AMEN to this article. I tried EVERYTHING to produce milk and my body just wasn't producing enough. I didn't even have formula prepared because I was ready to breastfeed only, as instructed by those breastfeeding experts in the hospitals. So of course I felt guilty as hell when I became a first time mom - I must've cried myself to sleep every night! There is such an intense social pressure to breastfeed and this article definitely puts it into perspective. Thank you for this.
35
Breast feeding is not oversold. Nature, from the smallest to the largest mammal, made it so.
As to people mentioning adopted children, well, duh. No one expects you to nurse an adopted baby, though in many cultures throughout history, a wet nurse would have been used. If you have trouble nursing, then don't. No one wants your baby to starve if your milk is inadequate - that said, most cultures also knew what foods and herbs increase milk. This is also, perhaps, related to stress - and hence the value of a doula or a strong circle of available friends and family.
The fact that some people are judgmental, or you feel them to be overzealous, does not take away from the value of breastfeeding. People who feel like failures because they can't nurse are dealing with their own inner psyche.
As to people mentioning adopted children, well, duh. No one expects you to nurse an adopted baby, though in many cultures throughout history, a wet nurse would have been used. If you have trouble nursing, then don't. No one wants your baby to starve if your milk is inadequate - that said, most cultures also knew what foods and herbs increase milk. This is also, perhaps, related to stress - and hence the value of a doula or a strong circle of available friends and family.
The fact that some people are judgmental, or you feel them to be overzealous, does not take away from the value of breastfeeding. People who feel like failures because they can't nurse are dealing with their own inner psyche.
36
The benefits of breastfeeding are compelling. If this author is vastly uninformed about the extensive physiological, social-emotional, and psychological benefits of breastfeeding. Research shows a multitude of both short term and long term benefits to both to mom and to baby. Breastfeeding is Mother Nature’s way of promoting bonding as attachment hormones are released when breastfeeding. Breastfeeding has extensive health benefits for the baby including less diarrhea, colds, and vomiting than babies fed formula, better immune systems, reduced risk for respiratory infections and otitis media, reduced overweight and obesity, reduction of SIDS, and benefits for preterm babies including increased weight gain and lower rates of respiratory disease, and a reduction in neonatal mortality. A 2015 longitudinal study showed that at age 30 those breast fed 12 months or more had higher IQ scores, more years of education and higher monthly incomes than people breast-fed for a month or less. And studies show longterm benefits to moms--earlier return to pre-pregnancy weight, decreased risk of breast cancer, and decreased postmenopausal osteoporosis. In addition, breastfeeding is economical for the breastfeeding family, it results in significantly decreased public health costs, and it creates less of an environmental burden than formula cans and bottles. Yes, there is a strong breastfeeding advocacy community because of the extensive benefits.
24
I meant 'the less you behave like a woman the MORE you will succeed'!
1
Women deserve to be informed about the benefits of breastfeeding and need social support to to persevere through the challenges that happen in the first few weeks of breastfeeding a newborn. I think that advocating for paid maternal leave would be more supportive of breastfeeding mothers (and all mothers). Formula is clearly a fine option and no mother should be vilified for feeding her infant formula, if that is what works for her and her baby. It's true that some women have challenges with milk production and some women simply don't want to breastfeed. In my experience, nursing was incredibly convenient once we got the hang of it. It saved tons of money because we never had to buy formula. My child was hardly ever sick during the first 6 months of his life. I lost all the baby weight quickly. Does this make me better than my friends who didn't breastfeed or had production issues? Absolutely not. Advice on weening is where the breastfeeding advocates seem to fall short. This natural transition out of breastfeeding needs to be as supported as initiating breastfeeding is.
16
If only we honored women and trusted them in our society and supported them in creating and nourishing new human life, this would be a non-issue.
Trust women to make their own choices about their bodies and their families.
Medical "researchers" and doctors have long treated women's reproductive systems as a disease in itself, and defined health as being male, in large part.
Women's reproductive systems are natural and giving birth and breast-feeding are likewise natural processes, which do not require anything to be "sold" to the mother. Capitalism is often incompatible with the truth that humans are perfect, whole and holy Beings whose need for medical attention is limited at best. Nourishment is the key to health, and women know more about that in their bones and blood than any scientist.
Trust women to make their own choices about their bodies and their families.
Medical "researchers" and doctors have long treated women's reproductive systems as a disease in itself, and defined health as being male, in large part.
Women's reproductive systems are natural and giving birth and breast-feeding are likewise natural processes, which do not require anything to be "sold" to the mother. Capitalism is often incompatible with the truth that humans are perfect, whole and holy Beings whose need for medical attention is limited at best. Nourishment is the key to health, and women know more about that in their bones and blood than any scientist.
6
Old news. Metastudies show there is virtually no difference at all between breastfeeding and formula fed.
24
This is posted by jroll.
New mothers need the support of other mothers. Primates all mother in groups - that support may well be biological as well as psychological. So it is sad to read this article and see how that support becomes criticism and directions and not support. Fifty years ago, as a Peace Corps Volunteer, supervised by a Host Country Doctor, I advised mothers that human breast milk would not support human life without supplementation. We taught early infant feeding beginning at one month. Women in the town who used formula were touted as role models. I am so fortunate that when I had my own child, breast feeding had become more acceptable. It was the efforts of the women of La Leche that first began championing breast feeding and finally the medical establishment took notice. Still, when my child was born, the nurses were angry that I would not okay "sugar water" or "formula" for my newborn. Both my mother and a sister, who was a mother, criticized me for "not feeding my baby." I was fortunate that "my milk came in" within 36 hours after birth and to my delight and the consternation of my"advisors"., the baby began gaining weight. I will always be profoundly grateful to the women of La Leche for their support. I will always be guilty for the very bad advice I gave to the mothers with whom I worked as a Volunteer. My child was nourished in the very way that they had been doing for centuries.
New mothers need the support of other mothers. Primates all mother in groups - that support may well be biological as well as psychological. So it is sad to read this article and see how that support becomes criticism and directions and not support. Fifty years ago, as a Peace Corps Volunteer, supervised by a Host Country Doctor, I advised mothers that human breast milk would not support human life without supplementation. We taught early infant feeding beginning at one month. Women in the town who used formula were touted as role models. I am so fortunate that when I had my own child, breast feeding had become more acceptable. It was the efforts of the women of La Leche that first began championing breast feeding and finally the medical establishment took notice. Still, when my child was born, the nurses were angry that I would not okay "sugar water" or "formula" for my newborn. Both my mother and a sister, who was a mother, criticized me for "not feeding my baby." I was fortunate that "my milk came in" within 36 hours after birth and to my delight and the consternation of my"advisors"., the baby began gaining weight. I will always be profoundly grateful to the women of La Leche for their support. I will always be guilty for the very bad advice I gave to the mothers with whom I worked as a Volunteer. My child was nourished in the very way that they had been doing for centuries.
10
There are valid points in this article although I found its general tone and slant rather strange. This article doesn't mention how often a mother choosing to breastfeed is shamed for doing so -- at the mall, in a park, no matter how modestly she is feeding her baby. We live in a manmade world (with the emphasis on "man") in which women can be shamed for almost everything -- isolating the "breastfeeding police" here seems pretty silly. Isn't the larger problem that our society sees women as second class citizens who don't deserve to have control over the bodies -- whether we're talking about Congress, fashion, the working world, or those who shame a mom for going to work; or shame her for staying at home. We are radically alienated from nature and our bodies. Women's bodies (and women's breasts) have been so commodified that strangers can become openly disgusted and hostile when they see a mother breastfeeding. No one seems to remember what breasts are for. I have compassion for women who want to breastfeed and find they can't, and I respect the choice of women who'd rather not. My sister-in-law had a life-threatening breast infection after she started breast feeding (yes, women used to die from these, as they did from every aspect of pregnancy and child bearing). I had many breast infections myself, sore nipples, and nothing but a hand pump to take to work a couple decades ago. But I loved breastfeeding my two children, and did so for two years each. I felt lucky I could.
21
The moral fervor that the author describes is not unique to infant feeding but also surrounds debates about stay-at-home vs. outside employment, approaches to childbirth, etc. Maybe the bigger issue is the lack of support for different viewpoints.
But overselling? Babies can be successfully fed any variety of human milk substitutes but that is more a testament to the adaptability of our species that to the equivalence of formula to human milk. The simple fact is that we do not know what is in human milk and so we cannot replicate it. In over 30 years I have seen huge strides made in understanding what infant formula needs. Formula used 30 years ago would be inadequate today. There remains much to learn and so the formula of today will be inadequate against the formulas developed 30 years from now. That doesn’t mean a baby will not thrive with a formula, but it is not as good as human milk because we do not know how to replicate it.
Science is in its infancy of understanding nutrition and the role it plays in health, whether we are discussing organic vs. chemical farming, processed vs. made from scratch, vitamin supplements vs. food, breastfeeding vs formula.
BTW, the current prevalence of breastfeeding among affluent women is a complete turnaround from early and mid 20th century, when bottle feeding was the upper class behavior that women aspired to. Then the coercive methods were used to convince women to bottle feed.
But overselling? Babies can be successfully fed any variety of human milk substitutes but that is more a testament to the adaptability of our species that to the equivalence of formula to human milk. The simple fact is that we do not know what is in human milk and so we cannot replicate it. In over 30 years I have seen huge strides made in understanding what infant formula needs. Formula used 30 years ago would be inadequate today. There remains much to learn and so the formula of today will be inadequate against the formulas developed 30 years from now. That doesn’t mean a baby will not thrive with a formula, but it is not as good as human milk because we do not know how to replicate it.
Science is in its infancy of understanding nutrition and the role it plays in health, whether we are discussing organic vs. chemical farming, processed vs. made from scratch, vitamin supplements vs. food, breastfeeding vs formula.
BTW, the current prevalence of breastfeeding among affluent women is a complete turnaround from early and mid 20th century, when bottle feeding was the upper class behavior that women aspired to. Then the coercive methods were used to convince women to bottle feed.
20
Both of my daughters were bottle fed. One is a little smaller that she would like, the other one will likely be a very tall girl. My wife went through terrible pressure and physical pain to try to breast feed. We still cherish the night nurse who came for our first daughter to ask whether she could feed formula, because she appeared dehydrated. OF COURSE YOU CAN. It was the hospital that had decided, without our consent, that my wife would be breast feeding .
As a husband I enjoyed bottle feeding. It gave me an opportunity to bond with the baby. it gave me an opportunity to step up my help at night when my wife needed precious sleep.
As a husband I enjoyed bottle feeding. It gave me an opportunity to bond with the baby. it gave me an opportunity to step up my help at night when my wife needed precious sleep.
23
While I agree that the public conversation around breast-feeding is in danger of veering toward shaming low-income and single mothers, as well as those who simply don't physically produce an adequate supply, Ms. Jung mischaracterizes WIC policy and therefore demonizes one of the most important public programs supporting the health of mothers and children in the U.S.
WIC has, since its establishment during the War on Poverty, provided free formula. This represents a huge subsidy to formula makers, and a huge incentive not to breastfeed--because the WIC package available to breastfeeding mothers was worth much less, in dollar terms, than the package for non-breastfeeding mothers. Meanwhile, mothers trying to breastfeed need to eat more than non-breastfeeding mothers, and without extra food provided by WIC eating more was simply unaffordable.
The recent change, adding the "enhanced food package" for breastfeeding mothers, simply corrects what was previously an encouragement NOT to breastfeed. Moreover, it does so by making it easier for women to breastfeed, not by making it more difficult for non-nursing mothers, as the author seems to imply.
WIC is a valuable policy that has been shown in rigorous research to dramatically improve health, yet is often under attack in our polarized political environment. The last thing poor women in America need is for academics to mischaracterize this program.
WIC has, since its establishment during the War on Poverty, provided free formula. This represents a huge subsidy to formula makers, and a huge incentive not to breastfeed--because the WIC package available to breastfeeding mothers was worth much less, in dollar terms, than the package for non-breastfeeding mothers. Meanwhile, mothers trying to breastfeed need to eat more than non-breastfeeding mothers, and without extra food provided by WIC eating more was simply unaffordable.
The recent change, adding the "enhanced food package" for breastfeeding mothers, simply corrects what was previously an encouragement NOT to breastfeed. Moreover, it does so by making it easier for women to breastfeed, not by making it more difficult for non-nursing mothers, as the author seems to imply.
WIC is a valuable policy that has been shown in rigorous research to dramatically improve health, yet is often under attack in our polarized political environment. The last thing poor women in America need is for academics to mischaracterize this program.
23
'Compelling' a woman to feed her child? Seems like a feminist argument to compete with the lazy-male argument for not finding work to provide for his child. Don't want to care for a child, don't have one. It's not a malleable life-style choice. It's ironic that the same feminists who fight for extra time off for child care (Yes!) are the ones who fight against the very responsibilities that accompany giving birth.
5
" The difference in benefits is intended to create incentives for poor mothers to breast-feed, but withholding food from mothers at nutritional risk, and from their babies, seems more like punishment to me"
It is punishment. My god, who came up with this horrendous idea? And who was dumb or awful enough to implement it?
It is punishment. My god, who came up with this horrendous idea? And who was dumb or awful enough to implement it?
9
Jung nicely captures the stress women feel when they cannot breast feed. One of our children could not breast feed because of poor supply due to a retained placenta.Once the infection cleared, the maternal supply remained inadequate and the infant deeply frustrated. Eventually, he started to to refuse the breast entirely no matter how many tricks we tried (one of them included taping a thin tube to the breast which routed formula alongside breast milk to the suckling child). In the end, he was formula-fed but we felt self-conscious about his bottle feeds when in public and usually stutterered an explanation to stave off any criticism. As a health researcher, I'm increasingly aware about the "thinness" of much medical research as most studies cannot or, are not, being replicated; mathematicians find the statistical manipulations weak and; the big medical journals tend to publish studies with "significant" results (not necessarily accurate ones). Jung does a fine job interweaving the scientific and the social pressures exerted on us all (but especially on new mothers). I look forward to reading her book "Lactivism."
14
"withholding food from mothers at nutritional risk, and from their babies, seems more like punishment to me"
It is, and it's wrong-headed and counterproductive. The idea is to promote nutrition of the child; this accomplishes the opposite, ultimately penalizing a child of a woman who can't or won't breast feed. Coercion has no place in this. Where are the studies that show a superior outcome of policies of this kind? Does anyone know?
It is, and it's wrong-headed and counterproductive. The idea is to promote nutrition of the child; this accomplishes the opposite, ultimately penalizing a child of a woman who can't or won't breast feed. Coercion has no place in this. Where are the studies that show a superior outcome of policies of this kind? Does anyone know?
9
I wanted to breastfeed my babies because I had read the literature, and knew it was the healthiest choice for both them and me.
With my 3rd child, I had to switch to formula at 4 months because of a contraindicated-with-breastfeeding prescription medication I needed.
Losing the baby weight was effortless with my first two children who nursed exclusively 1+ years.
The weight stubbornly stuck around longer with my bottle fed child.
The increased freedom factor was so dramatic with my 3rd - I couldn't believe how much more was possible, how untethered I was by not being always on call for nursing.
Anecdotally, my 3rd, the bottle fed baby, struggled for many years with a asthma related condition that caused him to miss a lot of school. Neither of his sibs, nor my husband and I, have this health issue. And he's also dramatically shorter than his siblings.
I had no choice but to stop nursing him. I needed the Rx medication critically for my health. So I have no inner conflict about my decision - but I do wish he had had the same shot at nursing as his sibs.
With my 3rd child, I had to switch to formula at 4 months because of a contraindicated-with-breastfeeding prescription medication I needed.
