay-at-home moms (which I'm grateful I am!), we're pretty much screwed when it comes to long-term breastfeeding. Too few employers take an active role in support bfing mothers when they return to work by giving them a reasonable place to pump.
In my case, I wasn't planning on breastfeeding. My mother didn't breastfeed me (had to return to work after 6 weeks and had zero support) and I knew of no one at the time who breastfed their baby. My husband was the one who encouraged me to do so for the sake of our child. I'm glad I listened to him because it was a very rewarding experience and amazing way to bond with my son. Not to mention the fact that he has been tremendously healthy and I credit that to the breastmilk. As for initial support, I was fortunate enough to have a lactation consultant in the hospital who spent time with me to "teach me the ropes". Another misconception is that breastfeeding "comes naturally". It is a learned technique that takes practice. Women need to realize this. I know of a lot of women who have given up early because they thought it was supposed to come easily. Breastfeeding moms need to have available to them ongoing support to help them succeed.
As for society's view of breastfeeding mothers. I am a stay-at-home mom so I didn't have to deal with an employer. But I did have to go shopping, to church, restaurants, etc. Let me tell you how many times I had to nurse my son in my car because there were no "designated" areas for moms. I guess I could have just nursed in public, but then I would have just gotten a million stares - how fun is that?
http://fertility.youngparentsmagazine.com
Aren't we hard enough on moms out there? Shouldn't we encourage moms to do their best and praise their efforts, instead of making them feel guilty? The best moms are the ones who decide what is best for their WHOLE family, bottle or breast.
It's great if a new mom has the ability and opportunity to breast feed, so hats off if she can. I'm hoping I can in a few months, but I'm not going to stress out over it if I can't.
Sometimes it's just not physically possible to breast feed. My mother couldn't breast feed myself or my brother because her nipples were totally flat so we couldn't "latch on" and she felt horrible about it. My sister-in-law couldn't breast feed her children since her milk ducts had to be cut during her breast reduction surgery...and her children as well as myself and my brother were healthy children and we turned out fine!
Let's not forget about the adopted babies who have not been breast fed. Is society saying that they are unhealthy because their birth mother did not breast feed them? My mother was adopted and was fed homemade formula and she was a very healthy child. Give us women a break here! It's stressful enough being a parent, we don't need society making us feel guilty about something we can't physically control. There are lots of women out there who would love to breast feed but just can't. Mothers have been feeding all types of formula to their babies forever. Get over it and move on.
Let me tell you something about this issue. I was not breastfed as a child, and I grew up (and still have)with a very highly functioning immune system. I was never seriously ill as a child, I did well in school. I am a successful wife, mother, and fulltime working mother. No, I did not breastfeed my child. I CHOSE NOT TO..yes thats right, I as a healthy, informed, women chose not to brestfeed my child. And you know what...my son is an extremely healthy 7yr old today. He has not missed a day from school for the last 2 years he has been in a public school setting, due to illness.
I had no desire to breastfeed. oh yes, the doctors tried to tell me it was sooo much better for the baby...whatever, the baby formula that is out today is just as good as breast..
No, I am not against breastfeeding either, I feel it is a choice the mother needs to make. As far as breastfeeding in public..get over it people..it is normal and done descretely.
I don't understand why everyone is so afraid to make moms feel guilty for choosing NOT to breastfeed. If they were choosing to do drugs or smoke or not take their prenatal vitamin you can bet money that their OBGYN, OB nurses, and anyone else involved in their healthcare would be doing their best to make her feel guilty about those health practices. Not breastfeeding children can negatively affect their health. Fact. There is study after study saying so (far beyond what was cited in this article). Parents have the right to know what can happen to their children when they make a decision about their health. We shouldn't sugar-coat it b/c we're afraid they'll feel guilty. Parents who make an educated and informed decision not to breastfeed or who cannot breastfeed will not feel guilty because they'll feel they made the right choice.
Besides, telling parents the risks of using artificial baby milk instead of the benefits of human milk works is much more effective.
As the mother of a 4 month old that tried to bf and milk didn't come in, then supplemented to stop the crying, then pumped and fed with a bottle, then mastitis and then milk supply dried up, I feel good about MY decisions. They are MY decisions. I will consider ALL the factors at play in MY family.
I am tired of the breastfeeding nazis that tell you studies prove this, that and the other. I bet that if I had enough money or sponsors I could perform a study that would show that breastfed babies (especially those that are "demand fed") do not sleep as long or as deeply as bottlefed babies. And I know there are studies that show how important sleep is to brain development of babies and adults.
My recommendations to moms-to-be is to observe the children of your girlfriends and have heart to hearts about what has/hasn't worked, read different opinions (Sears, Ferber, Ezzo, etc.), and realize that most "experts" have a very strong bias. Then make up your own mind and don't feel guilty about your choices.
Bearing and raising a human child to its full potential brings incredible challenges to even the most dedicated humans. So many things beyond our control can hinder parents' best efforts along the way. I do not understand why parents would choose TO bear a child and then choose NOT TO breastfeed. Perhaps the human child can survive on formula, yes, but is that why one goes to all this trouble and expense? to allow an incredibly dependent infant to merely survive? Breastfeeding and formula-feeding are far from equal -- for the child or for the parent. Isn't it time that parents decide to do what's best for the infant before bearing children? I know breastfeeding in this culture can be tough, with its emphasis on materialism, non-maternal beauty, and competition. I am confident many more mothers "could" breastfeed if we were all more supportive. I know raising children requires an enormous amount of effort of every mother and father. I know it's been worth every minute I have spent raising my two children - my son of 31 yrs and my daughter, who died 9 years ago, at 19 yrs. I'm not interested in spreading guilt; I am interested in promoting health on all levels.
If women choose to bottle feed, that is fine, it is their choice.
However, let's not pretend that formula is the same as breastmilk, it's simply not. Breastmilk was designed for human babies and contains the perfect fat balances and brain building aminos mixed with real, live immune boosters. Formula, while safe and appropriate for use, is not the same thing and will never be the same thing. It's still your right to decide which one to use.
Perhaps the ads went a little overboard, but all the positive encouragement and "breast is best" campaigns still haven't raised the national level of nursing as high as it could be.
Considering the sky-high rates of adult-onset diabetes in this country, the fact that nursing cuts the risk for developing the disease by up to 60%, why are we not being told?
Why aren't we being told that the mother's risk for breast and ovarian cancers can be cut by a third if they nurse? So maybe the log rolling is a little scary, but when the message isn't getting through another way...