Losing the baby weight was effortless with my first two children who nursed exclusively 1+ years.
The weight stubbornly stuck around longer with my bottle fed child.
The increased freedom factor was so dramatic with my 3rd - I couldn't believe how much more was possible, how untethered I was by not being always on call for nursing.
Anecdotally, my 3rd, the bottle fed baby, struggled for many years with a asthma related condition that caused him to miss a lot of school. Neither of his sibs, nor my husband and I, have this health issue. And he's also dramatically shorter than his siblings.
I had no choice but to stop nursing him. I needed the Rx medication critically for my health. So I have no inner conflict about my decision - but I do wish he had had the same shot at nursing as his sibs.
8
The birth of my son was difficult--I suffered a third degree cervical tear, which resulted in an infection and hematoma. The hematoma was cleaned without any painkillers so that I could breastfeed. I was still in the hospital when my father had a stroke and died the next day. My mother was devastated and cried to me over the phone as I tried to be a good mother despite my grief. My baby son vomited my blood. I had no milk and was given drugs to stimulate my supply. No one wanted to hear about my grief, my pain or my mixed feelings. I had to breast feed and hated it and also hated the fact that this supposedly most basic of human actions was starting to interfere with my love for my son. I kept trying for three months--pills, pumps and pep talks from well-meaning relatives. My mother, who despite her fragile condition, flew over three thousand miles to be with me and put a stop to the nonsense. She said, "Stop itit now, It's enough. This is nobody's business, especially under your circumstances." I stopped that day. And my life and that of my baby improved. So, I agree wholeheartedly with Ms. Jung. Every mother, every child, every relationship is unique and deserves a tolerant approach.
30
I breast fed thru a horrible nipple infection and poison ivy up both arms. I breast fed each child for 14 months, a year plus leisurely weaning. Am I a breastfeeding 'soup nazi'? No. I had the time and means to do it. It was a struggle at times. I ruined my chances of having a career after investing quite a lot in my education. My self esteemed suffered, I had depression. I resent my children irrationally. They benefitted greatly and I am proud of the people they are. It is a terribly difficult decision. The modern world is not suited for human beings. Breastfeeding is one tiny part of that.
9
Wow, hard to believe the person writing this article is a professor of anything. She just isn't looking at the actual scientific evidence supporting breastfeeding, but oh well. I work for a program visiting new parents, usually high risk, I have observed many new mothers struggle with trying to nurse. Breastfeeding is difficult because it doesn't fit well with our American culture for more reasons than could be discussed here. And the hospitals don't help with their misguided ways of attending to new moms and babies when they help get breastfeeding started. What I have observed, over and over again, is that when they do begin using formula, that's when the health problems DO begin....the constipation, or diaharrea, eczema patches. But I have never tried to make a new mom feel guilty about her choices, I have only supported her regardless. Quoting from so called "studies" really don't give us much truth, as breastfeeding "exclusively" could mean 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months or maybe even 3 years. Breastfeeding for a total of 6 months, with formula mixed in, would probably give "modest" benefit. This article is just some lady's opinion.
9
This is just another example of their being too many busy bodies in this world, or at least in this country.
10
It amazes me how many people have written in with a comment saying, "I didn't breastfeed and my kid is smart and healthy, therefore that proves breastfeeding isn't important." It's like saying, "I know someone who smoked but doesn't have lung cancer. Smoking must be fine." It's ridiculous. It's not science. It's anecdotal. No one ever said every child who is bottle fed is sick. A fundamental lack of understanding of biology is behind the very low rates of breastfeeding in this country, especially among the poor. Formula is full of all sorts of junk, and anyone who cares about this issue will stop calling it "formula," a name concocted to sound scientific. I am appalled the NY Times published this, since so many studies do in fact prove breastfeeding does affect IQ, immunity, and health outcomes for the child. Every year of breastfeeding also reduces a woman's risk of breast cancer by 7%. Isn't that important? If women care about cancer, they should stop wearing pink and instead demand maternity leave and actual breastfeeding breaks, not pumping breaks, as a legal right. Instead of fighting with each other about abortion, why don't women all agree real, paid maternity leave should be on the next feminist agenda?
18
In regards to the nurturing aspect of breast feeding, I have no doubt it helps bond baby and mother. My wife breast-fed both our boys for many months, and both kids enjoyed that special time with her.
However, we also supplemented with formula, partly because our first son never seemed able to get full on the breast alone. As the dad, it was my responsibility in those first few months of his life to give him bottles, often in the middle of the night while my wife got some rest. He was a very slow drinker, and often fell asleep in the middle of a bottle. Sometimes I'd spend an hour in the rocking chair at 3 a.m., holding him in my lap as he alternately slept and woke to drink a few drops, hoping he'd eventually finish the bottle so he'd stay asleep longer once he was done. There's no doubt in my mind that he and I bonded over those late night feedings when he was 2 months old. It's still a warm memory for me, and he's 15 now.
My point is, bottle feeding, like breast feeding, can be a nurturing experience for baby and parent.
However, we also supplemented with formula, partly because our first son never seemed able to get full on the breast alone. As the dad, it was my responsibility in those first few months of his life to give him bottles, often in the middle of the night while my wife got some rest. He was a very slow drinker, and often fell asleep in the middle of a bottle. Sometimes I'd spend an hour in the rocking chair at 3 a.m., holding him in my lap as he alternately slept and woke to drink a few drops, hoping he'd eventually finish the bottle so he'd stay asleep longer once he was done. There's no doubt in my mind that he and I bonded over those late night feedings when he was 2 months old. It's still a warm memory for me, and he's 15 now.
My point is, bottle feeding, like breast feeding, can be a nurturing experience for baby and parent.
19
Full disclosure: I am a former La Leche League Leader who breastfed all three of my kids for several years each. As an LLL Leader, I counseled several women (including WIC mothers) who tried but were simply not able to nurse their babies. So, I get the "some people just can't breastfeed, especially poor/young moms" story. It can simply be too much sometimes.
Here's the "however" : There are many factual errors in this column (biggest one for me: where did the "15% of American mothers can't breastfeed" number come from??) and people who know more than me will surely take Ms. Jung to task for them, but I can say this: while no one should be shamed for not breastfeeding, mothers should know that when they choose not to breastfeed, there are consequences, both physical and psychological for both mother and baby. And especially upper middle class mothers who have a choice, like Ms. Jung, should have all the facts.
I agree that, in America, there is too much emphasis on breast milk and not enough on breast feeding (as in feeding at the breast), but to change that would require that moms spend more actual time with their babies and we, as a society, will not support that. Not when there's money to be made when mom goes to work. But, to suggest that there's too much pressure to breastfeed in this country is completely wrong headed, in my opinion.
Here's the "however" : There are many factual errors in this column (biggest one for me: where did the "15% of American mothers can't breastfeed" number come from??) and people who know more than me will surely take Ms. Jung to task for them, but I can say this: while no one should be shamed for not breastfeeding, mothers should know that when they choose not to breastfeed, there are consequences, both physical and psychological for both mother and baby. And especially upper middle class mothers who have a choice, like Ms. Jung, should have all the facts.
I agree that, in America, there is too much emphasis on breast milk and not enough on breast feeding (as in feeding at the breast), but to change that would require that moms spend more actual time with their babies and we, as a society, will not support that. Not when there's money to be made when mom goes to work. But, to suggest that there's too much pressure to breastfeed in this country is completely wrong headed, in my opinion.
16
For me, the factors that factored in were the bonding with my baby, the pleasure of love that emanated from me as my baby suckled, the pleasure of love that emanated from my baby who nuzzled in my arms, the look of satisfaction in his eyes as he finished and the surge of milk from all the above which was his rightfully. The other factors were all a plus but I was'nt thinking about colostrum, antibodies and middle ear infections.
2
Amen again. I wanted to breast feed when my daughters were born. I could not because I have epilepsy and my body could not handle the loss of sleep and have a seizure, as I did the night after by second daughter was born. But did everyone I met or knew had to know I had epilepsy! My daughters are as healthy and intelligent as their friends. Both are extremely successful and happy and Healthy.
4
I just did a Continuing Education course in which I learned that fewer breastfed babies get asthma than bottle fed. As a school nurse, asthma has become a huge problem in these days of dirty air. But whether one advocates it or not, the woman is being bullied and not given a choice. Remember choice?
4
"So where does all this moral fervor about breast feeding come from?"
It comes from, as moral fervor often does, from the pendulum swinging from the exact opposite zeitgeist. When my mother immigrated to Canada from Germany in the early fifties, she was viewed with barely concealed revulsion as she sought to breastfeed her newborn in the hospital. It was something that tribal people in the darkest jungle did, not what modern civilized mothers did. My mother chalked all this up to just one more thing that was different about their new world and went about doing her German things anyway.
By the time I had my babies breastfeeding was the only way to go. I breastfed my babies, not because of pressure from LaLeche, but because I watched my own mother do it. To me, it was just a given. In fact I found it quite humorous when the LaLeche people offered to teach me how to do it. Um ... well, here's the baby, there's the breast, baby sucks. What's to learn? Of course, as I found out later, not everyone is as lucky as I was and there is plenty to learn if things don't go as swimmingly as they did for me.
I've always hated being told what to do. No one should be scolded or shamed for their perfectly reasonable choices. Motherhood is hard enough without adding the burden of other people's judgments. Mind your tongue all you busybodies and if you are a medical practitioner advocating for healthier choices, be respectful.
It comes from, as moral fervor often does, from the pendulum swinging from the exact opposite zeitgeist. When my mother immigrated to Canada from Germany in the early fifties, she was viewed with barely concealed revulsion as she sought to breastfeed her newborn in the hospital. It was something that tribal people in the darkest jungle did, not what modern civilized mothers did. My mother chalked all this up to just one more thing that was different about their new world and went about doing her German things anyway.
By the time I had my babies breastfeeding was the only way to go. I breastfed my babies, not because of pressure from LaLeche, but because I watched my own mother do it. To me, it was just a given. In fact I found it quite humorous when the LaLeche people offered to teach me how to do it. Um ... well, here's the baby, there's the breast, baby sucks. What's to learn? Of course, as I found out later, not everyone is as lucky as I was and there is plenty to learn if things don't go as swimmingly as they did for me.
I've always hated being told what to do. No one should be scolded or shamed for their perfectly reasonable choices. Motherhood is hard enough without adding the burden of other people's judgments. Mind your tongue all you busybodies and if you are a medical practitioner advocating for healthier choices, be respectful.
23
I think encouraging moms to breastfeed is a good thing. It's important to point out though that once the baby has arrived, a breastfeeding mother will also face intense pressure to only feed her baby in ways that no one will actually see mom feeding her baby. Let's not forget there are plenty of judgments from society and formula feeding moms about a nursing mother who dares to feed her child in public.
11
Baby formula is locked up in glass cases in major grocery stores throughout America. Apparently it was one of the most shoplifted items. It is expensive.
So if a women can not breast feed for whatever reason, she or her family better have enough money to buy it. Economically this could seriously damage a baby if a mother is not breast feeding yet can't afford to regularly buy the formula.
I am curious why there were no words about the history of the affairs of the Nestle' Corporation in this article? Criminal.
So if a women can not breast feed for whatever reason, she or her family better have enough money to buy it. Economically this could seriously damage a baby if a mother is not breast feeding yet can't afford to regularly buy the formula.
I am curious why there were no words about the history of the affairs of the Nestle' Corporation in this article? Criminal.
24
As a medical student, I was taught early on about the well-established, evidence-driven benefits of breast feeding. Physicians encourage mothers to breastfeed not out moral superiority, but due to the vast body of evidence confirming the benefits of breastfeeding. To review, please see below the most recent guidelines from American Academy of Pediatrics. These guidelines are free for all to read - http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/3/e827.full
"Any breastfeeding is associated with a 64% reduction in the incidence of nonspecific gastrointestinal tract infections, and this effect lasts for 2 months after cessation of breastfeeding."
"Serious colds and ear and throat infections were reduced by 63% in infants who exclusively breastfed for 6 months."
"The risk of hospitalization for lower respiratory tract infections in the first year is reduced 72% if infants breastfed exclusively for more than 4 months."
"There is a protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding for 3 to 4 months in reducing the incidence of clinical asthma, atopic dermatitis, and eczema by... up to 42% in infants with positive family history."
"a 15% to 30% reduction in adolescent and adult obesity rates if any breastfeeding occurred in infancy...Up to a 30% reduction in the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus...for infants who exclusively breastfed for at least 3 months, thus avoiding exposure to cow milk protein."
This article does the evidence, and our public health, a grave disservice.
"Any breastfeeding is associated with a 64% reduction in the incidence of nonspecific gastrointestinal tract infections, and this effect lasts for 2 months after cessation of breastfeeding."
"Serious colds and ear and throat infections were reduced by 63% in infants who exclusively breastfed for 6 months."
"The risk of hospitalization for lower respiratory tract infections in the first year is reduced 72% if infants breastfed exclusively for more than 4 months."
"There is a protective effect of exclusive breastfeeding for 3 to 4 months in reducing the incidence of clinical asthma, atopic dermatitis, and eczema by... up to 42% in infants with positive family history."
"a 15% to 30% reduction in adolescent and adult obesity rates if any breastfeeding occurred in infancy...Up to a 30% reduction in the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus...for infants who exclusively breastfed for at least 3 months, thus avoiding exposure to cow milk protein."
This article does the evidence, and our public health, a grave disservice.
33
I personally know some people who breast-fed their children for longer than 2 years. Those children turned out to be extremely gifted. Their mothers were in the position to make the conscious choice for the specific results.
Only small number of people can do so. It sounds like to me that breast-feeding is another way to create disparity in our society.
Only small number of people can do so. It sounds like to me that breast-feeding is another way to create disparity in our society.
3
What bothers me most of all is the inability of prospective mothers to say, "That's none of your business, thank you." Who cares what "they" think? Do what you think is best for yourself and your baby.
16
Breast feeding (or attempting to breast feed) cost me over $4000 in private lactation consultants visits, supplements, breast pumps. pillows....it also cost me the first few months of my son's life. He was hospitalized once due to dehydration. He had needles poked into him. We were traumatized. No matter what I did he would not latch effectively. He also had multiple food intolerances which meant I had to subsist on chicken and rice and a ridiculous amount of breast feeding supplements. The lactation consultants refused to provide information on formula even when I requested it and told them I was hallucinating from sleep deprivation. They also refused to accept that they were out of their depth with my particular baby and instead labelled him as "peculiar" and "challenging". Terms that lead me to resent him and how "difficult" he was. Turns out he is nothing of the sort. I finally quit pumping every 2 hours around the clock (while also waking to attempt to breast feed and then top him up with pumped milk) when he was 5 months old and switched him to formula. Now that he doesn't have to spend 90% of his waking hours attempting to get food, he is the happiest and best baby I know. The pendulum has swung too far and it must stop. Trusting in the insanity almost ruined my relationship with my baby.
17
None of you at the NYT would be here if it was not for breast feeding!! And I am referring to the times when there was no other option.
3
More than 20 years ago, I breastfed each of my three sons from anywhere between six to nine months each. It was an easy decision because my mother had breastfed each of her five children. I had seen her do it and it was simple to follow her lead. It hurt a lot in the beginning and it was difficult to get the baby to "latch" on. I don't know if I would have been able to continue If my mother hadn't been around.
The best thing about breastfeeding was the intimate connection between mother and child. When I came home from work each day it was wonderful to re-bond with my baby. Another big bonus was being able to get up during the night to feed my babies. I kept my sons in bed after the first feeding so I could nurse them repeatedly through the night. It was a direct contradiction of conventional wisdom at the time but it allowed me to get some much-needed time.