Some idiot doctor told me to supplement when my son was born, dropping my milk supply drastically. I spent three weeks in hell bringing it back. We need educated professionals and supportive consultants. There are so many women I know who could have succeeded had they not been hampered by stupid advice or had had access to properly trained lactation consultants.
I was lucky to have a supportive workplace: I went back to work after 6 weeks and pumped for the first year. We need laws that prevent nursing discrimination and demand that workplaces accomodate working moms who choose to nurse. We can come up with compromises, it will just take a dialogue.
I have 3 adult children. 30 years ago I started to breastfeed my son but developed bleeding nipples. My doctor (country doc--not a pediatrician) gave me bad advice: stop breast feeding for a week to heal and then start again. My milk dried up so I ended up bottle feeding. two years later, I had a baby girl, whom I bottle fed because my son still took some bottles and it was just easier for me. WRONG DECISION!! My daughter was very allergic to cow formula and even more allergic to soy formula. She had projectile vomiting, black circles under her eyes and worst of all, she had continual ear infections that almost cost her her hearing in one ear! When I became pregnant with my third child, the allergy doctor told me in no uncertain terms to breastfeed this baby, which I did. She didn't have a single ear infection and was very healthy. She naturally weaned herself at 10 months onto a sipee cup. My daughter that was so sick as a baby is trying to get pregnant and has said that she will definitely breastfeed!
As a soon-to-be-mom, I am currently making the decision to breastfeed or not. I feel that after attending La Leche League meetings, reading articles and books, reflecting on my own formula-fed background. etc...that I have a realistic notion of what to expect.
I will do my best to succeed at breastfeeding and use the support network available to me throughout the community. However, if it doesn't work out, I don't think that I will feel guilty. I will feel that I did my best and that is all that any child could ask.
Women themselves and society at large put a great deal of pressure on women in so many of our life choices whether it is children or careers or sex or whatever. I think it is truly sad that so many women buy into the anxiety and that the government or any agency would play on that.
For those moms out there that are considering breast feeding, I do recommend La Leache League as a great resource to learn about breastfeeding. I was suprised to find that the women at these meetings were caring, understanding, and helpful, not the "breastfeeding nazi" types. They also give great information on child rearing and other issues that I am sure I will have a chance to deal with soon enough. There were lots of first time moms too! Attending these meetings has been the best choice thus far during my pregnancy.
I made the decision that no matter what I was going to nurse until my child was 12 months. There were several obstacles along the way: poor physician advice, a few nursing strikes, and a cold or two. The difference is that I armed myself with the determination to make our goal and the resources (lactation consultant, nursing books and websites) to help make it happen.
I'm so glad I stuck with nursing, I feel like it gave my child a bond and closeness to me that really benefitted our relationship--especially since I work full time and didn't have the option to spend as much time with him as I would have liked. After the first two months, nursing was so much easier, but I never took it for granted. We ended up extended nursing as well. It was an amazing experience.
If any of your are considering nursing, be aware that although it might be challenging at first, the pay off is incredible. Stick with it and you will be so glad.
In respose to some of the comments I read...
If I *ever* mention that I am taking the ideas of people like Ezzo and Ferber seriously, someone slap me. What they suggest doing to babies is positively cruel.
As for breastfed babies not sleeping as deeply or as long as formula-fed babies...of course they don't! Babies aren't supposed to sleep too deeply or for long periods of time! Breastmilk is digested easier, faster, and more completely than formula, so of course the baby gets hungry quicker. And babies who sleep too deeply have more risk of SIDS.
And for the 'I was formula fed, so was my baby, and we're both healthy' argument...so what? Just because someone smokes doesn't mean that they will automatically get lung cancer. But they are still at greater risk for it, and it is still not healthy. Likewise, formula is not as good for babies as breastmilk, and you take your chances with using it.
Finally, if you choose to formula feed, that's your decision. But don't accuse others of making you feel guilty over it. No one can *make* you feel guilt. Guilt is what you feel all on your own when you know you've done something wrong. Deal with your own insecurities and don't try to pass responsibility off on others. (This is not aimed at the *very small* percentage of women who are medically *unable* to breastfeed. Those gals have my utmost sympathy.)
Besides, hate to break it to folks, but formula companies aren't in it to help kids turn out healthy; they're in it for the $$. You know those little information cards you fill out and send in where you mark whether you are going to formula feed or breastfeed? Guess who gets targeted (harassed) most by the formula companies with coupons and free formula? Not those already intending to formula feed, that's for sure.
Thousands of years of breastfeeding knowlegde has been lost in just a couple generations due to formula marketing and lack of education from doctors and nurses.
Sure you kid will be fine on formula for the most part but many children will die in various ways because of NOT being breastfed. Cancer, menigitous, and other illnesses, etc... but most formula kids will see the effects of NOT being breastfed well into adulthood. Like obesity, high blood pressure, cholesterol, cancer, etc....
During adolestant years FF kids will more likely have braces, over/under bites, and other dental issues. Breastfeeding helps jaw development.
Mom's will be confident that by breastfeeding her chance of Breast Cancer has been significantly reduced!! That factor alone was enough to make me do all that I could to breastfeed.
Recent studies have come out showing that breastfeeding is a natural pain reliver in babies. How cool is that? BUT do women get this kind of info? Of course not. Until we start educating doctors and nurses about lactation and provide the proper support to overcoming issues and truly educate women about breastfeeding we will forever be in the FF vrs BF when FF shouldn't even be an option except in medically and adoptive cases.
P.S. baby in lap excuse typos and such
Maybe it is about time that we started having an active marketing campaign at improving nursing rates. The soft messages haven't been doing the trick. I
I don't think the new campaigns are overboard, I don't think they're doing enough.
It IS risky to choose not to breastfeed. It just is. (Medical complications are a different issue of course.)
Absolutely, everyone has a choice to nurse or not. I just feel that mothers and fathers should be informed of the inherent risks in choosing not to nurse. If people still decide to voluntarily select formula under an informed decision, that is their right.
But we can't pretend that a manufactured synthetic milk made from cows is the same as human milk, it lacks the complexity and the living anti-bodies. I wish there were more supportive doctors and networks to help women in their choice to breastfeed.
I just hope that our government will begin a full-fledged marketing campaign to conteract the very slick and sometimes misleading ads from the formula companies.
I gave birth to my first child, a daughter, in February. I was determined that I would breastfeed, since it is the best. The nurses were helping me as I tried and tried, unsuccessfully, to feed my daughter. Every hour, they were checking her blood sugar and telling me that I wasn't feeding her enough. They even sent in a "lactation specialist" to assist me. I kept asking, "Are we sure that I'm even producing anything?" Everyone assured me that ofcourse I was! Two days later (I had a C-section and was in the hospital 4 days), I got a new nurse, who decided to pump my breasts and see what was happening. Big surprise- nothing was coming out!! I was devastated and felt like the worst mother in the world, now knowing that my precious newborn hadn't eaten in two days!! We immediately started formula feeding and she has done wonderfully! By the way, after a week of pumping, I never got milk, and my breasts unswelled.
I will never forget the on-call pediatrician who cleared us for check-out. He said to me, "Don't let those nipple nazis get you down. You're a great mother and you're doing fine!" I was appalled that for two days, no one thought to check to see what I was providing for my baby, they just assumed that I either wasn't doing it right or long enough. Because of the whole "must breastfeed" nonsense, my baby endured hourly needle pricks to check her blood sugar, and still didn't eat for two days! I think that breastfeeding is great, but I don't think that we all have to be so narrow-minded about it that we risk our childrens' health.
My question is if the medical establishment as a whole is supposed to promote breastfeeding, why are there formula samples waiting in every hospital room and why doesn't the WIC system provide more nutritional support to the mother who chooses to breastfeed?
It seems that the government is doing 2 separate things, commercials TO breastfeed but no help to lower income mothers who want to breastfeed
I am so sorry about the heartache that you went through, I went through a similar situation.
The sad thing is, the nurses were wrong. Your baby is born with enough fat deposits to make it until your milk came in, sometimes 4 days later. A pump will never be as accurate or effective as a baby. I'm so sorry you went through this.
I'm just angry at those badly educated nurses for feeding you bad information based on outdated information.
In my case, I found out that the nurses were feeding my baby formula and SUGAR WATER behind my back WITHOUT my CONSENT. NO wonder we had such a hard time establishing nursing when they were undermining it. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. I hope your baby is doing well now.
One more thing that I wish new mothers would be informed about - the fact that after the first few weeks, newborns suddenly want to nurse a lot more, perhaps due to a growth spurt. This happened with both of my daughters. It seemed they wanted to nurse every hour. I felt as though I was constantly breat feeding. I stuck it out and continued to nurse on demand (against the advise of my nurse practitioner at the pediatrician's office, who told me to nurse no sooner than every two hours). Of course, this contant nursing increased my milk supply (the more you nurse, the more you make), and soon, they were getting enough milk at each feeding to last them a few hours again.
Unfortionatly, not all new mothers realize that this sudden demand is normal. I know two other moms whose babies started seeming unsatisfied at around three weeks of age. Rather than letting the babies nurse as often as they needed to, these moms assumed they weren't producing enough milk and started to suppliment. Of cousrse, once you start supplimenting, you produce even less milk, and within a few weeks, these moms dried up all together. Moms need to be told - in advance - that this is a normal phase, and to stick it out. What if I had listened to the stupid advice of my nurse? My babies would have been starving! Moms should also be told not to pump or suppliment (unless medically nessessary, of course) for the first 4-6 weeks untill the milk supply is well established. If you're not feeding them from the breast at EVERY feeding at first, your body will think they don't need as much milk, and will make less.
One of the biggest challenges of being a new mom and formula feeding your baby is enduring glares and lectures from people who have NO idea why you are using bottles. It's a complete invasion of privacy.
Another significant danger is the uneducated "lactation consultants" that stop by your room. Even after I explained that I had breast reduction surgery 16 years ago that included moving the nipple, they continued to tell me to nurse. And yes, my son could latch on like a champ. After 5 days, he had lost 9.5% of his weight and was shriveling and turning gray, and he was born at a healthy 9 lbs. The nurse looked at me and said "We really don't get concerned unless the infant has lost 10% of his weight. Do you want to meet again with one of our lactation consultants?" I told her I was concerned now, stopped on the way home to buy formula and bottles and three years later, I have a healthy little boy, still on the 95% growth curve.
I have to say has anyone looked at the ingredients in formula? Do you want to feed that to your child?
I adopted my first child and had no choice other than to formula feed her. She was sick her entire first year of life - pneumonia, continual ear infections, severe allergies, asthma, other respiratory problems, you name it. I might as well have not HAD a job, I had to spend so much time at home with my sick child. Her health gradually improved, but she is still prone to colds and respiratory issues. I went on to have three biological children, my youngest being seven weeks old now. If you stack my bio babies' medical records, they are four pages long - TOTAL. My adopted daughter's record looks like a phonebook - in two VOLUMES. The ONLY difference is that one was formula fed and the others breastfed. Say what you will, I see the difference every day with my own eyes, and there IS a difference between breast and bottle. Your child may end up paying the price.
I totally agree with Nate on the misinformation also. I overheard a nurse telling another new mother that she needed to nurse the baby for 10 minutes so the baby could get hindmilk to get full - the woman had given birth three hours before. What hindmilk?! Before we left the hospital two days later, that baby was on formula. The lactation consultants were so overloaded that it was impossible to see every new mother and get her started off right, so unless you were quite persistent, you got your information from the misinformed nurses. With my last birth, the nurses did everything they could to persuade me to let them give my baby a pacifier. Anyone with ANY breastfeeding knowledge knows that pacifiers are not conducive to breastfeeding in the beginning. I was horrified to imagine that *I* knew more about breastfeeding than an obstetrical nurse. That's a disgrace.
Breastfeeding protects you and your child from health problems now (ear infections are fewer for baby, mother loses weight faster) and in the future (lower Type 2 diabetes risk for both). It can be an uphill battle as a working mom to pump and maintain nursing. I can tell you, though, it can be done. You have to be creative. You have to resourceful, You have to be proactive. Don't assume the world will accomodate you. Educate yourself and your employer. Come up with a plan to circumvent problems. The results are very worthwhile.
BTW - Formula tastes like chalk. Breastmilk tastes sweeter and lighter in flavor. It's much more portable than formula and will never go bad in its original container. It can take some work to get going, but it is so worth it.