Breastfeeding was fraught with challenges. There were times when my sons' appetite far outstripped my milk production so I had to supplement with formula.
The biggest disadvantage, however, was finding quiet places to nurse or pump. Most work locations did not have dedicated areas for pumping milk. I made frequent, daily trips from New York City to Washington D.C. and the Amtrack bathrooms were filthy. I did not experience many of the much-vaunted benefits of nursing. My sons had frequent ear infections and did not sleep through the night. New mothers don't have to nurse to bond with their babies. It just
happens!
The best thing about breastfeeding was the intimate connection between mother and child. When I came home from work each day it was wonderful to re-bond with my baby. Another big bonus was being able to get up during the night to feed my babies. I kept my sons in bed after the first feeding so I could nurse them repeatedly through the night. It was a direct contradiction of conventional wisdom at the time but it allowed me to get some much-needed time.
Breastfeeding was fraught with challenges. There were times when my sons' appetite far outstripped my milk production so I had to supplement with formula.
The biggest disadvantage, however, was finding quiet places to nurse or pump. Most work locations did not have dedicated areas for pumping milk. I made frequent, daily trips from New York City to Washington D.C. and the Amtrack bathrooms were filthy. I did not experience many of the much-vaunted benefits of nursing. My sons had frequent ear infections and did not sleep through the night. New mothers don't have to nurse to bond with their babies. It just
happens!
2
I'm glad to see this article, although I wish she had spoken more about the challenges many women have in breast-feeding. It had never crossed my mind to do anything but breast-feed my baby, but after she was born my milk didn't come in. In all the extensive hours I had of birthing and nursing classes, never was it even mentioned that a mom might not have the needed milk. I couldn't accept the thought of not nursing my child, so was on a schedule of pumping 20 times a day (and night) to force my milk to come. When that didn't produce enough milk, nor did all the special teas and supplements out there, I took prescription medication to increase my milk. With all of that I was able to eventually supply all but 4 ounces of my baby's daily needs. Meanwhile I felt ashamed and guilty. I was so afraid of other's finding out that I didn't let visitors (including family) come to meet our new baby in the early days, and when I was out with her I would hide if I had to give her a bottle (even though it was usually pumped breast milk.) I missed so much time with my baby in the early weeks because I was so occupied by trying to make enough milk for her. I am a confident person, not afraid to speak my mind, yet I was blindsided by my inability to produce milk & I was completely unprepared for how to cope and adjust due to the single minded message about breastfeeding in our culture. Initially I told no one, but now I try to share my story so other moms don't have to go through what I did.
11
A baby's immune system relies on the healthy mind and body (breast milk) of its mother.
4
Breast feeding should be a personal
choice, not a moral mandate imposed
by women themselves.
choice, not a moral mandate imposed
by women themselves.
10
I breastfed my eldest until he died at four months of age of SIDS. I breastfed my second until she was six months old and diagnosed with GSD type 1b, and was told I could not. My third was born with the same condition, so I could not nurse her either.
I was able to nurse my last until he got his teeth!
It was a good experience for me. It made me feel very close with my children. I also had the convenience of not needing bottles, fixing formula, and the expense.
However, it is every woman's choice as to which method of feeding they prefer.
I was able to nurse my last until he got his teeth!
It was a good experience for me. It made me feel very close with my children. I also had the convenience of not needing bottles, fixing formula, and the expense.
However, it is every woman's choice as to which method of feeding they prefer.
3
Thank you for this most sane piece on breast feeding! When did breast feeding become a religion - with all the associated zealotry? Even many who are supposedly pro-choice for other issues facing women become shockingly rigid and proscriptive at the possibility of women having choices when it comes to feeding their babies. I found the in-your-face, unrequested advice-giving on this particular subject an exceedingly unpleasant aspect of being pregnant. When someone would initiate a conversation with, "Are you going to breastfeed?" - I learned to hold up my hand and say, "No comment."
10
I agree that the current zealotry behind the promotion of breastfeeding can leave many new mums feeling judged, pressured and bruised, at a time in their lives when they are already feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Public health systems are meant to be supportive, not punitive, when it comes to encouraging the public they serve to make healthy choices. What I can't agree with however, is that mainstream formulas, which often list their top two ingredients as being corn syrup and sugar (!), can be considered to be a healthy replacement for breast milk. Courtney Jung's article doesn't address the infant formula market, a more nefarious market then that of the breast-feeding accessory, in my mind, given its totally false and misleading messaging regarding the nutritional value of its products.
6
I'm sure breast feeding is best and yet I grew up with an entire generation that was bottle fed formula for most of the time they were nursing. Lotsa very well adjusted, healthy people running around these days that were raised on formula.
My point here is that I am sure breast feeding has great advantages but this beating up on people for not breast feeding exclusively is ridiculous. If someone has a zealot of a lactation counselor, yours and your baby's health will be better served by hanging up on them.
My point here is that I am sure breast feeding has great advantages but this beating up on people for not breast feeding exclusively is ridiculous. If someone has a zealot of a lactation counselor, yours and your baby's health will be better served by hanging up on them.
5
I agree wholeheartedly about choice and am appalled at the difference in WIC benefits for breast fed and non breast fed children. However you left out another benefit of breast feeding. The release of oxytocin, the "love Hormone" in the woman's brain while breastfeeding.
Additionally, in my humble opinion the fact that lower income minority women breast feed at about half the rate of middle class white women also backs up the benefits of breast feeding. Don't those women (disproportionately single mothers) and babies need ALL the help they can get considering the state of their communities? It may not be PC to insist minority and poor women breast feed or ethical to hold back benefits, but I have little doubt they would gain from breastfeeding more of their children.
Additionally, in my humble opinion the fact that lower income minority women breast feed at about half the rate of middle class white women also backs up the benefits of breast feeding. Don't those women (disproportionately single mothers) and babies need ALL the help they can get considering the state of their communities? It may not be PC to insist minority and poor women breast feed or ethical to hold back benefits, but I have little doubt they would gain from breastfeeding more of their children.
2
A quick review of recent New York Times articles on the topic of breastfeeding (including but not limited to: a summary published last March of the now oft-cited study attributing the apparent benefits of breastfeeding to the income level and health of mothers, an overview this past March of a study showing long-term health benefits for breastfed babies, yet another this past May of a study showing that breastfeeding may reduce a woman's recurrence of breast cancer, and finally another published less than a month ago that reviews a study showing that breastfeeding has no effect on a child's IQ) would suggest that Jung might add the Times itself to the list of corporate interests "overselling" breastfeeding. As a mother working full time and also breastfeeding—an experience which has been both wonderful and tremendously difficult—I have learned to stay away from both the media discourse and anecdote-fueled rage of parents, which collude to generate the kind of moral panic that occludes honest discussion of the almost complete lack of financial, professional, and social support for mothers in this country (whether they breastfeed or not). That is the real issue here, yet the media’s obsession with framing motherhood as a series of personal choices pours gasoline on the mommy wars and effectively creates divisions in a group that could be a potentially powerful political voice for change.
10
One of the most important benefits of breast-feeding is how it affects attachment, which was barely mentioned in this article. Being present and attuned to your baby while you are feeding him/her is more important than whether s/he is on the breast or the bottle. When breast-feeding, the mother is more compelled into presence by the physicality of it, and there is more physical closeness, both of which support the mother-baby bond. Secure attachment will affect the child's sense of well-being in a way nothing else can, and that doesn't mean they'll be smarter or thinner or more focused - that's just disembodied heads talking about stuff we've come to measure our value by.
4
Reading through a couple dozen comments, one fact becomes obvious: the hard work of giving mothers information and support is still absent. I was a La Leche League leader and Professional Liaison (working with doctors) for 20 years, and continued to be involved in many ways for two more decades. I still encounter doctors and nurses who give women the wrong advice. When women run into issues, such as a clogged milk duct or low milk output, many don't have anybody to turn to that will advise them properly. Some have heard that La Leche League is authoritarian and fanatical, so they don't make use of the local leaders or the helpful website. Depending on where they obtained their certificate, even many lactation consultants are not up on practical help (I have seen this first hand). Until we have a system where mothers can get instant advice and continuous support, they will feel like failures if they don't breastfeed, which is a travesty. Women who want to breastfeed but can't manage it are not to blame: they lacked sociocultural support (accusing someone of being a bad mother because she is bottle feeding is not support!) and they didn't have the right troubleshooting information when they needed it. This takes time and dedication, and in our for-profit culture this help can be hard to come by. As for the research, there are problems conducting it in the West because so many mothers classified as breast feeders are, in reality, token breast feeders.
7
We have decades of children that were not breast fed and decades that were -- yet very little research to suggest a significant difference to the health of a child. And less that measures the impact on the health - mental, physical and economic to the mother, family and society. Yet condemnation for those that choose not to.
And where is the consideration of the mother's choice? There are at least two people aside from society and big business in the decision to breastfeed --where is any attention to the mother? Only 'your a bad mother if you don't and it would make you lose weight faster' as the consideration given solely to the mother - none of her feelings, lifestyle, constraints, career considerations etcetera.
I was a working mother with many advantages however, I chose not to breastfeed. I had no interest for many reasons: work related; societal; convenience; my body; how I wanted to share parenting. I considered both my health and happiness -- as well as, my daughter's.
Most mothers work and most work environs and society in general don't make it easy to breastfeed. Nor if you choose not to, do the judgments that imply you're a bad mother or irresponsible to both your child and society. Both are incorrect.
Until society starts supporting and valuing motherhood, stop judging mothers on their choices, particularly when it's clear there are two healthy options and little research that suggests not breast feeding is bad for the mother, child or society.
And where is the consideration of the mother's choice? There are at least two people aside from society and big business in the decision to breastfeed --where is any attention to the mother? Only 'your a bad mother if you don't and it would make you lose weight faster' as the consideration given solely to the mother - none of her feelings, lifestyle, constraints, career considerations etcetera.
I was a working mother with many advantages however, I chose not to breastfeed. I had no interest for many reasons: work related; societal; convenience; my body; how I wanted to share parenting. I considered both my health and happiness -- as well as, my daughter's.
Most mothers work and most work environs and society in general don't make it easy to breastfeed. Nor if you choose not to, do the judgments that imply you're a bad mother or irresponsible to both your child and society. Both are incorrect.
Until society starts supporting and valuing motherhood, stop judging mothers on their choices, particularly when it's clear there are two healthy options and little research that suggests not breast feeding is bad for the mother, child or society.
8
It's ridiculous how quickly matters go from one extreme to another. My kids are just 13 and 15, but even that very short while ago, the fanatics were all in the anti-breast-feeding league. I vividly recall the reproving rhetoric around breast-feeding. Cans of formula were distributed in the hospital, and not one professional was on hand to advise me how to handle my tiny infant's difficulties in latching on. The La Leche League didn't organize here until a few years ago. I heard about the breast pump not from a doctor but from a friend who was also a work-away-from-home mother. Disapproving stares and conversations were directed at me by friends and relatives when I retired to my freezing car or public lavatory to nurse the baby, so I stopped going out. I nursed my babies for a couple of years each, but never disclosed this to anyone, not even our pediatrician, for fear that someone would come take my babies away.
No wonder that advocates of breast-feeding are loud or obnoxious today. That is what it took to get heard at all. I'm well beyond the years that this is an issue for me personally, and I wholly support the idea that women need to choose what's right for themselves and their babies. However, the idea that advocates of breast-feeding are the problem is ridiculous. The formula fanatics started the whole thing by making breast-feeding seem like an unnatural act.
No wonder that advocates of breast-feeding are loud or obnoxious today. That is what it took to get heard at all. I'm well beyond the years that this is an issue for me personally, and I wholly support the idea that women need to choose what's right for themselves and their babies. However, the idea that advocates of breast-feeding are the problem is ridiculous. The formula fanatics started the whole thing by making breast-feeding seem like an unnatural act.
11
I breast fed all three of my children for over a year; I had the great fortune to be able to do so. I was once harangued by La Leche League leaders when I said I had microwaved some frozen breast milk so my husband could feed our baby while I was at night school. They yelled, "It destroys all the nutrients" and "microwaves genetically modify the milk." and other such dire warnings. Whether or not these points are true is irrelevant. One bottle during a whole week of straight-from-the-breast milk is not going to hurt any baby. I never went back to this group that should have been a support and comfort to me as a new mother. When are we women going to stop judging and shaming each other for legitimate choices to breastfeed or not, have a c-section or vaginal birth, work outside the home or inside, buy organic or not, etc.? Please.
10
We're a nation of busybodies--all so quick to tell others how they should do everything. It's no one else's business whether a mother breast-feeds or not. Why do we put up with these self-appointed experts?
12
Bravo. Thanks for a fair, balanced analysis. I have to weigh in as an educated, upper middle class, white woman with two healthy kids (26 and 31) who have survived and thrived having been breast fed for about 6 weeks max each. I had a bread winning spouse at the time so was a stay at home mom but although I love my children above all else, I hated breast feeding. On top of all the difficulties and constraints of new motherhood to suffer the indignity of feeling like a cow was too much, not to mention all the attendant problems. I had other interests and wanted to move around as much as was possible. Sounds selfish? Oh well. I'm sure I speak for a silent minority of women. Enfamil was great - it did the job so I could focus on other more engaging aspects of motherhood.
10
I'm almost 70, never had a child, but as a teacher, sister, aunt, friend, have witnessed many mothering journeys. I think being a parent is the most challenging task anyone can take on. One is faced minute by minute with decisions to make--how to feed is just one of them. Women should support and nurture each other as their nurture their babies, not bash each other for making different choices. And women should stand up to the societal/economic/political/medical pressures around breast feeding just as courageously as they've stood up to those pressures around other life choices. Do what works best for you and your baby!
10
"Middle-class women primarily experience breast-feeding advocacy in the form of education campaigns and limits on their access to formula in hospitals." This doesn't square with my experience at all -- I have been bombarded with ads, coupons, and free samples of formula from the day my doctor told me I was pregnant up to now (I have a 7 month old). And that includes at the hospital where I gave birth.
6
While I'd like some sourcing on the stats this writer cites, I devoured this article at 5:00am while pumping because I awoke with painful breasts because I'm trying to stop breastfeeding at night as my 9-week-old sleeps longer. Some very interesting new-to-me insights/data.
The divisiveness of this issue continues to appall me, particularly because I was so pro-bfing prior to giving birth and the idea of supplementing with formula or not bfing at all made me feel like I'd be "less than" the mother I "should" be. I didn't judge others - none of my business what other people do! - but judged myself quite harshly. I now see things so differently - supplementing with formula has been tremendously helpful in this household - and when I read post after post on new mom forums about women agonizing over what to do when things don't go as they'd expected, and harsh comments in response to articles such as these, it just makes me sad. Who needs guilt when we have so much else to deal with in our new realities?
Sharing our honest feelings around breastfeeding seems yet another societal taboo for women (like experiences with abortion and miscarriages) and I think it's so important for women to put aside fears around stigma and judgment and do so privately or publicly. The more we hear and accept that there is no "right" way to help our little kiddos thrive - and moreover, that it's an individual choice that deserves respect! - the more I think new moms like me will thrive ourselves.
The divisiveness of this issue continues to appall me, particularly because I was so pro-bfing prior to giving birth and the idea of supplementing with formula or not bfing at all made me feel like I'd be "less than" the mother I "should" be. I didn't judge others - none of my business what other people do! - but judged myself quite harshly. I now see things so differently - supplementing with formula has been tremendously helpful in this household - and when I read post after post on new mom forums about women agonizing over what to do when things don't go as they'd expected, and harsh comments in response to articles such as these, it just makes me sad. Who needs guilt when we have so much else to deal with in our new realities?
Sharing our honest feelings around breastfeeding seems yet another societal taboo for women (like experiences with abortion and miscarriages) and I think it's so important for women to put aside fears around stigma and judgment and do so privately or publicly. The more we hear and accept that there is no "right" way to help our little kiddos thrive - and moreover, that it's an individual choice that deserves respect! - the more I think new moms like me will thrive ourselves.
5
Does breastfeeding have an effect on the mother's health?
Is there the possibility of the mother developing certain health problems, if she does not breastfeed? The natural process of lactation is for mothers to feed the child. So, if the mother does not breastfeed the child, the milk produced by the mammary glands does not get expended. What then happens to that milk? We know what happens when the excess sugar we consume does not get consumed in our bodies, when the excess fat does not get burnt in our bodies, when the toxins in our bodies are not sufficiently expelled by the lives of the kidney.... it leads to undesirable health consequences.
Would the milk that accumulates in the mothers breast, that is not consumed by the baby, lead to adverse health effects for the mother ?
Is there the possibility of the mother developing certain health problems, if she does not breastfeed? The natural process of lactation is for mothers to feed the child. So, if the mother does not breastfeed the child, the milk produced by the mammary glands does not get expended. What then happens to that milk? We know what happens when the excess sugar we consume does not get consumed in our bodies, when the excess fat does not get burnt in our bodies, when the toxins in our bodies are not sufficiently expelled by the lives of the kidney.... it leads to undesirable health consequences.
Would the milk that accumulates in the mothers breast, that is not consumed by the baby, lead to adverse health effects for the mother ?
There were only two women I consulted on my breastfeeding decisions - my mother and my daughter's pediatrician. My mom didn't breastfeed me, probably for the same reason that I couldn't keep it up which is that it was very painful, exhausting and dehydrating. After trying for two weeks, the pediatrician said, "Oh that's great, then she's gotten the antibodies and don't worry about switching to formula."
3
I had the luxury of staying home with my son for five months before going back to work. However, I didn't have the "stuff" to pump and would get very light headed even sick afterwards. We had to switch to formula when I went back to work and turns out my son was allergic to the formula so we needed to switch to super expensive formula (which cost almost $30 a week and was hard to get!). Pediatrician told me also that it was "controversial" in medical profession that he be allergic, even though anyone who has taken 7th grade science could see the before and after results with new formula (skin cleared up/no runny nose). For some of us, breastfeeding is just not meant to be. Switching to formula also pointed to other issues related to feeding infants/healthcare/and overall culture supporting new parents. That is, my health insurance would not pay for expensive formula. Hate to say that I was glad when that first year was over and we could switch to solid foods.
2
As a mother who did not breast feed, I have no regrets. I affirm without reservation that true love and attention go a very long way to a child's health and well being. Perhaps some mothers comfort themselves a little too much into believing that breast feeding let's them off the hook for a life-long dedication to really putting your child first. I've known countless others who breast fed just to ignore their children once their children became older...and older. Pay attention to your child's true needs after breast-feeding. Perhaps it's a greater deterrent to the detriment of an off-spring's well-being. Perhaps if mothers maintained their self-righteous devotion past breast feeding so many teenagers (enrolled in the best and most expensive private schools) would not resort to binge drinking at 15. I know first hand: breast fed babies whose parents give this gift in infancy just forget all too soon that good parenting is essential for years beyond...after the breast-bottle dilemma ends. Some wealthy, well educated parents who were fanatic about breast feeding are know where to be found once their kids are old enough to be left on their own. Breast-feeding has little residual effect when teenagers, whose parents soon forget their initial devotion and loving first act, just put their kids on the back burner. Breast fed or not, self righteous parents of infants get tired of their charges much sooner than they should. It's mommy and daddy's turn now. We did our bit.
5
Good grief, do what YOU want to do and stop listening to all these Nannys telling you what's best....I chose NOT to breast feed my four kids, all went to Ivy League schools and have fab careers and spouses........they were not just smart kids, but healthy too...all lettered in high school and college sports......formula works just fine, thank you very much
4
So clarification regarding WIC supplements: formula is fortified with iron while breast milk is not a good source so breastfed infants need a good source by 6 months of age. Breastfeeding moms receive additional nutritious foods to support breast milk production.
5
Thank you, Ms Jung! I was made to feel guilty when I couldn't breastfeed. I never had enough milk and could spend the whole day pumping only to produce a couple of ounces of milk. Yet I was constantly made to feel wretched by my obstetrician, nurses, and almost every hospital staff I met. I felt like the worst possible mother, one who was selfish and unwilling to make sacrifices for her child. For years after that, I would wonder whether my son's every childhood ailment was caused by the lack of breastfeeding. A decade on, I still feel like I did not do enough for my son even though he's healthy, never had a cavity, an earache, or any serious illnesses. My son and I have an incredibly strong loving bond but I still have twinges of regret every time I come across a research paper or article that says that by not breastfeeding, I had done a huge injustice to my child. Your article was a real eye-opener and has made me feel less of failure as a mum.
3
I thought about breast feeding but for a number of reasons it didn't work out. I even tried assiduously with my third child after not breast-feeding was considered tantamount to hideous neglect of my baby's well-being. My first child was born in 1983, just at the start of the wide-sweeping condemnation of mothers like me. My last was born in 2000 when I had no excuse in face of all the data. But I couldn't. I'm an Ivy-educated woman who lives surrounded by judgemental know-it-alls, including my militant sister. I'm happy to report all three of my children are utterly devoid of all the problems associated with children deprived of breast feeding. None has any allergies of any kind. None. They are all very high achievers, with extremely high levels of intelligence. In fact, if my last-born had an even superior IQ, I don't know where he would find educational opportunities to support him. Health-wise, in addition to no allergies, none of my children suffered undue colds, infections and never, ever had an ear infection. I'm not saying my children are perfect, but they are as good as it gets, despite their deprivation of breast milk. Oh, I wasn't breast fed either and I'm just fine.
7
I remember thinking when I was having issues with breastfeeding that frankly were and are nobody's business but mine, and faced the disapproval of nearly all the women I knew, even to the extent of bullying me when I was tired and emotionally drained and didn't want to hear it: so much for a woman's right to choose.
2
Why such a strident rant about something that is so obviously meant to be? Women start to make milk as soon as the baby is born in response to it's next phase of growth and development. How can you suggest that something made in a factory would be just as good? Talk about undermining the role of motherhood. That said, it isn't always, easy and in some cases even possible; happily there are alternative feeding methods. Sadly, every
cause has its zealots, which undermines the message, but it's up to the rest of us to be balanced and thoughtful, not to jump on the band wagon, as I believe Ms Jung has done.
cause has its zealots, which undermines the message, but it's up to the rest of us to be balanced and thoughtful, not to jump on the band wagon, as I believe Ms Jung has done.
7
I get it: it's better for baby, better for environment, loads of nutrition, etc., to breastfeed. BELIEVE ME, I GET IT. I had the propaganda pushed down my (the father) throat and eventually I had to start filtering it from my wive's throat because I saw how not being able to breastfeed was making my wife feel.
Know what else is good for baby? Having parents that don't feel guilty because mom can't or won't or doesn't produce enough milk to keep baby headed in the right direction in the growth chart. The pain and frustration we went through--in the NICU, no less--regarding the difficulty we had with breastfeeding was only intensified when the well-meaning dolts at Saint Mary's of Grand Junction Colorado insisted we keep trying, try it this way, have we tried this, what about that...
...sometimes Nature doesn't work the way we want her to. At that point, having tried as hard as we could to breastfeed... it was best to just use the viable alternative that both my wife, myself, and my brothers were all raised with and on. Instead, we were pushed harder and eventually, made to feel guilty. Enough is enough. We get it. Breast is best. But not if it's used as a shaming vehicle for parents that are supposed to be celebrating a birth instead of regretting our choice of hospital...
Know what else is good for baby? Having parents that don't feel guilty because mom can't or won't or doesn't produce enough milk to keep baby headed in the right direction in the growth chart. The pain and frustration we went through--in the NICU, no less--regarding the difficulty we had with breastfeeding was only intensified when the well-meaning dolts at Saint Mary's of Grand Junction Colorado insisted we keep trying, try it this way, have we tried this, what about that...
...sometimes Nature doesn't work the way we want her to. At that point, having tried as hard as we could to breastfeed... it was best to just use the viable alternative that both my wife, myself, and my brothers were all raised with and on. Instead, we were pushed harder and eventually, made to feel guilty. Enough is enough. We get it. Breast is best. But not if it's used as a shaming vehicle for parents that are supposed to be celebrating a birth instead of regretting our choice of hospital...
4
Missing from the article is the reason I breastfed our daughter for more than a year: financial. My husband, as a graduate student in NYC, received $367 per month, out of which we paid $250 to rent a studio apartment (this was 1977). I had been fired for being pregnant (yes, folks, that actually still happened in those days) and our household budget was, to put it mildly, tight. Even with the bit of help we eventually got from food stamps, buying baby formula would have a severe hardship. For us in those days, there was no philosophical angst on this topic: breastfeeding was not only perfect nutrition, it cost nothing.
5
What matters is personal engagement with one's child. Children become secure and learn to trust by being consistently engaged with the same caregiver(s) over a long period of time. So if a woman pumps breast milk and it is fed to the child by caregivers who change every few weeks, that child won't benefit. What counts isn't so much the food, it's who does the feeding. Needn't always be Mom, but unstable child care arrangements will do more to damage a child than formula versus breast milk.
2
This is me at 18 months . I was never breastfed ( my mother never produced milk ) I am now 48, 5 ft 11 tall , and have been the same healthy 140 pounds for the past 30 years - I have NEVER dieted in my life!
So obviously I was not harmed by eating baby food or formula.
Don't women have enough to deal with ?
So obviously I was not harmed by eating baby food or formula.
Don't women have enough to deal with ?
I breastfed both my babies and the reason I succeeded was determination and support from my husband and pediatrician. I also kept La Leche League's book nearby as a constant reference, and twice, when having problems, spoke with one of their helpful counselors on the phone. I think nursing was good for my children and me; sitting in that rocking chair nursing my babies is one of my sweetest memories in life.
The main values in our society for women are making money, having money, spending money, and being sexually attractive to men. Breastfeeding has nothing to do with those values, so it's fraught with tension and controversy. When women want or need to work, nursing may not be practical. For some, it may be physically difficult. It shouldn't matter! Just as natural childbirth may be the ideal, for lots of reasons that might not happen. As long as everybody thrives, who cares?
From the time a woman's pregnancy shows, the media, friends, family and total strangers are ready to give advice. That can seem like "pressure," but you better get used to it. I think you do what seems best for your child, yourself, and your family.
The main values in our society for women are making money, having money, spending money, and being sexually attractive to men. Breastfeeding has nothing to do with those values, so it's fraught with tension and controversy. When women want or need to work, nursing may not be practical. For some, it may be physically difficult. It shouldn't matter! Just as natural childbirth may be the ideal, for lots of reasons that might not happen. As long as everybody thrives, who cares?
From the time a woman's pregnancy shows, the media, friends, family and total strangers are ready to give advice. That can seem like "pressure," but you better get used to it. I think you do what seems best for your child, yourself, and your family.
3
For advocates of formula-feeding, the real problem comes up in poor countries, where potable water is not readily available. Generally, in such areas, mothers end-up mixing powdered formula with dirty (polluted, muddy, etc.) water. And, that causes many different diseases that are most unhealthy for the baby.
Additionally, mother's milk passes antitoxins on to the baby. And the process of mother-infant bonding is a relaxing time for the mother.
The World Health Organization suggests that, even in the harshest of conditions, Mother's Milk is all that is needed for the first six months of a baby's life. WHO even claims that a mother, who is malnourished herself, can still produce sufficient healthy milk for her baby.
http://thetruthoncommonsense.com
Additionally, mother's milk passes antitoxins on to the baby. And the process of mother-infant bonding is a relaxing time for the mother.
The World Health Organization suggests that, even in the harshest of conditions, Mother's Milk is all that is needed for the first six months of a baby's life. WHO even claims that a mother, who is malnourished herself, can still produce sufficient healthy milk for her baby.
http://thetruthoncommonsense.com
5
I get the impression you're cherry-picking the science on this - it seems to me like they're constantly discovering new ways breastmilk is amazing - as in, custom-made for your baby, in its environment, at its stage of development. And what could be more impressive than the symbiosis between a Mom and a baby who's gaining weight at a healthy rate yet leaves little or no solids in their diaper?
The whole pumping aspect is a completely different topic, related to paid family leave. See : Bernie!
I think what proponents like myself would like to see, is not just women making their own choices, but women making INFORMED choices. Too often women who would like to breastfeed give up simply because unlike generations in the past, our Mothers didn't breastfeed so the know-how wasn't passed down. For example - telling a woman she doesn't have enough milk is the epitome of a self-fulfilling prophecy. You need to be in the right state of mind to breastfeed, and introducing doubt into the equation is enough to sabotage that capacity.
The whole pumping aspect is a completely different topic, related to paid family leave. See : Bernie!
I think what proponents like myself would like to see, is not just women making their own choices, but women making INFORMED choices. Too often women who would like to breastfeed give up simply because unlike generations in the past, our Mothers didn't breastfeed so the know-how wasn't passed down. For example - telling a woman she doesn't have enough milk is the epitome of a self-fulfilling prophecy. You need to be in the right state of mind to breastfeed, and introducing doubt into the equation is enough to sabotage that capacity.
12
I couldn't provide milk for my three children. I didn't even need medical intervention to dry up my milk supply. I was surrounded by La Leche moms who glorified their choice to breast feed and denigrated mothers who didn't make the same choice. My daughter-in-law endured criticism from friends who never understood her legitimate choice to bottle feed her babies. My children grew up healthy and intelligent. All three were placed in the gifted program at school and they didn't have any more illnesses than their classmates. My grandchildren, both those who were and were not breast fed, are healthy and intelligent. A mother's choice to breast feed or not should be hers alone and nit the business of busybodys.
4
We had to make ends meet on one income in order to make our dream of having one parent at home with our kids a reality. This was the driving force behind my decision to breastfeed our two sons. While there was a learning curve with the first one, I eventually got it down (after a lot of frustration) and was able to do it until they got their first teeth at about four months. Except for the inexpensive manual pump and washable pads, it was free. Now that I think about it, neither son escaped the typical ear or respiratory infections in infancy. They did thrive and grow up to be high achievers, but that was probably due to much more than the breast feeding.
I don't understand how women in this country make the decision to have children. (I am a woman who chose not to have children.) If you are a woman in this country, you stop being a person with rights the moment you become pregnant. Everyone, male or female, feels they have a right to criticize you for your choices. People feel free to yell at you if you have a sip of wine while pregnant or leave your ten-year-old alone to play outside for a few minutes. You can be held responsible for committing murder if you have an accident and miscarry, and you can end up in jail for life if your child dies suddenly and shows the three symptoms of the mythical "shaken baby syndrome" (see http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/14/us/shaken-baby-syndrome-a-diagnosis-th.... The probability of ending up in jail despite being innocent may be low, but it is not zero.
The world is overpopulated already. We live in a disgustingly sexist society. If you're a woman and are considering having a child, ask yourself whether a child is worth giving up your personhood. Most women don't realize it until it's too late.
The world is overpopulated already. We live in a disgustingly sexist society. If you're a woman and are considering having a child, ask yourself whether a child is worth giving up your personhood. Most women don't realize it until it's too late.
4
One of the most powerful forces in the universe is the need for strangers to tell women how to parent their child.
9
My daughter had trouble breast-feeding. My recommendation is try it, but don't sacrifice your baby's health. He/she needs the nutrition. My wife would agree, we waited too long. Foolish.