I never breastfed my son and in the first 3 weeks after I had him my husband did all the nightly feedings so I could get all the sleep I could. I think women who choose not to breastfeed are not only saving themselves from droopy breasts in the future but also letting other people feed the baby when she is wore out herself and needs a break whereas breastfeeding you are your kids milk machine for the first 6 weeks, 6 months, or 1 year and she won't get all the rest she can for when she goes back to work that is how I see it.
First, I'll say, I breast fed my son for 6 months. 3 months longer than I originally intended. I stuck it out because after 4 months, it finally got easier. He was never a good nurser, I never really had enough milk, and he never really gained weight well until I stopped, switched to formula and solid food. I was determined to stick it out because I have bad allergies and was doing the only thing I could to hopefully prevent his. I told my peditrician at the end of it all, had I known when he was born what I knew then, I wouldn't have done it. I still stand by it. If I have another child and it is that hard, I won't do it.
What I find disgusting is that so many women and worse, men, feel like it is there right to judge other women's decisions regarding what they do with their body and their child's. It's none of your business. It's not the government's business either. You have to live in a cave not to have heard it by now, but many of us grew up on formula and lived to tell about it. If I want to breastfeed until my child is 12 or never, it doesn't and shouldn't affect you. Instead, try being supportive to other people. The only thing worse than the nipple nazi's is the competitive, superior mothers who feel like the fact that they too have given birth (get over it, it happens a million times a day) can pass their feelings and will on others. Get over it already.
Yes, all new moms should try hard to breastfeed - it is SO worth the effort! If there are too many complications (such as the previous poster) then go to formula and you won't feel guilty as long as you gave it a good shot and don't buy into the fallacies.
My sister was so into LLL that I feared her disapproval if breastfeeding didn't work for me. We're close, so I thought that if I bottle-fed, that might come between us. But she told me it'd be fine if I used formula, and that took pressure off me.
Fortunately, it worked out fine with 2 babies: the younger one is now 8 months old and sleeping 10-11 hrs. at night without waking to nurse!
My personal advice: use silicone nipple shields to reduce initial pain in the early weeks; don't wear underwire bras or sportbras in the first few months; try Lilypadz, nursing tanks, and a nursing pillow, and of course laying down to nurse which is very relaxing and even possible to go to sleep! Nurse every 2-3 hrs in the first few weeks to ensure supply. Being a mom IS a sacrifice, and some things last only for a short while anyway, such as a year. Having previously sacrificed/invested 4 yrs. to college, I can just as well put life on hold for a similar timeframe for the investment into 1-2 human beings.
Also, my breasts are actually better now as my husband of 14 yrs. often attests - certainly not droopy at all, and with much huger & harder nipples than before!
Let me just start with .....to each his own ..choice that is.
but, now as a bf mother myself I do have to say I'm glad someone threw in that there is a reason bf babies sleep a shorter and lighter sleep, and that it is a good thing (SIDS prevention, etc.)
...And I'm sorry that the woman who had her husband do all of the night feedings so she could rest, felt that was such a great thing, many women actually recoperate faster when breast feeding, so it wouldn't have taken 3weeks to become rested ...( also you can sleep and bf, the baby can smell the milk and latch on ...even just after BIRTH) and no that does not mean that you have to have your baby sleep with you.
..also I have read the labels of some of these formula cans and the only things I could pronouce were the cow milk's parts (whey, milk soilds etc.) and the different forms of sugar...and the soy varitys seemed to have more sugar than the milk ones ...I think that these may be another factor into why bf babies are less likely to be obese or have diabetes ...they aren't introduce to all of these sugars and sugar by-products from birth.
...On another note I do feel for the mothers who try ....but not those who half heartedly try and then just give formula because it was just "better" or "easier" for them.. but for those who truely tried and are unable to..my heart is out to those mothers. Also for those who really want their children to have human milk their are also milk banks for those who can't medically do it, and those who produce an abundance to give to others.
Another tidbit of info for those wanting to bf a non-biological (adoptied child) It is actually possiable to so that child can reap the benifits....there are many natural things that can stimulate and increase milk production without giving birth.
I'm sure some formula feeders feel stong about their opinions.. but mothers who breast feed are also and I think that there needs to be more word spread of the proven benifits in actual comparitive studies instead of stupid scare tactics ....pregnant woman riding a bull..please it's more of a joke than a realistic scare tactic.
Also the health care personal at some facilities are great... it's sad that some are so ill informed .....while pregant or just after birth there are so many support groups even without going to le Leche League meetings, but even those can be a great help for those who need and we all do at some point.
I'm quoting Anonymous..
"One more thing that I wish new mothers would be informed about - the fact that after the first few weeks, newborns suddenly want to nurse a lot more, perhaps due to a growth spurt. This happened with both of my daughters. It seemed they wanted to nurse every hour. I felt as though I was constantly breat feeding. I stuck it out and continued to nurse on demand (against the advise of my nurse practitioner at the pediatrician's office, who told me to nurse no sooner than every two hours). Of course, this contant nursing increased my milk supply (the more you nurse, the more you make), and soon, they were getting enough milk at each feeding to last them a few hours again.
Unfortionatly, not all new mothers realize that this sudden demand is normal. "
This happened to me too. Luckily, my husband and I quickly agreed that trying to breast feed when our son got fussy and there didn't seem to be anything else wrong was the way to go. He would often nurse for an hour at a time, then want to go again an hour after he started. Exhausting as it was, I kept up and didn't start pumping until he was about 3 months old to prepare him for daycare a month later.
Before birth, moms should be educated about their choices for feeding their child - either by their OB or a prenatal pediatrician visit. I'm sure many of the people posting here have educated themselves, but many mothers don't have the time or ability (or incentive) to read up and get bad advice from their moms who grew up in the 'formula is best' era. I was lucky to have a supportive nursing staff at the hospital where I gave birth where several things were tried and advice given until my son and I were getting the hang of nursing. All babies lose weight after they're born - moms need to know that this is normal and it will take a while for you and baby to figure things out.
I wasn't working when I had my son, but am now expecting a daughter and working - luckily will be able to work from home for a while and there is a pumping room at work (only it's a7-8 min walk from my office). I was able to bf my son in the day until about 18 mo, and he didn't stop at night until 2 1/2! don't think I'll do that well with daughter, but I'll try.
More societal support and education is the key here - not brow-beating moms.