5
What might life in the United States of America be like if people channeled all the energy they devote to feeding their neuroses to effecting positive change?
Advocating for paid maternal leave as the law of the land. Advocating for the elimination of child poverty, the #1 determining factor of how well our newborns will do as adults.
For the record, we as a society achieved sanity once before in the 1930s and 1940s. The creation of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid greatly reduced poverty among the elderly. We can do it again.
Advocating for paid maternal leave as the law of the land. Advocating for the elimination of child poverty, the #1 determining factor of how well our newborns will do as adults.
For the record, we as a society achieved sanity once before in the 1930s and 1940s. The creation of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid greatly reduced poverty among the elderly. We can do it again.
13
Thank you. As a transracial adoptive mom, the rhetoric about breastfeeding and my child began to feel at best self-righteous and offensive. My exclusively bottlefed child is smart, healthy and full of energy, plus he got to develop an amazing bond with his father thanks to fully sharing feeding duties. The information about the differences in WIC benefits is utterly horrifying. I hope your piece will light the way toward that inequity being addressed.
4
After my C-Section, I was sore and exhausted. My baby would not latch onto my breast so I had to pump. I had to, the breast feeding advocates told me. I had to for the sake and health of my baby. I didn't want to. I never wanted to. I don't know why, it just did not feel natural to me. But I pumped. Therefore, I rarely slept because the amount of time to feed the baby doubles when you have to pump, then fill sterile bottles, and then feed your baby. When I took my baby for her two week pediatrician appointment I mustered up the courage to ask the doc, "Um, how bad a mother would I be if I stopped breast feeding?" and I explained how exhausted and frustrated I was. She said, "Oh, if you feel that way stop immediately." and she told me how and what to feed my baby. I wept with relief. Breast feeding is not for everyone and people who choose not to may be doing exactly the right thing for their babies.
7
I breast fed my daughter for 10 months. Yes, I was subject to all of the pressures and yes, I was a stay-at-home mother for whom breast feeding was the "logical" and "easier" choice. My husband only cared that the baby was growing and the pediatrician said she was healthy. Beyond that, he said what I fed her and how was my choice. And for me, breastfeeding was easier - certainly easier than dealing with bottles in my sleep-deprived state. I could nurse in my sleep (and did). I know it is not that way for many women - my sister-in-law suffered through endless, painful bouts of mastitis before she stopped breast-feeding.
What opened my eyes to just how judgmental people could be was one afternoon at my mother-in-law's house. While I primarily breast fed, I also pumped milk and sometimes supplemented with formula. That afternoon, my daughter was with her father so he could show her off to his parents' friends and I could have a little time to myself. He was giving her a bottle of pumped milk. A "friend" of my mother-in-law was utterly outraged "how could you bottle feed her?" My husband responded "how do you know what is in this bottle? It's not apple juice, what's the big deal?" Even my Farmer's Market organizer, organic everything mother-in-law was horrified by her friend's judgment and responded "How else is he supposed to feed her? Or me?"
People need to back off and let families make the decisions that are right for them.
What opened my eyes to just how judgmental people could be was one afternoon at my mother-in-law's house. While I primarily breast fed, I also pumped milk and sometimes supplemented with formula. That afternoon, my daughter was with her father so he could show her off to his parents' friends and I could have a little time to myself. He was giving her a bottle of pumped milk. A "friend" of my mother-in-law was utterly outraged "how could you bottle feed her?" My husband responded "how do you know what is in this bottle? It's not apple juice, what's the big deal?" Even my Farmer's Market organizer, organic everything mother-in-law was horrified by her friend's judgment and responded "How else is he supposed to feed her? Or me?"
People need to back off and let families make the decisions that are right for them.
4
Obviously, nowadays, breast-feeding is a choice, given there are viable alternatives. However, the most natural way of bonding with the child, and providing the wonderful qualities (in addition to nutrition) of mother's milk, has 'no real substitute' (ideally!). Wouldn't it be far better to create an environment, such as paid leave, and spousal and societal support, so this marvelous process can succeed? Too bad we are so stingy about allowing nature to unravel, especially when we men are in power and make decisions we know nothing about. Let women tell us by electing them , that way we may be able to humanize Congress...and the Presidency. It's time.
6
There are enough comments that offer a well-said and well-documented counterpoint to this opinion piece, so I'll focus my dismay on the article's tone. Why does any "lifestyle" choice come with so much defensiveness? Whether you are vegetarian/vegan, don't watch television, don't choose to participate in social media, choose to breastfeed, etc. etc. etc. you become a challenge to all those who choose otherwise. Everyone gets defensive, everyone's back gets up, everyone offers anecdotes about people who get in their face about their choices. Can we stop? The evidence is there for breastfeeding. It's what we are designed to do as part of the animal kingdom. Modern society changed that only quite recently (the 1950s) and, thank goodness, a newer, more open-minded society pushed back and shared it as an viable option again. For all you new millennial mothers who are so offended by the benefits of breast feeding, try imagining being a 1980's mother who had to do battle with hospitals for the right to birth and feed our babies as we saw fit. Not a sharing of opinions, but battle. It is a lifestyle choice and I'm all for choice, but please don't pretend, all things being equal, that it's a good one.
6
I have systemic lupus, and I was hooked up to a cortisone IV as soon as my son was born. I was to remain on cortisone for two additional weeks, and did not want my new born baby exposed to cortisone. I think the choice is personal, and I do not think the pro breast feeding group have a right to try to impose their ideas. There are reasons people choose not to breast feed and perhaps their privacy should be respected. I was a stay at home mom. What are the advantages of being a stay at home mom who bottle feeds vs a working mom who pumps? I think the stay at home bottle feeding mom wins hands down!
1
I am a nurse-midwife. The new mothers we care for are in a daily struggle to find the time and place to feed their children. Most of them have to balance family, work, and/or school obligations, in addition to finding the time to breastfeed their newborns. We are one of the only nations on earth, developed or undeveloped, that does not see the value of motherhood and provide for paid maternity leave. Until that day arrives, I will continue to be amazed at what a high rate of breast-feeding we actually have.
12
I came to the States with my American-born husband while pregnant and my mother-in-law and sister-in-law were my baby mavens. They told me that breastfeeding is hard and painful, that weaning is hard and painful, that I should definitely bottle-feed. I had never considered either option, but when my husband and I took a Lamaze course the instructor advocated breast-feeding. I decided to give it a try (also because it sounded simpler than using and sterilizing of bottles) and I still think it was the best decision of my life, other than marrying that American stranger I had met only a few months before.
Not only was my baby healthy throughout the year I nursed him (he stopped nursing when he became more interested in the world around him) but, mostly, I learned that I could be a competent mother. I bonded with my baby while nursing. I could look my relatives in the eyes and smile knowingly. And my baby slept well, developed well, thrived.
He is now 40 years old. He is healthy, smart and accomplished. If only he and his wife decided to give us a grandkid he would be perfect.
Not only was my baby healthy throughout the year I nursed him (he stopped nursing when he became more interested in the world around him) but, mostly, I learned that I could be a competent mother. I bonded with my baby while nursing. I could look my relatives in the eyes and smile knowingly. And my baby slept well, developed well, thrived.
He is now 40 years old. He is healthy, smart and accomplished. If only he and his wife decided to give us a grandkid he would be perfect.
4
It simply not true that 15% of women don't produce enough breast milk to feed their babies. I have worked with groups where 99% could breastfeed thanks to good support.
4
Absolutely right.
Also it would be good to address this phenomenon: new mother tries to breastfeed and has difficulty, and in stead of help she receives shame, and this contributes to postpartum depression.
Also, this one: new mother is absolutely exhausted but insists on continuing to breastfeed even though it is detrimental to her health and sanity- breastfeeding is an immense load on a woman's body, and not everyone can do it easily-
Or this: a woman being treated for postpartum depression is having a hard time finding a medication that will help, and her doctor ultimately reluctantly prescribes one incompatible with nursing, but she does not want to take it, because she believes that breastfeeding is so important that it outweighs being non-suicidal. So many times I have told women, the first thing your baby needs is a sane mother.
Also it would be good to address this phenomenon: new mother tries to breastfeed and has difficulty, and in stead of help she receives shame, and this contributes to postpartum depression.
Also, this one: new mother is absolutely exhausted but insists on continuing to breastfeed even though it is detrimental to her health and sanity- breastfeeding is an immense load on a woman's body, and not everyone can do it easily-
Or this: a woman being treated for postpartum depression is having a hard time finding a medication that will help, and her doctor ultimately reluctantly prescribes one incompatible with nursing, but she does not want to take it, because she believes that breastfeeding is so important that it outweighs being non-suicidal. So many times I have told women, the first thing your baby needs is a sane mother.
9
For physical reasons, I was unable to breastfeed my first child. When I had #2 three years later, it struck me as easy to give him a bottle too. Stay-at-home mom. This was in the 80s. It was great that hubby could take turns with middle of the night feedings and grandparents too who adored them both. Never felt guilty or bad. My choice. Two highly intelligent, quite healthy young adults (on the low side of normal in weight) who made it through childhood without any horrible diseases. Why should we constantly be trying to influence people to our chosen philosophy of how to live your life? Whether it's religion, career choices, housing, diet, breastfeeding, birth control---live and let live.
6
I used to have an infant formula account when I worked in pharmaceutical advertising. I couldn't have designed a better promo for them than this article. My former multi-billion dollar client thanks you. You didn't link to the studies so we can't see who sponsored them. I used to write articles for Big Pharma to place in medical journals under the names of leading doctors, so I'd like to know who paid for these studies. By the way, my formula client told me they dump sugar in infant formula to get babies to prefer it to breast milk. That sets them up for a lifelong preference for sugar before they've even had solid food. And the company just adds the "key ingredients" to formula because they know they can't duplicate breast milk, which evolved over millennia to deliver appropriate human nutrition. And just because children don't have diseases after 16 years doesn't mean much. Most diseases don't present by age 16. You need to be more aware of how Industry works to manipulate you. I saw many articles on breastfeeding when I worked on that account, and they haven't been discredited in such a short span of time without intention.
12
I am a pediatrician and a strong advocate for breastfeeding. However, my first child had an extremely difficult time breastfeeding and I was in tears for the first three weeks of life in pain, angst over how I would get this to work, and felt that my colleagues looked down on me when I would feed her a bottle (even though it was pumped milk). I did finally get breastfeeding to work but she didn't even regain her birth weight until about 3.5 weeks and my husband still thinks I was crazy for putting myself through this for her first month of life.
We do need to take some of this pressure off of women. You are still a good mom even if you don't breast feed.
We do need to take some of this pressure off of women. You are still a good mom even if you don't breast feed.
5
Breastfeeding (nursing, we called it) was easy, comfortable, comforting and free - a no-brainer. I brought my infant daughter with me to work and school, then by 5-6 months began to leave her with caregivers as she progressed to solid food and a sippy cup of water or juice, allowing 6-8 hours between nursings. She self-weaned at age 3. I never pumped and she never used a bottle. A sophisticated adult now, she has hazy but fond early memories of "nurse, please."
In my perinatal social work practice most of the mothers I saw experienced the opposite pressure described by this writer. Those who managed to nurse tended to demonstrate stronger bonds with their babies and relatively lower stress, or greater ability to cope with other stresses, compared to the bottle feeders (that includes those who primarily pumped, they were the most stressed of all).
We assume that pumping breastmilk and feeding it from a bottle confers the same benefits as nursing. It does not. It is bottlefeeding. A very different experience. Lost in all this noise is a precious benefit, the physical and emotional relationship between a nursing pair. I think we don't want to admit it.
She and I were and are so fortunate. I hope, if she has a child, she is free to experience the same joy.
In my perinatal social work practice most of the mothers I saw experienced the opposite pressure described by this writer. Those who managed to nurse tended to demonstrate stronger bonds with their babies and relatively lower stress, or greater ability to cope with other stresses, compared to the bottle feeders (that includes those who primarily pumped, they were the most stressed of all).
We assume that pumping breastmilk and feeding it from a bottle confers the same benefits as nursing. It does not. It is bottlefeeding. A very different experience. Lost in all this noise is a precious benefit, the physical and emotional relationship between a nursing pair. I think we don't want to admit it.
She and I were and are so fortunate. I hope, if she has a child, she is free to experience the same joy.
5
The zeal you're seeing now is an overcorrection to years of ignorance. I just became a grandmother. When I breastfed my daughter years ago, there was little support, and after a few months I was an oddity. But wow, was my kid healthy. I remember my pediatrician saying "I never see you! If all my patients breastfed like this, I'd go out of business." I remember how easy breastfeeding was after the first few weeks, that I never had to worry about being able to feed my child anytime, anywhere, and how it allowed for a great deal more spontaneity in my day.
But the main reason I breastfed was knowing that each mammal's body produces milk that is biologically designed for its offspring. Cows milk has several times the protein of human milk. It's designed to help a baby calf gain hundreds of pounds in its first year of life. Human milk is nutritionally scaled for the optimal development of human babies. For the first time in my life, and this is pathetic to say, I understood my breasts were working glands and not just ornamentation on my body.
I was not shamed into breastfeeding--in fact, nursing after six months, I often met with disapproval from family and friends. "How long are you going to DO that?"
I paid $375 for my breast pump back in the day. Last week it was wonderful to pick one up for my daughter at the pharmacy and have it covered by insurance.
But the main reason I breastfed was knowing that each mammal's body produces milk that is biologically designed for its offspring. Cows milk has several times the protein of human milk. It's designed to help a baby calf gain hundreds of pounds in its first year of life. Human milk is nutritionally scaled for the optimal development of human babies. For the first time in my life, and this is pathetic to say, I understood my breasts were working glands and not just ornamentation on my body.
I was not shamed into breastfeeding--in fact, nursing after six months, I often met with disapproval from family and friends. "How long are you going to DO that?"
I paid $375 for my breast pump back in the day. Last week it was wonderful to pick one up for my daughter at the pharmacy and have it covered by insurance.
19
Feeling similar pressure when I was pregnant, and having already decided I was not going to breastfeed, I pointedly told my nurse I was NOT speaking about breastfeeding and any "advocate" strolling around the corridors was not to step one foot in my room to harass me while I was recovering and bonding with my son. Fast forward ten years later - my son has never had a cavity, has had exactly ONE minor ear infection in his life, allergic to NOTHING - he is free to go outside without an inhaler, eat all the peanut butter he likes and is rarely sick. This is UNLIKE MANY of his breast fed peers who are allergic to everything green outside, can't inhale the same air as a peanut and have several cavities already. This mirrors the experiences of my husband and myself. He was breast fed and suffers from horrible outdoor allergies, I was bottle fed and am allergic to nothing ,and rarely sick although I am exposed to a lot of sick people in my profession. My advice to anyone feeling pressure is to cut it at the quick and tell the zealot pointedly that the issue is NOT open for discussion.
7
The benefits if breast feeding are real but modest and have been vastly over promoted with fundamentalist zeal by many with false "facts." What about the benefits of bottle feeding in infant bonding with fathers (who do a lot of the feeding with the pumped milk anyway).
9
It really is quite remarkable how acutely the comment section proves the authors point. As someone who is currently pregnant with their first child, I can attest to how much outside pressure there is to breastfeed, often from absolute strangers. My body and my baby are my business. I plan on breastfeeding, but I'm certainly not naive enough to believe that I may not need formula to either supplement or take on the bulk of feeding if I'm incapable. My mother couldn't breastfeed, she wasn't producing milk and I was bottle fed. I still went on to live a disease free life, concentrate in school, get good grades, go to a university, become a productive member of society. In fact there were entire generations who were formula fed because breast feeding was considered crass at the time. Does breast feeding have benefits, yes. Will children still turn out smart, funny, interesting members of society if they are formula fed. Absolutely. How a family chooses to feed their children is their business and not up for public debate.
14
The Mother Molesters list.
Why are Americans eager to insinuate themselves into other’s private affairs? You often can't differentiate between a crime and a purely personal choice. (none of your business!) You are the Inquisitors, Vigilantes, the intolerant Moral majority, a Nosey Parker.
Here, some assume the right to advise, warn and attack others for making their personal choice about a personal matter. (My mother quotes: "You can swing your arm as long as it doesn’t connect with my face.") Are you really so silly as to need laws that enforce common sense and respect for others?
Do you expect mothers – bottle and breast feeders alike – to get off the bus, leave the courtroom, unbuckle from their plane seats during “Fasten Seatbelts” turbulent weather, to cower in the bathroom . . . to get away from you?
Do you presume to know all the reasons a mother made her decisions?
Just as you need signs at a playground or nudist beach warning people not to stare until the child, parent or naked person feels uncomfortable, now you Americans are going to need laws to prevent you from pestering bottle-feeding and breastfeeding mothers alike. You’re going to end up in jail one day. In self-defense, both bottle- and breastfeeding women will lobby for laws to protect themselves from badgering –- just as child molesters and peeping toms are controlled.
You’re going to end up on the Mother Molesters list.
Why are Americans eager to insinuate themselves into other’s private affairs? You often can't differentiate between a crime and a purely personal choice. (none of your business!) You are the Inquisitors, Vigilantes, the intolerant Moral majority, a Nosey Parker.
Here, some assume the right to advise, warn and attack others for making their personal choice about a personal matter. (My mother quotes: "You can swing your arm as long as it doesn’t connect with my face.") Are you really so silly as to need laws that enforce common sense and respect for others?
Do you expect mothers – bottle and breast feeders alike – to get off the bus, leave the courtroom, unbuckle from their plane seats during “Fasten Seatbelts” turbulent weather, to cower in the bathroom . . . to get away from you?
Do you presume to know all the reasons a mother made her decisions?
Just as you need signs at a playground or nudist beach warning people not to stare until the child, parent or naked person feels uncomfortable, now you Americans are going to need laws to prevent you from pestering bottle-feeding and breastfeeding mothers alike. You’re going to end up in jail one day. In self-defense, both bottle- and breastfeeding women will lobby for laws to protect themselves from badgering –- just as child molesters and peeping toms are controlled.
You’re going to end up on the Mother Molesters list.
5
An issue ignored by Ms. Jung, regarding infant formula: Much formula is made from powdered cow's milk. All dairy cows are exploited and inhumanely controlled to some extent, and killed at a young age; and for the great majority of them, in CAFO dairies, their suffering is extreme and unending. And in general American society is shockingly hypocritical in its traditional acceptance of a diet laden with animal-sourced foods, on the one hand upholding as standards of civilization the love of justice and the deploring of cruelty, on the other demanding the cruel treatment of countless animals held captive and killed by the food industry. If we all can agree that mothers want only the best for their babies, shouldn't we expect them to want to keep their babies free of complicity in that great evil of our society?
1
I was perfectly happy to breastfeed my babies, one for a year and one for 20 months. They seemed to like it too. But it did not magically inoculate them from all of life's travails. And, more important, people shouldn't feel so comfortable dictating to women about how to run their lives.
5
What I found incredible in my recent travels in the US during my 16 week, 100% full pay maternity leave from my residence in Switzerland is that formula in the US seemed to me to be 3x the price that it is here, where everything else is normally 2x what it costs In US. A terrible burden for those who can't afford to breastfeed.
4
This pressure to breast feed is not new. Nearly 40 years ago my wife obsessed over the fact that she had to stop feeding my son "naturally" because of the soreness of her nipples and skin break down that caused sores to develop.
I believe that there are benefits to it but the act of holding a baby and bottle feeding if that's all you can do are most beneficial in providing a "bonding" experience.
By the way I was bottle fed because I lived in a foster home for my first two years because my parents were considered too young to care for a baby in New York in 1951. She'd just turned 16 and my father 17.
My, how times have changed.
I believe that there are benefits to it but the act of holding a baby and bottle feeding if that's all you can do are most beneficial in providing a "bonding" experience.
By the way I was bottle fed because I lived in a foster home for my first two years because my parents were considered too young to care for a baby in New York in 1951. She'd just turned 16 and my father 17.
My, how times have changed.
5
I adopted my daughter. Although it's physically possible for adoptive mothers to breastfeed, I opted not to because my daughter was already 9 months old and used to formula and the bottle. Since most people don't know that adoptive mothers can breastfeed, I didn't catch any flak about bottle-feeding. I cannot imagine being more bonded with her than we are now (she is 7). (And for whatever it's worth, she has never had an ear infection.) I'm sure that if I had a biological child, I would've at least tried to breastfeed--all else aside, it's much cheaper--but I have no regrets that I didn't breastfeed my daughter. It must be a choice made freely and women shouldn't feel guilty either way.
2
I agree—the hype around breastfeeding is often anti-mother. When I was struggling to breastfeed my son, I read so much propaganda that romanticized breastfeeding as a sign of a woman’s essential nature. Then there was the argument that I, as a white woman, would definitely breastfeed because it was only poor women of color who didn’t know better and chose not to do so. In that light, breastfeeding became a mark of education and privilege. I know of few women who breastfed easily without the costly assistance of lactation consultants ($250/hour in my neighborhood 8 years ago), hospital-grade pumps--either rented or bought, and accessories like nipple-shields. And yet, the women who employ these costly services, or have the wherewithal to get themselves to support groups, are also as likely to defend breastfeeding as this natural rite that has been robbed from us in the modern world.
I do regret not being able to breastfeed my son, in part because it was something I tried to do and despite efforts of lactation consultants, fancy pumps, and plenty of time off from work, I failed. But mostly, I regret having bottle-fed because it seems to mark an unspoken division: I may have fed my son, but I didn’t breastfeed my son. I am reluctant to admit this, and when I do, I feel like some mothers place me into that unfortunate category of mothers who are less-than, something to be pitied. What ideology have they bought into that entitles them to do this?
I do regret not being able to breastfeed my son, in part because it was something I tried to do and despite efforts of lactation consultants, fancy pumps, and plenty of time off from work, I failed. But mostly, I regret having bottle-fed because it seems to mark an unspoken division: I may have fed my son, but I didn’t breastfeed my son. I am reluctant to admit this, and when I do, I feel like some mothers place me into that unfortunate category of mothers who are less-than, something to be pitied. What ideology have they bought into that entitles them to do this?
7
When I was pregnant with my daughter I was told by so-called experts that if I didn't breastfeed my daughter would be everything from a lifelong picky eater to, basically, an idiot. After she was born, I felt so much pressure to breastfeed her I persisted for days through exhaustion and tears until a very kind and caring consultant at the hospital gave me the best advice I've ever heard around this subject: "Do what's best for your family." The relief I felt at having "permission" to give my newborn daughter was overwhelming. Feeding was finally relaxed and enjoyable instead of being a stress-filled battle that left us both a hot mess of tears and exasperation. I'm grateful this article supports choice for new mothers, but it doesn't help that publications like the Times produce so much conflicting and confusing information. For example in March 2015, the Times' "Well" blog had a post titled "Breast-Feeding May Have Benefits Decades Later" ("those breast-fed 12 months or more had higher I.Q. scores"). In September, the very same blog had a post titled: "Study Does Not Link Breast-Feeding With Child’s I.Q." The overall message should be to support babies by better supporting their mothers.
4
35 years ago, I felt I had to ask my doctor if I could supplement breast feeding with a bottle. I did not have enough milk, and my baby was hungry. But when I spoke about this with anyone except my mom, who had bottle fed six healthy children, I met with outrage!
My doctor of course approved, and my daughter is now 35, extremely healthy and a professor at a leading university.
Not only that, but bottle feeding allowed her father to bond with her. Today my daughter has excellent relationships with both of us.
What was much worse for me than bottle shaming, was having to go back to work when my daughter was only two months old. Leave without pay was not an option as our salaries were very low.
I would have greatly appreciated a WIC package with meat - the stress of working, monitoring the baby carer, and cutting coupons to buy food was really awful. I think those officials who designed this discriminatory program against working mothers, who I am sure bottle feed at higher rates, should be condemned to a few days of swollen bleeding nipples hooked to a breast pump on a 10 minute break deducted from their pay!
My doctor of course approved, and my daughter is now 35, extremely healthy and a professor at a leading university.
Not only that, but bottle feeding allowed her father to bond with her. Today my daughter has excellent relationships with both of us.
What was much worse for me than bottle shaming, was having to go back to work when my daughter was only two months old. Leave without pay was not an option as our salaries were very low.
I would have greatly appreciated a WIC package with meat - the stress of working, monitoring the baby carer, and cutting coupons to buy food was really awful. I think those officials who designed this discriminatory program against working mothers, who I am sure bottle feed at higher rates, should be condemned to a few days of swollen bleeding nipples hooked to a breast pump on a 10 minute break deducted from their pay!
6
The two most important things a mother can do for her child are to breastfeed for one year and not to stay away from paid work for more than two years per child. Of course very little in our society encourages this difficult balance, but it is still true. Why if study after study after study demonstrates the importance of breastfeeding so so many mothers avoid it? It was hell for me for the first few weeks, but after that quite easy, at least until my son had teeth! And I have little idea which of his classmates were breastfed, but the divide between the performance of the kids of stay at home mothers and those who work is crystal clear, with an overlap usually of about one child a year.
4
While I agree that breastfeeding is good for the baby (and mother) and should be encouraged, please show some flexibility when you make statements like this. If I hear that breastfeeding is one of the two best things I can do for my baby, but my body won't produce milk (which is the reality for a certain percentage of women), then it feels disastrous if I can't breastfeed, as if I am actively harming my baby. What about the many, many mothers who cannot breastfeed for several different reasons. The reality is that breastfeeding has true benefits, but almost all babies are also perfectly healthy when not breastfed. There are innumerable factors that affect a baby's health and development as much as, and often more than, breastfeeding. We can never control all of these. We can be informed about which things are important, and do the best we can to provide these for our baby, but knowing we can never do it all and that is ok.
2
One of the men I work for became a father about 3 months ago, and his wife was absolutely determined to breast feed - for all the good reasons. But as he related it, there were problems. The baby boy was very fussy, only sleeping 2 hours at a time, doing a lot of crying. At a 4 week visit the pediatrician recommended that she pump instead of nurse and add something he recommended to the bottles, which helped. At the next checkup the pediatrician recommended switching to formula entirely. Mom resisted.
I told my boss the story of when one of my sons was born a bit prematurely and left the hospital a week after I did. I faithfully pumped to keep my milk flowing (I had nursed both of his brothers), and started nursing him when we brought him home. He was terribly fussy, and spit up a lot. Lo and behold, he was allergic to breast milk and had to be put on a soy formula, which ended the fussiness and spitting up, and he started sleeping longer. I suggested my boss that he tell this story to his wife, emphasizing that I had nursed the first two but followed the doctor's advice for the third.
Their baby boy is now on formula, sleeping very well with up to 5 hours unbroken sleep at night, and only fussy now because he is beginning teething.
I am very much in favor of breast feeding, but only if it is the right thing for both baby and mother.
I told my boss the story of when one of my sons was born a bit prematurely and left the hospital a week after I did. I faithfully pumped to keep my milk flowing (I had nursed both of his brothers), and started nursing him when we brought him home. He was terribly fussy, and spit up a lot. Lo and behold, he was allergic to breast milk and had to be put on a soy formula, which ended the fussiness and spitting up, and he started sleeping longer. I suggested my boss that he tell this story to his wife, emphasizing that I had nursed the first two but followed the doctor's advice for the third.
Their baby boy is now on formula, sleeping very well with up to 5 hours unbroken sleep at night, and only fussy now because he is beginning teething.
I am very much in favor of breast feeding, but only if it is the right thing for both baby and mother.
7
Amen! For many of us, breastfeeding is not easy to execute. A woman who gets no sleep and is in constant pain is in no way a "better mother" if she cannot take care of herself. I was surprised at how many women I know fist-bumped me when I told them I " just work through the pain" and continue to breastfeed- as if it is a necessary sacrifice defining my moral worth. Yet another example of women trying to please others at the expense of themselves. Lived in fear of saying the "F" word- formula.....
5
The author's comment about WIC caught my eye. " The difference in benefits is intended to create incentives for poor mothers to breast-feed, but withholding food from mothers at nutritional risk, and from their babies, seems more like punishment to me."
I think it is not only a form of punishment disguised as an incentive, but is also really stupid. Don't all babies need the same kinds of food, whether they are breast fed or formula fed?
I think it is not only a form of punishment disguised as an incentive, but is also really stupid. Don't all babies need the same kinds of food, whether they are breast fed or formula fed?
2
I wonder if the most beneficial aspect of breast feeding is the psychological one - time spent bonding. All other arguments and studies aside, skin-to-skin time is love and love gives sustenance and strength to both mother and child.
In this very busy world, we forget that we are not that different from the kittens and puppies which, we have come to recognize, if weaned too soon, have lifetime problems. Before being attacked for that point, let me add that I was not breastfed, that my mother never bonded with me, and that I breastfed my daughter to the lasting health benefits of both of us.
In this very busy world, we forget that we are not that different from the kittens and puppies which, we have come to recognize, if weaned too soon, have lifetime problems. Before being attacked for that point, let me add that I was not breastfed, that my mother never bonded with me, and that I breastfed my daughter to the lasting health benefits of both of us.
12
While I agree it is ridiculous for perfect strangers to launch into lectures about how you feed your unborn child, the push for breastfeeding is due to the scientifically prove benefits for the child's health, intelligence, and growth (assuming the mother is getting adequate nutrition, which is where advocacy is REALLY needed). You do a discredit to hospitals and educational efforts when you propose that the reason for the push is the "bonding" aspect. Breast pumps provide better bottled nutrition for the baby than bottled formula does. Licensed healtchare workers are conscripted to "do no harm"; therefore they should not be advocating an inferior form of nutrition for infants. Given that the historic push toward formula in decades past involved kickbacks and shady relationships between hospitals and manufacturers, I applaud the new ban on pushing formula.
11
There is so much in this article that I disagree with, and know to be false, that I literally don't know where to begin. So instead I'll tell you the story of my daughter, a micro-preemie born at 28 weeks at 1 1 /4 pounds 21 years ago. I did not get the Gerber baby of my dreams, the natural birth or any thing else important to me as a new mother. But I had a feisty little thing clinging to life with both hands and I decided that breastfeeding was my line in the sand. It was the one thing I could still do to help my daughter and I decided that it was the one thing which would not be taken away from me. With the help of three different lactation consultants and LaLeche League I was ultimately able to nurse my daughter. Was it worth the time and trouble and cost? Absolutely. No one can convince me that my daughter would be as healthy, both emotionally and physically, today if I had not nursed her. Unfortunately as this article shows there are tremendous cultural biases and misunformation about a fairly straightforward human function. Our species is called mammal for a reason; we nurse our young. This is not a trivial thing and I'm sorry to see it trivialized by cultural wars and forces that are perpetually trying to control women and make us feel guilty about everything. I do believe that breast is best but I would never judge a woman for the decisions she makes for her family.
16
Wow! The pendulum has swung certainly violently since over 40 years ago, when one sympathetic nurse smuggled my newborn to me so that I could breastfeed during the night hours - babies stayed in the nursery at night. The hospital found breastfeeding undesirable, possibly because it would interrupt the nighttime routine, and it was actively discouraged.