As a neonatal nurse, nursing instructor, and of mother of three children (I BF each one for a year), I can tell you that BF is the most bonding human experience one can have. I have talked countless women into BF that were on the fence with little support, and most of them were so happy someone was encouraging them. Breast milk is a miracle substance. Studies have shown that it can kill cancer cells in a petrie dish, it makes babies smarter, and prevents gasrtritis caused by rotavirus, reduces allergies, lessens the chance of obesity and diabetes- the list goes on and on. I don't understand why a woman would choose not to give this to her baby if it is possible. The biggest obstacle I see is lack of partner and medical support. People don't understand woman need to be relaxed in order for the "let down" reflex to occur or very little milk will be expressed. Without support, this does not happen easily. A breast pump does not have the same sucking action as a neonate, and may or may not not express any milk in the few first days postpartum. As for the mother, breastfeeding hastens the involution of the uterus to the pre-pregnant state and promotes loss of stored fat for quicker maternal weight loss. This usually is a better motivator for moms than the idea of breast or uterine cancer prevention because it is a quick tangable goal. I am sure there are many other benefits to breast feeding that have not yet been discovered. I don't ever try force breast feeding on a mom who absolutely does not want to do it. I do, however, make sure all of the moms I care for are educated on the potential benefits to her and her baby. Most FF babies will grow up just fine, but we will never really know for sure how their lives may have been improved if their mother had decided to give them the gift of breast milk.
Wow! I come from a culture where women breastfeed exclusively, some almost until the child is 2 yrs old, now sadly it is changing in my generation (I am 27). I DID breastfeed my baby girl for 6 months exclusively inspite of my mother-in-law trying to discourage me from it (my husband is at least 3rd generation raised on cow's milk: how selffish and irresponsible!!!) and I continued until she was a year old, by then she cut teeth and it my nipples started bleeding and I just had to stop, I could go on for at least another 6 months. Now all the momies-to-be: please, do it for your baby, breastfeed!!! After the 6th months, when the baby takes cerial and other baby food, you can go to work and breastfeed in the morning, afternoon and evening, it is not that hard at all!!! Oh, just a warning: around 3rd month baby has a growing spurt and it may seem he/she does not get enough milk, constantly hungry, but just hang on, your breast adjust the milk supply to baby's needs and you will have more milk. So, yes, I stayed hoem with my baby and when I have another one I am planning to take a year off too, to breastfeed him/her. It is worth it!
If a mother does not watch her diet and make sure to get well balanced meals with the appropriate amounts nutrients, vitamins, etc. at EVERY meal... then Breastfeeding is NOT as good as formula!!!!!
Sassy Texan
It sometimes astonishes me, some of the things that people say about breastfeeding. My daughter is 10 months old, she was exclusively breastfed until she was 6 months old, and we are still nursing today. I would not have done it any other way. I hear these posters claiming that bf'ing is too hard, or they didn't have the time, or their nipples were flat, or they didn't take their vitaimin so they had to supplement. Please. Any well informed breastfeeding mother knows that this in just nonsense. If a bf'ing woman doesn't get the right nutrition from her diet it won't have an effect on the nutritional value of her milk, it will have a negative effect on her, but certainly not her milk. Flat nipples are drawn out with nipple sheilds. My breastfed baby has slept for at least 6 hour periods of time since she was 2 weeks old. Newsflash, babies are supposed to wake up at night. In fact I would get concerned when she didn't wake up. There are hundreds of books available, women should be well informed. In fact I think all first time mothers should be required to take a breastfeeding class, especially low income mothers. I didn't expect some nurse to come in and "teach" me how to nurse. I read books, I watched videos, and I talked to other mothers who were Bf'ing. And yes those first few days are hard, and I sat and cried becuase she didn't want to latch on, but, I wanted the best for my baby and myself. And women who return to work, my mother nursed all three of us, myself and my two sisters, for at least 9 months, working as a nurse, that would be 12 hour shifts, she pumped, and it worked just fine.
I think that there is a reason that you can by a whole can of formula for 20 bucks, and breastmilk banks are currently selling donated breastmild for $3.50 an OUNCE! Thats right, AN OUNCE. And has anyone taken a whiff of formula lately? It smells aweful, and tastes even worse. Breastmilk is sweet, and doesn't smell like anything. I wouldn't drink formula, why would I want my baby to drink it unless she had to?
I am all for the hardball approach of encouraging breastfeeding. Tough love makes healthy babies. We should all want the best for our babies, I want the best for all babies. So, breastfeeders, encourage your friends, sisters, even strangers to nurse. It is a beautiful thing. And shame on this society for making the women who came before us feel dirty for choosing the best nutrition for our children.
Thank you for this. My exclusively breastfed baby was hospitalized for probable pertussis when he was 2 months just this past May 2006. Where was the protection I was suppossedly giving to him? Why was he sick and I was completely unaffected - and no I did not have the booster nor have I ever had the disease. Your blog helped clarify this for me. I am still a breastfeeding mom but I do not think that it is anybody's business, including the government, about how I choose to feed my baby. I think the breastfeeding nazi's are doing more harm than good.
this debate is right up there with the stay home mom vs working mom thing. Both issues should be decided by each family and their personal situations and issues. It is not anyone's business whether I breastfeed or not. I have 3 kids and one on the way. I breast fed one (my third) and bottle fed the others. I can tell you that there was not one difference in their health as a result.
I have a nephew who was born at the same time as my son. He was breast fed, my son was bottle fed. My nephew stayed sick with ear infections and has had tubes in his ears. My son is one of the healthiest kids I know and has never had a single ear infection in his entire 13 years of life. Clearly breast milk did not help my nephew's health one bit.
I can attest to the fact that breastfeeding is a decision that should be made by the mother and can be a different decision with each child due to medical issues, personal feelings or other circumstances. Making all moms who choose bottle feeding, or have no choice but to bottle feed, feel guilty acomplishes nothing. Women have got to stop telling each other what to do and start supporting each other, no matter what they choose for their families.
When my daughter was born I tried desperately to breastfeed. I could only seem to get her to latch on with help from a doctor and a nurse at the hospital. Because of her being jaundiced, I had to start bottle feeding her breast milk to try and get enough liquids into her to help flush her system out and get her better since nursing was so difficult for my little one and sometimes a nurse couldn't even help me to get the little one to nurse properly.
By the time I took my daughter home, I think I maybe got her to do it once on my own after two and a half agonizing weeks of trying - making three weeks of attempts between hospital and home. I was exhausted and depressed and frustrated. I was spending a half hour after my daughter went back to sleep expressing milk for the next feedings in case she wouldn't latch on again. A half hour of sleeptime is a precious commodity to the parent of a newborn who is up every two hours of the night to feed!
I finally got so frustrated and wiped out that my mom told me to tell my doctor I was giving up and to start formula. I was on the verge of a breakdown at that point, I felt like a failure everytime I couldn't get my daughter to successfully nurse.
My doctor himself was very good about my decision, but a few other people I had seen in the office about the problem continued to try and get me to continue - " go see someone from La Leche, work weekly with a Lactation Counselor, rent this expensive equipment to continue pumping, etc." I was made to feel like I was not trying hard enough, and made to feel pretty guilty. Frankly that was more missed rest time for me, and more strangers looking at my naked breasts and failed nursing attempts than I felt like dealing with anymore; and I certainly couldn't afford to rent the equipment.
In the end, my daughter has had very few ear infections, very few serious colds and illnesses and is a very healthy little 2 year old now. I was able to be a much better parent once I was able to ease my frustration and not be so stressed and anxious. I think in some cases, formula might be the better answer. We should not be made to feel like we are being reckless and fickle about our child's future health because we can't or have lots of difficulty nursing. Using formula versus breast milk is in no way similar to endangering your child's life in utero by riding a mechanical bull. That's just ridiculous!
I am going to try to nurse the baby I am currently pregnant with, I do believe there are many benefits to nursing, health-wise and bonding-wise - plus formula is really expensive and breast milk is free! This time, I am going to take classes ahead of time, and pacifiers and bottles will be banned until baby gets how to latch on - no one suggested I could have spoon fed or bottle dripped milk to my baby when I was in the hospital trying to flush the jaundice when she wasn't latching. Having more information and more experience I am hoping will make this 2nd attempt easier. But if I find myself getting overly anxious and frustrated and crying after every feeding for two weeks, I won't feel bad about needing to switch to formula again.
A happy and healthy mom is much more important to a baby's health and happiness than being fed breastmilk over formula. When nursing keeps failing and mom keeps feeling guilty, some resentments may arise - that's worse than any formula in the world. We shouldn't forget the importance of Mom's well being in relation to the child's. We should not villify parents who choose formula for personal reasons or because of nursing difficulties - they are making the best choice for them, and that choice will make them a better adjusted parent.
I wanted to breast feed so badly, however after I had a preemie my milk just did not come in. So I went to LLL, they put my on many yeast pills, and in general were very militant about it. I was made to feel that I was not a good mother if I did not get up every three hours to pump. Keep in mind I had a one pound baby, and was at the hospital over 15 hours a day. If asked to this day, the very worst part of having a sick child was how LLL made me feel. When my second child was born, I was so traumatized by the first experience that I would not even try to breast feed her. I even made the LLL lady leave my hospital room.
I have always felt that the breast is best thing is really taken too far. There are times that it is not the best thing for the mother.
Breast is best. Formula is not as good as breastmilk. Period.
Society needs to change their opinions on nursing moms who choose to live their lives normally (go out to stores, restaurants...anywhere in the public eye). In most places women have the RIGHT to nurse in public and anyone who tell them otherwise can be sued. I am discreet when I nurse in public, but I do it. Because it needs to done. Period.
I was told I did not have enough milk, to supplement. I had bleeding nipples...but I was determined to do it because it was/is the best thing for my baby. I also had a number of other obstacles, but I overcame them. It took a support group (LLL and support from my partner, most important, advice from other nursing moms) for me to continue. It was the hardest thing I have ever done (and I have done alot!:) and it is the one thing I am the proudest of because my child is healthy, smart, and our eyes communicate a language no one else understands!
The irony of the govt campaige is that they are one of the biggest suppliers of formula milk. Wic and medicare for those without health insurance (and other such programs) provide the formula to them for free or at very little cost. This tax paying breastfeeding mom, is paying for formula for others. That is just wrong! Why not invest in lactation consultants or support groups for young/poor/uninsured moms and make them go through that before giving out the formula. It will save money in so many ways...save on formula (breastmilk is free) and save on health cost (healthier babies) and healthier adults. Why this issue is hardly ever mentioned, is beyond me. I am not saying to let the babies go hungry if the mother cannot breastfeed for whatever reason, I am saying be proactive at that level...most ladies can given the right tools. Breastfeeding is a learned art, for both the mother and baby. If after the education on its benefits, orientation on how to do it, and the attempt is made, then for goodness sake give the baby formula. But babies are, indeed, born to breastfeed.
I dont understand the big deal. I breast fed two children and my daughter is breast feeding hers. During the entire period there has never been a time that I needed to flop a tit (or is that teat?) out in public. I am starting to think these are simply rookie moms who don't know how to use discretion. Breast feeding is natural and so is childbirth and sex...what comes next will they start bending over shopping carts and giving birth in the produce section?
Sometimes...things happen but we try a little harder to avoid those scenes don't we?
The truth is...a breast feeding mom knows how to time those feedings. Supplimenting is not really needed nor would I recommend it. What do you think breast pumps are for? I went to school full time and stored milk for my infant to nurse while I was away at school. Are you people suggesting nursing moms take the babies to school or work and nurse them?
I am not an old fashioned prude. In fact, I am a mechanic who believes in girl power (or woman power for you critics) I wish you people would stop whining about something this silly. We have no interest in spotting your tits in public places. An experienced mother can nurse a child descretly if she gave it half an effort. If it is so important to you. Make an effort to chose your clothing wisely, take a lite coverlet or cloth diaper along with you. Stop trying to compare yourselves to Rosa Parks and get the thing done. Nursing mothers can be tactful and tasteful.
By the way, That poor sap who thinks breast feeding will spoil her figure.....You have no idea! Actually, it will make your figure get back in shape a whole lot faster. I am only "BIGMOMMA" because Im a grandmother, A foxy size 3 at that.
I was breastfed for almost a year and I had many childhood illnesses as well as having illnesses as an adult. My sister was breastfed and she had bronchitis when she was 4 months old, as well as having MANY ear infections and illnesses. My brother was exclusively formula fed and rarely sees the doctor. He is by far the healthiest of the 3 of us. I wanted to breastfeed but due to inverted nipples i can't. I tried pumping but that didnt work. I felt horrible and like a failure which i shouldn't have because it isnt my fault. FORMULA IS NOT POISON. The healthiest part of breastmilk is the colostrum which is produced BEFORE your milk comes in. As well if baby got all these antibodies and whatnot, why do they still need to get the same vaccinations we have received?