6
Are our institutions filled with babbling cretins ruined physically by the poisonous formula ingredients and stunted psychologically by not being allowed to suck? Somehow a whole generation of children survived and last time I checked, seemed to be prospering. Apparently, both approaches work about as well.
Regardless of the politics its more than a perfectly good choice- you know that, everyone knows that. I get that you are trying to rationalize your way out of feeling guilty if you don't...thats normal. If you don't-because you don't want to, again your choice to make-baby doesn't get to choose what is most healthy for its body...that is your responsibility.
1
I'm amazed that no one here has considered the ingredients in our over-processed, 50+ ingredient-laden formula. Not all formula is created equal. It's quite clear that breast milk is a better choice given the abysmal choices of formula for our babies. Now, if we had better options for formula, I can see the conversation changing. But right now, I would do just about anything to get my baby to breast-feed rather than forcing her to take down the preservatives, chemicals, food coloring, and antibiotic-laden powdered dairy found in our formula. Just look at the label--it's pretty disgusting!
13
Ms. Jung's axe grinding here is fraught with misinformation, emotionalism and a complete misunderstanding of the actual problems of poor women who choose to be others. As someone who has worked closely with professionals (all of them women) in the field of lactation consultancy, most of them working with economically challenged women through WIC, I know that social injustice, economic injustice, and the agenda of large pharmaceutical and formula manufacturers to hook babies on formula from birth in order to sell their products is the real injustice. Nor does she mention the benefits to a woman's health from breastfeeding, including quicker weight loss following pregnancy and lower rates of heart disease and breast cancer. This professor at the University of Toronto is willfully ignorant about the complex issues facing poor women in this country, and her suggestion that formula and breastfeeding are equivalent is to promote the same anti-woman, anti-baby nonsense that corporations have been leveling at women for years. One wonders if Ms. Jung doesn't have a bright future as a talking head for a big corporation. But woman and infant advocate? Not.
20
I agree. As a mother, I never once faced pressure to breastfeed but decided to on my own terms. I have never encountered actual or anecdotal evidence of WIC coercing women to breastfeed. The different WIC packages are not favoring breastfeeding women but rather swapping out formula to provide healthy options for a breastfeeding moms needs. Also her point that our rates are better than Europe's is embarrassing. Their rates are very low and on top of that, countries like France do not have our poverty issues meaning women can actually afford to choose to formula feed. I could go on forever.
1
Of course a mother should not be coerced to breast feed. But telling a mother that breast feeding is the healthiest choice for her baby is not coercion but simply stating the fact. In the great American culture, this idea of "choice" is sometimes over rated. Whatever our "choice" is, fact is fact. Our choices change neither reality or fact.
9
I've been a physician for 35 years. I've taken care of numerous new mothers, a multitude of babies, and been acquainted with many lactation consultants. I personally think that breastfeeding is the better option, but I do not see "moral fervor" on the part of most practitioners. And no one can "compel" a mother to breastfeed if she prefers not to.
There are women who cannot breastfeed successfully; often they are highly motivated but encounter difficulties. In my experience, if a lactation consultant cannot help with a solution, she will advise formula. There is a market in breast milk, but it is not accessible in any practical way to most mothers.
I find this article overblown. If a mother is getting unwanted advice, it's easy enough to say "It's not your business". For the mothers who choose to breastfeed, we should not be advocating the old days of sending mother and baby home from the hospital with free formula and a make-up bag
There are women who cannot breastfeed successfully; often they are highly motivated but encounter difficulties. In my experience, if a lactation consultant cannot help with a solution, she will advise formula. There is a market in breast milk, but it is not accessible in any practical way to most mothers.
I find this article overblown. If a mother is getting unwanted advice, it's easy enough to say "It's not your business". For the mothers who choose to breastfeed, we should not be advocating the old days of sending mother and baby home from the hospital with free formula and a make-up bag
8
I breastfed my 2 children for 2.5 years each -- 5 years without stopping. Why? largely because I was working full-time throughout and breastfeeding was something that I could do that the babysitter couldn't. I felt guilty about working (though I had no economic choice) and breastfeeding made me feel closer to them after having to spend my days away from them. Also, I found breastfeeding extremely convenient -- no need to carry around formula or bottle warmers, etc -- just pop the baby's head under my shirt.
Also, it simply felt natural. I'd watched the family dog breastfeed several litters of puppies and figured that if she could do it, so could I. There was never a single doubt in my mind about whether to breastfeed.
Also, it simply felt natural. I'd watched the family dog breastfeed several litters of puppies and figured that if she could do it, so could I. There was never a single doubt in my mind about whether to breastfeed.
3
Breast feeding doesnt need to be sold, undersold or oversold.
You need to put the babies head to the breast. THAT IS ALL!!!
And do it often. During the night, during the day. Every time it makes a peep. Put it to the breast.
You will then produce a ton of milk. The baby will be as healthy as it will every be. You will reach a pleasure and ecstasy exceeding sex as the pleasure chemicals douse your body to reinforce your desire to feed again.
Its Darwinian. Its nature. Its bliss.
You need to put the babies head to the breast. THAT IS ALL!!!
And do it often. During the night, during the day. Every time it makes a peep. Put it to the breast.
You will then produce a ton of milk. The baby will be as healthy as it will every be. You will reach a pleasure and ecstasy exceeding sex as the pleasure chemicals douse your body to reinforce your desire to feed again.
Its Darwinian. Its nature. Its bliss.
7
You're kidding, right? I had a baby who I would have been happy to breastfeed, but she seemed to have other ideas. No amount of putting her head to my breasr would convince her to breastfeed. No lactation expert/coach could make her do it. Your tone is naive and assumes that your experience is universal, which I assure you it is not. I am not the only one to have problems - over half the women I knew had serious problems with supply, infected nipples, thrush, etc. Please don't assume that the rest of us were somehow just missing the opportunity to breastfeed because we forgot to.
2
I had a little trouble getting started with breast feeding, but once my son and figured it out, it was wonderful. I have never understood why people who can breastfeed don't. No bottles to wash, nothing to warm up, and it's free. I know some women can't or don't want to, but it's certainly the most convenient way to feed an infant.
3
I breastfed both of my children and both were constantly sick. The 2nd child ended up with tubes in her ears after BOTH eardrums burst by 9 months.
I didn't work.
Neither child went to daycare.
The first was exclusively breastfed for 6 months (during which time he was sick multiple times) and the second was sick with something or other from the get-go (exposed to her older brother's pre K germs, I guess).
Both had lice (multiple times for the 2nd one--mostly after camp), pinworms and the oldest had giardia. Both fractured both wrists in the span of 5 years. The oldest was at the doctor's office on 9-11 for pneumonia.
The younger one stuck a bead up her nose and they almost had to knock her out and push the bead down into her throat; she also had to have her head stapled shut because she was jumping on beds with a friend at a friend's house and split her scalp open. You cannot believe the amount of blood.
The oldest one had his head stapled when he and a friend were throwing rocks up in the air...in the dark.
Both children have been on the honor roll and off the honor roll.
All of this despite the breastfeeding.
I didn't work.
Neither child went to daycare.
The first was exclusively breastfed for 6 months (during which time he was sick multiple times) and the second was sick with something or other from the get-go (exposed to her older brother's pre K germs, I guess).
Both had lice (multiple times for the 2nd one--mostly after camp), pinworms and the oldest had giardia. Both fractured both wrists in the span of 5 years. The oldest was at the doctor's office on 9-11 for pneumonia.
The younger one stuck a bead up her nose and they almost had to knock her out and push the bead down into her throat; she also had to have her head stapled shut because she was jumping on beds with a friend at a friend's house and split her scalp open. You cannot believe the amount of blood.
The oldest one had his head stapled when he and a friend were throwing rocks up in the air...in the dark.
Both children have been on the honor roll and off the honor roll.
All of this despite the breastfeeding.
2
Well, here's the thing...there are many things that science cannot yet prove, but we do them out of our trust in the natural wisdom of the body.
When it comes to breast-feeding, while there remain many unanswered questions, we do know a few things for sure, 1) there are scores of nutrients in breast milk that occur in no formula; 2) it is also filled with immune cells, antibodies and other factors that no formula can mimic; 3) breast feeding is associated with a 50% reduced risk of SIDS (causing >1500 deaths/year in the US). And, those are just the benefits to the baby. Moms also benefit in that nursing is associated with a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
When it comes to breast feeding, the key responsibility we (medical-types) have, is to make sure women get all the assistance they need to work through any initial challenges (from flat nipples to babies who are tongue tied).
Of course, parenting is tough enough without having to struggle with the scornful judgements of others...or the sting of our own unfair guilt. But, while no practice is right for every mom breast milk is definitely very special and it is good for all babies (even the formula companies recommend it!). And, that's why it's worth giving it your best shot.
When it comes to breast-feeding, while there remain many unanswered questions, we do know a few things for sure, 1) there are scores of nutrients in breast milk that occur in no formula; 2) it is also filled with immune cells, antibodies and other factors that no formula can mimic; 3) breast feeding is associated with a 50% reduced risk of SIDS (causing >1500 deaths/year in the US). And, those are just the benefits to the baby. Moms also benefit in that nursing is associated with a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
When it comes to breast feeding, the key responsibility we (medical-types) have, is to make sure women get all the assistance they need to work through any initial challenges (from flat nipples to babies who are tongue tied).
Of course, parenting is tough enough without having to struggle with the scornful judgements of others...or the sting of our own unfair guilt. But, while no practice is right for every mom breast milk is definitely very special and it is good for all babies (even the formula companies recommend it!). And, that's why it's worth giving it your best shot.
16
This piece really hit home. When I gave birth to my son seventeen years ago, I had every intention of breastfeeding him; my sister and girlfriends all successfully nursed their babies. "Breast is best" right? But I struggled mightily, as did my son who could not latch on. What a disaster. After two miserable, beyond painful weeks, a sympathetic lactation nurse finally convinced me it was okay to give my baby formula. I will never forget her words; she said "Your son needs to eat; you don't need to breastfeed." And that was it. He was bottle-fed, always healthy, and to this day, never even taken an antibiotic.
1
Egads, the Breastmilk Wars!
2
Not a mother, but a father of 3, and grandfather of 3. My wife chose to breastfeed (at a time when you had to look hard for a support group), Each baby is different. She needed to provide supplemental feeding earlier or later depending on each baby's needs.
Skip forward a generation. My daughters' in law had babies within 5 months of each other. Both were counseled by folks I call "lactation Nazis". Both worked hard to feed their infants exclusively on breast milk, with difficulty. Even I cooked "lactation cookies" to help the flow. For one of the women, the baby simply demanded more than she could produce--probably because baby was growing from 50th percentile to over the 98th percentile in length in her first few months. Her "coaches" were adamant that the baby must not be fed supplementally. Mom was stressed out, and the baby was hungry for weeks. Finally, mom started adding some formula and later food over the objections of the lactation coaches. Baby thrived, as did mom.
Baby 2 is now here for one daughter-in-law--and this time the breast feeding has worked wonderfully from day one. Breast feeding can and should be a healthy experience for mother and child--and lactation coaching can certainly help. However, when the coaches are more interested in their "batting average" than in the well-being of mother and baby, its time to rethink.
Skip forward a generation. My daughters' in law had babies within 5 months of each other. Both were counseled by folks I call "lactation Nazis". Both worked hard to feed their infants exclusively on breast milk, with difficulty. Even I cooked "lactation cookies" to help the flow. For one of the women, the baby simply demanded more than she could produce--probably because baby was growing from 50th percentile to over the 98th percentile in length in her first few months. Her "coaches" were adamant that the baby must not be fed supplementally. Mom was stressed out, and the baby was hungry for weeks. Finally, mom started adding some formula and later food over the objections of the lactation coaches. Baby thrived, as did mom.
Baby 2 is now here for one daughter-in-law--and this time the breast feeding has worked wonderfully from day one. Breast feeding can and should be a healthy experience for mother and child--and lactation coaching can certainly help. However, when the coaches are more interested in their "batting average" than in the well-being of mother and baby, its time to rethink.
2
Best, most balanced piece written on the subject. I too nursed my daughters for about a year each...I work from home so it was convenient and also cheaper for our family, as well as an enjoyable experience of being close to my babies. But I knew plenty of friends at the time for whom breast-feeding did not work, and they agonized about it needlessly -- I felt badly for them! I hope this perspective is helpful. Pumping is extremely unpleasant, by the way. I'd go with formula over pumping any day. Choice is good!
3
My issue with the zeal around breastfeading is that there is little place for the fact that some women, biologically, don't produce enough (or any) breast milk to provide for the nutrition of their infant babies. On our third baby, we have spent weeks and weeks and weeks enduring tube feeding, breast feeding on the hour, hand expressing, pimping, etc etc etc. And yet still many -including many at our local hospital- fail to grasp that some women simply do not produce breast milk. The righteousness that surrounds breast feeding doesn't allow space for a woman to be okay with not breastfeeding, even if it is biologically impossible. The pressure to take prescription drugs that alter hormones comes in, as long as the sensitiveness issue of mothering, bonding, and what it means to be a woman and a mom who is not able to produce enough milk to breastfeed.
At the end of the day, this was supposed to be about supporting women and children; not creating a blind social dogma. There has to be a way to support and promote breastfeeding- which is the healthiest option- while supporting women who cannot, or decide that they do not want to, breastfeed their children. Ultimately, the healthiest option for a baby is to have a mother who is respected, supported, and empowered by her community- regardless of weather the milk comes from a breast, a tube, or a bottle.
At the end of the day, this was supposed to be about supporting women and children; not creating a blind social dogma. There has to be a way to support and promote breastfeeding- which is the healthiest option- while supporting women who cannot, or decide that they do not want to, breastfeed their children. Ultimately, the healthiest option for a baby is to have a mother who is respected, supported, and empowered by her community- regardless of weather the milk comes from a breast, a tube, or a bottle.
3
They don't produce enough breast milk BECAUSE they aren't nursing on demand. Or because they think if their milk doesn't come in within a day the baby is "hungry." Colostrum is the only food source the baby needs. Nursing on demand is what creates the necessary amount of milk for any particular baby. "Biological impossibility" is simply that woman's own psychological projection onto the rest of us who were apparently "successful." The only we did was put the effort in.
1
I breastfed because sterilizing bottles around the clock and mixing powdered stuff with boiled water was more daunting and strange than suckling a newborn ,mine, at my breast, and because it was healthier for the baby and for me. End of story. No pressure.
7
As a woman who could not breast feed after a few months, the amount of guilt I felt and that was foisted upon me was crazy. Thank God for bottle feeding! Without it, I wouldn't have a son! It's not like our nipple adverse country is brimming with wet nurses to fill the void. Yes, call off the police. We have enough divisions among us to make this another silly reason to look down on others.
3
Women are under enormous pressure, it's true -- but where I think many women go wrong (and I am one, despite the above handle) is caving to it, or letting it rule their lives. Women honestly need to develop thicker skin and apply blinders when it comes to what society is telling them to do or not do. Just do what's best for you and right for you after doing your due diligence, whether it's breast feeding, being a stay-at-home parent, or anything else!!
7
I assumed I would breastfeed. It didn't work in the hospital, in spite of multiple lactation specialists "helping" me in 8 hour shifts. They each had different methods, each disparaging the technique suggested by the other. It just didn't work. Our child was screaming and dehydrated almost constantly going into day 4. Finally on day two at home, while I was asleep from exhaustion, my husband gave her the bottle of the formula the hospital had included in the "new mom's package" but which they had strongly warned us not to use ("Thery'll be no going back...") . I awoke to find my daughter asleep in my husbands arms, all content and sated. It taught me to trust my husband's parental instincts and really, common sense.