When I gave birth to my daughter, I started out as a "breast only" type of woman. I had read all the books, met with a lactation consultant 3 different times before birth and had invested in a very expensive pump. While things started off wonderfully (my daughter latched on perfectly 30 minuts after she was born) things took a terrrible turn. At two months she began screaming day and night. She was constantly at the breast but always got frustrated after a few seconds. My milk suddenly stopped producing enough. I had home visits from my LC, withdrew from school so I could have nonstop nursing sessions, and I went on herbal supplements. Nothing worked and it was devestating. I nursed with supplements until four and half monthes but when I went back to work my milk dried up almost overnight.
It took me a long time to get over my "breastfeeding failure". My point is, yes breast feeding is so super important and wonderful but in the end you have to do what is best for you. I made some big sacrifices and really beat myself over it but I do beleive that you need to do what is best for your entire family!!
PS- for those moms who can't breastfeed b/c of work or school, try doing it for two weeks so your baby can get the colostrum. it is loaded with anibodies and the two week commitment can really be benificial.
Interesting,
Recnetly i read a discussion that breastfedding decreases risk of SIDS. What is your practice? Do you think it is actaully true?
***PROVEN FACT: CHILDREN BREAST-FED EXCLUSIVELY FOR 2 YEARS COMPARED TO FORMULA FED CHILDREN; AT THE AGE OF 7, THE BREASTFED CHILD SCORED, ON AVERAGE, 9 POINTS HIGHER ON IQ TESTS THAN THEIR FORMULA FED PEERS.***(Source; Multiple accredited studies)*IT IS REAL SAD TO SEE ALL THESE "MOTHERS" HERE, MAKING UP THE MOST PATHETIC AND SELFISH EXCUSES I HAVE EVER HEARD. WHO EVER THINKS THAT THEY ARE PERFECTLY HEALTHY AS A BOTTLE FED CHILD IS DEAD WRONG. MANY STUDIES SHOW THAT ARTIFICIAL FEEDING (FORMULA) LEADS TO A SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED RISK FOR ASTHMA, TYPE 2 DIABETES, ADULTHOOD OBESITY, MOST CANCERS, SIDS, EVEN DEATH. SO, WHY DID THESE SO CALLED "MOTHERS" WHO LOVE THEIR CHILDREN SO MUCH CONTINUE TO MAKE CHOICES WITH SUCH NEGATIVE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES? "MOTHERS" WHO "CHOOSE" TO FEED THEIR CHILDREN FORMULA ARE SETTING THEM UP FOR LONG-TERM FAILURE AND MISERY. CONGRATS MOMS, YOU'RE KILLING YOUR KIDS!!!!!
In regard to the posting at the bottom in all caps - it is completly WRONG in every sense of the word...you don't know what you ar talking about, did you ever hear of genes. Ignorant people throw around type 2 diabetes phrase when it fits the argument, IT MUST BE IN THE GENES in order to develop this disorder. Also if a mother chooses not to breast feed their child, they don't have to, some women do not make enough milk and their kid then starves, so before you start telling Moms they are killing their kids, you should take your anti-depressants and relax. By the way hope you weren't taking them while breast feeding.
Your posting;
***PROVEN FACT: CHILDREN BREAST-FED EXCLUSIVELY FOR 2 YEARS COMPARED TO FORMULA FED CHILDREN; AT THE AGE OF 7, THE BREASTFED CHILD SCORED, ON AVERAGE, 9 POINTS HIGHER ON IQ TESTS THAN THEIR FORMULA FED PEERS.***(Source; Multiple accredited studies)*IT IS REAL SAD TO SEE ALL THESE "MOTHERS" HERE, MAKING UP THE MOST PATHETIC AND SELFISH EXCUSES I HAVE EVER HEARD. WHO EVER THINKS THAT THEY ARE PERFECTLY HEALTHY AS A BOTTLE FED CHILD IS DEAD WRONG. MANY STUDIES SHOW THAT ARTIFICIAL FEEDING (FORMULA) LEADS TO A SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED RISK FOR ASTHMA, TYPE 2 DIABETES, ADULTHOOD OBESITY, MOST CANCERS, SIDS, EVEN DEATH. SO, WHY DID THESE SO CALLED "MOTHERS" WHO LOVE THEIR CHILDREN SO MUCH CONTINUE TO MAKE CHOICES WITH SUCH NEGATIVE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES? "MOTHERS" WHO "CHOOSE" TO FEED THEIR CHILDREN FORMULA ARE SETTING THEM UP FOR LONG-TERM FAILURE AND MISERY. CONGRATS MOMS, YOU'RE KILLING YOUR KIDS!!!!!
1:23 AM
****REALITY CHECK**** WE ARE THE ONLY SPECIES ON THIS ENTIRE PLANET THAT ARTIFICIALLY FEED OUR OFFSPRING. SO, TELL ME AGAIN, WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BOTTLE-FEED? FOR THE HEALTH BENEFITS?!?! OR TO ENABLE THE IGNORANCE AND SELFISHNESS OF TODAYS SO-CALLED MOTHERS?!?!
I breastfed both of my boys for over 2 years each. I endured cracked and bleeding nipples, mastitis seven times, and a significant change in the appearance of my breasts. It was all worth it. I enjoyed every moment of it, and the bonding is wonderful. My children are almost 4 and 7. They rarely go to the doctor. I do understand that children that are not breastfed are healthy too, but I feel there is somewhat of a risk mothers take by choosing not to breastfeed. I don't think that it fair to judge mothers for not breastfeeding and I do understand that in rare cases that it is not possible. I do think pediatricians and OB/GYN's need to educate their patients on the benefits of breastfeeding. I have spent hours researching the benefits of breastfeeding, and it amazing what breastmilk contains that formula could never contain. I think pregnant women need to make an educated decision about breastfeeding before they write it off as not being important. I feel that if more mothers choose to breastfeed doctors and hospitals would see a decrease in infections and other illness's.
everyone needs to calm down and mind your own business, we all have opinions right or wrong which ever you feel is better for yourself. I personally am still breastfeeding and giving formula and you know what my son still breathes, moves, has fun and grows!
I didnt know being a mother meant to breast feed? Wow thanks for that, And SPECIES in this entire planet, well tell me what other SPECIES is able to get up prepare a bottle and feed it to their youngin. um there isn't. So you breastfeed and were breast fed as well I take it. I wasn't and am just fine and still healthy from a baby(from what my moma told me) to adult.
I recently gave birth to twin boys. I really, really wanted to breast feed my babies and tried so hard. The babies were born early and couldn't latch. I didn't make enough milk for two, even with herbs. I fell into a deep depression and even contemplated taking my own life. I was so sleep deprived and worried, not to mention full of guilt. My babies were shrinking before my very eyes. The three of us cried constantly for two weeks. I saw four lactation consultants and tried cup feeding, lactation aids, etc. After two weeks I rented a pump and started bottle feeding a combination of formula and breast milk instead of breast feeding. I was so depressed but I just couldn't continue. At the one-month mark I stopped pumping (hard to pump eight times a day with twins to take care of) and switched to formula. What can I say? It became a choice between the babies not having a mother (I was in a trance and couldn't bond with them at all -- too tired, depressed, guilty) or not having breast milk past the one-month mark. Yes, breast is best. But there are many ways to nourish a child - they need physical, emotional, and nutritional care. Bottle feeding is letting me tend to my babies' physical and emotional needs. I took a class before the babies were born and read a lot. Everyone said "You'll be fine! You can make enough milk for triplets if you have to! Breast is best!" Nobody told me it would be so hard.
People need to relize that there are legal rights involved her. A mother has a legal right to breastfeed her child anytime, anywhere and without any applogies. If someone gives you a bad look, give them one back. If you are asked to leave a public area contact a lawyer, becuase your rights have been violated. I breastfeed my first daughter 13 months, and am still breastfeeding my 11 month old. It is the right thing to do, and I am personally sick of bottle feeding moms trying to justfy thier decision to not breastfeed by making negative comments about it. So many times I here bottle feeding moms say formula is just as good, or that they know someone who breastfeed and there kid was sick all the time, so it can't be as good as they claim, etc. I found this article to be false. I have seen the opposite side of this issue, and that is people look down on breastfeeding moms. Breastfeeding moms should get more support, and society should see moms doing it often enough that it should be so commonplace that no one things anything of it. So get out there moms. No more hiding in cars, and bathrooms. If baby is hungry feed him. Anytime anyplace.
People need to relize that there are legal rights involved her. A mother has a legal right to breastfeed her child anytime, anywhere and without any applogies. If someone gives you a bad look, give them one back. If you are asked to leave a public area contact a lawyer, becuase your rights have been violated. I breastfeed my first daughter 13 months, and am still breastfeeding my 11 month old. It is the right thing to do, and I am personally sick of bottle feeding moms trying to justfy thier decision to not breastfeed by making negative comments about it. So many times I here bottle feeding moms say formula is just as good, or that they know someone who breastfeed and there kid was sick all the time, so it can't be as good as they claim, etc. I found this article to be false. I have seen the opposite side of this issue, and that is people look down on breastfeeding moms. Breastfeeding moms should get more support, and society should see moms doing it often enough that it should be so commonplace that no one things anything of it. So get out there moms. No more hiding in cars, and bathrooms. If baby is hungry feed him. Anytime anyplace.
I have 3 children all of them have wheat, peanut, egg, cow milk and soy milk allergies. My only choice is breastfeeding. And i did not regret breastfeeding them all. I know what I give to them is for their best. i don't care if they look at me or ask me why I'm breastfeeding becuase I have good reason "why". Keeping my children alive. What else i can feed to my baby in a first year, my milk. Sure enough they can't drink cow and soy formula. Bottle feeding or breastfeeding I'm sure you won't let your baby starve whatever you choose.
i need to know if there is a diffrence from pumping your breast milk to bottle feed your kid or dose haveing the baby latch on to the breast produce more milk if you can answer this please send answer to timothy_mcgrath_9@msn.com thank you very much
YOU KNOW SOMETHING IT'S ODD. THE SAME PEOPLE THAT BREASTFEED WILL BRING THOSE SAME CHILDREN TO MCDONALDS & OTHER FAST FOOD PLACES AS THEY GET OLDER. THE BOTTOM LINE IS UNLESS THEY LIVE ON FARM VEGETABLES & ORCHARD FRUITS THEIR HEALTH WILL ALWAYS BE COMPROMISED. SO LEAVE MOTHERS ALONE. I PERSONALLY PLAN TO BREASTFEED MY CHILD, BUT IF SOMETHING DOESN'T ALLOW ME, THEN I WILL NOT BE DEPRESSED I WILL SIMPLY FEED MY KID..WHAT'S SO DIFFICULT ABOUT THIS?? LIKE I SAID...WHEN THEY ARE 5 PEOPLE WILL BE TAKING THEIR KID TO MCDONALDS ANY SCREW UP THE POINT ANYWAY...LIVE YOUR LIFE THE WAY YOU WANT!
i was so concerned with the health of my newborn, that i chose to have him at home. statisticaly, 30% of hospital births resulted in serious complications and medical interventions, not to mention after birth infections.
on the contrast, when you use a midwife who is trained both medicaly and experience wise with gods way of bringing us into this world you get the personal attention such a divine experience deserves.
and this is exactly how i feel about nursing: it takes work, and dedication- but i know of not one thing worth doing in this life that doesn't.
i sense in the reactions of the non-nursing mothers not only anger, but pain. i think they know what the best for their children, and i sympathise with the ones who could not provide it because of extenuating circumstance. but for the others to argue that they are making the best choice for thier child, instead of themselve, is probably a lie because thier heart knows the truth.
from anonymous' last post
not only is nursing and having a midwife to focus specificaly on you safer and healthier, but it is so much cheeper given a typical situation. i am a low income single mom, and i know i would not have been able to afford a hospital stay or buying formula that i felt comfortable with
I am pregnant with my first child and I really, really, really want to breast feed my baby. My question is about breastfeeding after a c-section. I am concerned about pain control and how the pain meds would effect the baby. Are there pain meds that are strong enough to take care of most of the pain but are still safe for breastfeeding moms?
I have two sides to this. First not all women can breast feed effectively, I couldn't and the cesarian scar made it that much more difficult because my son couldn't lay on my stomach.
My great grandmother had twins, one was healthy the other on deaths door. She breast fed the healthy child and both died a short time later. Great grandmother was sick but didn't know it. The unhealthy child, my grandfather, happened to be sent to a wet nurse, he survived.
It would be great if every woman could breast feed either by pump or directly from the breast but for some reason I couldn't. Don't feel bad if you can't. It doesn't make you a bad mother or less of one. Do what is right for you and your child.
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