7
Like the author, I breastfed both our kids for a number of years, working on assumptions that were prevalent in the late 1980s and early 1990s: 1) breast milk is best for babies, and has the potential to provide important immunological benefits; 2) breastfed babies are less likely to develop oral fixations later on and tend to be healthier, both physically and mentally; 3) women who breastfeed are often less likely to develop breast cancer -- important to me because I had a breast cancer scare when I was a young adult. I had both a C-section and a midwife-assisted VBAC, and insisted on breastfeeding in both cases. I went back to part-time office work when both my kids were very little because my husband and I managed to create a routine -- at a cost to our family’s financial bottom line that has never quite resolved. Still, I cherished the time I spent feeding my kids every day.
What is notable about my story is that neither of our two kids grew up to be particularly healthy. Earaches and stomach troubles abounded, and both kids developed ADD and accompanying emotional challenges in high school. One became a smoker. And, perhaps worst of all, I got bilateral breast cancer at the age of 63.
My advice to young moms: Do what your gut and your family situation tell you to do, and don’t let the breastfeeding police make you feel guilty. Give your baby lots of attention, talk to her, and treasure your feeding times together, however you choose to feed her.
What is notable about my story is that neither of our two kids grew up to be particularly healthy. Earaches and stomach troubles abounded, and both kids developed ADD and accompanying emotional challenges in high school. One became a smoker. And, perhaps worst of all, I got bilateral breast cancer at the age of 63.
My advice to young moms: Do what your gut and your family situation tell you to do, and don’t let the breastfeeding police make you feel guilty. Give your baby lots of attention, talk to her, and treasure your feeding times together, however you choose to feed her.
12
I gave birth to my eldest in 1979. He was a whopping 9.5 lbs. I was determined to breastfeed him and had visits from members of La Leche League. It soon became evident he was not satisfied with breastmilk alone and I started supplementing with formula on the pediatrician's advice. Well, I am so glad I did, because when he was three weeks old I had to go into the hospital for emergency gall bladder surgery. Since he already was used to the bottle, my husband had no trouble feeding him. I had complications and ended up in the hospital for 10 days and my milk dried up. I had no problem with him being bottlefed 100%, but the sad part is that my "friends" in La Leche League dropped me like a hot potato. They insisted I should have been pumping while in the hospital.
I subsequently had two more children, breastfed for 6 and 9 months respectively.
I subsequently had two more children, breastfed for 6 and 9 months respectively.
2
The true believers of La Leche are obsessed with breastfeeding and not with the well-being of mothers or babies. I breastfed eagerly and with relatively little difficulty but the pro-lactation mania made me deeply uncomfortable, and was really cruel to some mothers I know who were unable to breastfeed for various reasons.
1
The fervor is what helped me get through rough patches of nursing and into the good part. Two kids, four years, still going. Different difficulties with each baby. How could I have nursed without all that help offered by women who knew, somehow, that my generation didn't grow up watching our mothers nurse... We have to instead spread the "gospel."
Also, I weigh the same as I did before kids, and never had to diet. That's all from nursing. Why does breast feeding have to be so selfless? Who cares if it's .001% better or worse or the same? Nursing is better for moms. It delays pregnancies and spaces kids and sheds weight and really, why critique the pumps that let me work and nurse, too? What is the point in that?
Did you need instructions for making formula? It's on the can. I didn't have instructions written on my breasts, so I kind of appreciated he encouragement from any corner.
Also, I weigh the same as I did before kids, and never had to diet. That's all from nursing. Why does breast feeding have to be so selfless? Who cares if it's .001% better or worse or the same? Nursing is better for moms. It delays pregnancies and spaces kids and sheds weight and really, why critique the pumps that let me work and nurse, too? What is the point in that?
Did you need instructions for making formula? It's on the can. I didn't have instructions written on my breasts, so I kind of appreciated he encouragement from any corner.
6
I breastfed exclusively for 9 months and am glad I did, but I didn't lose any baby weight until after I stopped producing milk, at which point the added pounds melted away quite quickly. It's different for everyone and the "gospel" is not gospel. In fact, the constant criticism and judgment I felt subjected to by bossy, smug lactation consultants in the process of getting started breastfeeding was the one other downside of the whole process.
2
Like fertility people believe breast feeding is something you choose or reject. My sister recently had twins. She is a very thin person; her breasts did not grow at all during the pregnancy. She tried, God bless her, to breastfeed and pump for several weeks. Obviously, the babies needed formula.
My niece and nephew were born full-term, both at 7 lbs. They are the happiest, most robust babies I have ever seen. To make women feel like they're doing permanent damage to their children because they CANNOT breastfeed is irresponsible and reprehensible.
My niece and nephew were born full-term, both at 7 lbs. They are the happiest, most robust babies I have ever seen. To make women feel like they're doing permanent damage to their children because they CANNOT breastfeed is irresponsible and reprehensible.
8
I had twins. One liked breastfeeding, the other preferred bottles. The bottle-liking kid gained weight at a more appropriate rate when I quit nursing him (around 3-4 months). I felt guilty for giving up.
The other kid, allergic to regular formula, and not liking soy formula, got breastmilk as his only milk until he was about 10 months old. I did pump some, but if I tried to pump twice in a row (instead of nursing directly to the baby), my body responded as if there was no reason to produce milk; the output decreased dramatically. So pumping was just for times after feeding when baby wasn't as hungry, or occasionally times when I absolutely had to have a bottle for someone to give to him. Similarly, the output seemed poor when my other baby nursed. Since he wasn't too into it, his efforts (or lack thereof) did not prompt my body to produce enough milk. Once I was only breastfeeding one kid there was finally enough milk.
Stress may have played a factor too. I lost all my baby weight, plus 10 extra pounds, within 6 weeks of giving birth. I had no time to sleep or eat for those first few months. I always joke that it was the only time in my life where I had a skinny waist and a big chest but no one ever witnessed it because I was home with the babies all the time!
The other kid, allergic to regular formula, and not liking soy formula, got breastmilk as his only milk until he was about 10 months old. I did pump some, but if I tried to pump twice in a row (instead of nursing directly to the baby), my body responded as if there was no reason to produce milk; the output decreased dramatically. So pumping was just for times after feeding when baby wasn't as hungry, or occasionally times when I absolutely had to have a bottle for someone to give to him. Similarly, the output seemed poor when my other baby nursed. Since he wasn't too into it, his efforts (or lack thereof) did not prompt my body to produce enough milk. Once I was only breastfeeding one kid there was finally enough milk.
Stress may have played a factor too. I lost all my baby weight, plus 10 extra pounds, within 6 weeks of giving birth. I had no time to sleep or eat for those first few months. I always joke that it was the only time in my life where I had a skinny waist and a big chest but no one ever witnessed it because I was home with the babies all the time!
4
I agree with you, Ms Jung. Well-meaning people step over the line when it comes to breastfeeding.
I was lectured about breastfeed endlessly by a woman who exclusively breast fed her children for over a year. They are now all performing very poorly in school, though both parents are successful scientists. Complimentary foods at 6 months provide iron and other critical elements a growing brain absolutely needs. Zealotry in any area can cause more harm than good.
1
Breastfeed or bottle feed - do you want you want, and can. But don't kid yourself and think that corporate food company formula (just consider the name of it!) is better than your own human milk that is a product of hundreds of thousands of years of evolution.
5
During those millennia of evolution a lot of babies died because they were not getting adequate amounts of breast milk from a mother who either wasn't producing enough or had ducts that didn't flow well enough to get the baby adequately fed. During those millennia lots more babies died in general for a million reasons. But it's not like the stone-age way is problem free, and for some women the formula is indeed better than the breast milk that they can provide.
2
Ms. Jung, I think you underestimate the cultural stigma against breastfeeding--maybe breastfeeding advocates are zealous because there is a huge entrenched stigma against it in the broader hyper-sexualized culture--
9
I have witnessed this being taken way, way too far with a mother and son who was far beyond toddler stage. He told her that he wanted to be nursed. I think that if you and your child can have a conversation about it, it is time to have stopped. I later thought that this child would be spending thousands in psychotherapy talking about being nursed at pre-kindergarten age.
1
I'm so grateful to the New York Tumes for dedicating such precious publication space so that I can learn about the health benefits (or, apparently, lack of benefits) of breastfeeding from a political scientist. I've often been bothered by pediatricians making me feel guilty as a mother by giving me health advice I've chosen not to follow, so I'm hopeful that next week's article will attack all the unjustified moral fervor about making your kids ride in a booster seat or wear a bike helmet. Maybe the paper can find an engineer or a truck driver to comment on how the scientific evidence really doesn't show that too much sugar is bad for kids, and that teaching parents about providing a healthy diet for their kids is really a racially biased policy because more poor kids of color are obese than rich white kids. As a result of this, I hope that our public health experts will finally begin to realize that the only really important goal is whether I feel good about myself as a mom.
8
As a mother of two children, I also think there is much too much judgement against mothers who do not breast feed: With my first child, it was no problem. I worked from home and breastfed her for 12 months (at which point I stopped because she was using me as her teething ring!).
When my second daughter was born, the whole thing went horribly wrong: Even as a small infant, she did not like extreme physical closeness, squirmed away as best as she could. And she started sleeping through the night immediately, leaving me with hideously engorged breasts the next day. My midwife advised me to wake her up to breastfeed every 4 hours, even if she was fast asleep. Big mistake! My daughter went on a total nursing strike and I wound up in the hospital with high fever and breasts like bowling balls. In the hospital, they gave me acupuncture therapy, wrapped my breasts in cooling quark (a kind of milk-cheese product, no idea what it is in English), and brought in a pump -- but no matter how I tried, I never managed to pump more than an ounce or two.
In the end, after two hospitalizations and many hours with breastfeeding consultants, I ditched the whole thing and went to bottle feeding. 14 years later I can say this: My daughter is healthy as a horse and, unlike her breastfed older sister, has never had an ear infection in her life.
When my second daughter was born, the whole thing went horribly wrong: Even as a small infant, she did not like extreme physical closeness, squirmed away as best as she could. And she started sleeping through the night immediately, leaving me with hideously engorged breasts the next day. My midwife advised me to wake her up to breastfeed every 4 hours, even if she was fast asleep. Big mistake! My daughter went on a total nursing strike and I wound up in the hospital with high fever and breasts like bowling balls. In the hospital, they gave me acupuncture therapy, wrapped my breasts in cooling quark (a kind of milk-cheese product, no idea what it is in English), and brought in a pump -- but no matter how I tried, I never managed to pump more than an ounce or two.
In the end, after two hospitalizations and many hours with breastfeeding consultants, I ditched the whole thing and went to bottle feeding. 14 years later I can say this: My daughter is healthy as a horse and, unlike her breastfed older sister, has never had an ear infection in her life.
1
My wife tried to breast feed our first child, but her breast became infected after about 2 weeks. Consequently, both my children were fed formula, instead. They were both healthy children and are, now, healthy, well-educated (one has a bachelors degree and one a masters) adults. As a side benefit, in additon to my wife, I was able spend a lot of time feeding my infant children.
3
What's lost here is what's getting put in the bottles. Am I the only one questioning the quality of formula, even natural formula? I was bottle fed in the early 50's, then a combo of evaporated cow's milk and Karo syrup. Is it any wonder I've wrestled with a life-long sugar addiction? And for what, exactly? Fashion, my mom getting to "keep her figure", peer pressure?
1
I really appreciate the fact that this article draws a distinction between pumping and feeding at the breast. I breastfed for three years of my life (and am continuing to nurse my one-year-old right now), so I am hardly opposed. But I have never pumped and will never pump. I took a longer than typical maternity leave and weaned during the day after my return to work.
Many women must complete a certain amount of work and any time spent at work pumping means a longer workday. That a woman should pump at work rather than spending time at home with her infant child strikes me as completely absurd. I believe exclusively breastfeeding is incompatible with returning to work at 12 weeks postpartum.
Breastfeeding is undoubtedly a feminist issue. It is certainly a feminist issue in the sense of providing women with the support they need to breastfeed if desired. However, I think current breastfeeding guidelines are completely anti-feminist. Based on weak evidence, a woman is advised to breastfeed exclusively - NO formula or solids of any kind - for about six months. That means six months of either nursing or pumping every two to three hours fourteen or more hours a day. It boggles the mind, despite the fact that I personally did exactly that, twice. For the medical establishment to make a recommendation that so impacts a woman's personal life and career, I think there should be much stronger supporting evidence.
Many women must complete a certain amount of work and any time spent at work pumping means a longer workday. That a woman should pump at work rather than spending time at home with her infant child strikes me as completely absurd. I believe exclusively breastfeeding is incompatible with returning to work at 12 weeks postpartum.
Breastfeeding is undoubtedly a feminist issue. It is certainly a feminist issue in the sense of providing women with the support they need to breastfeed if desired. However, I think current breastfeeding guidelines are completely anti-feminist. Based on weak evidence, a woman is advised to breastfeed exclusively - NO formula or solids of any kind - for about six months. That means six months of either nursing or pumping every two to three hours fourteen or more hours a day. It boggles the mind, despite the fact that I personally did exactly that, twice. For the medical establishment to make a recommendation that so impacts a woman's personal life and career, I think there should be much stronger supporting evidence.
8
I breast fed my children for 6 weeks, the end. Enough to immunizes them. I did not find it easier to breast feed, actually the opposite was true for me, it was harder. Your husband cannot help much at night (yes I had a pump but in the 1980's they did not work that well), I was a zombie for those 6 weeks. One can only stay awake most of the night for so long. I was a better mother with more sleep. I was a pediatric nurse and had a hard time learning how to get the baby to get milk. The poor thing was starving. I remember calling the breast feeding expert, crying, that the baby was breast feeding every hour, and still crying. She wisely gave me the okay to give her a bottle, and live got so much better after that. My best friend breast fed until her kids were over two. Personally, I think that is way too long. When a child can speak clearly then maybe the breast feeding is more about you than the baby.
1
The passionate reactions to this article indicate what a raw nerve this issue has become. Professor Jung is stating some incredibly important points here. Her statement about the staggering rate of breast-pumping going on in the United States points to a social issue (sorry to those readers who in the comments section have said that this is not a political issue in any way): rather than enjoying periods of maternity leave that would help women establish bonds with their children, they have to return to work prematurely and are being driven to pump, in the hopes that their breastmilk will be a magic potion that will make their children thrive in all possible ways in life.
As adults who haven't had a drop of mother's milk in 30, 40, 50 years, are we really going to buy this idea of the breastmilk = magic potion argument? Is breastfeeding the main key to mother-child union, synchronicity, what-have-you? There is so much more to parenting, and the vilification of bottle-feeding a baby is simply absurd. For so many mothers, bottle-feeding is the only option available, and we need to accept that for some it's a choice, for others a necessity, and for others a saving grace.
In the UK, midwives are promoting breastfeeding and state that studies have revealed that breastfed babies have less of a tendency to develop Type-2 diabetes. So, are we going to rest on our breast-laurels and think that lifestyle isn't the most important factor in determining why a person can develop Type 2?
As adults who haven't had a drop of mother's milk in 30, 40, 50 years, are we really going to buy this idea of the breastmilk = magic potion argument? Is breastfeeding the main key to mother-child union, synchronicity, what-have-you? There is so much more to parenting, and the vilification of bottle-feeding a baby is simply absurd. For so many mothers, bottle-feeding is the only option available, and we need to accept that for some it's a choice, for others a necessity, and for others a saving grace.
In the UK, midwives are promoting breastfeeding and state that studies have revealed that breastfed babies have less of a tendency to develop Type-2 diabetes. So, are we going to rest on our breast-laurels and think that lifestyle isn't the most important factor in determining why a person can develop Type 2?
I'm rather shocked that the New York Times has published an article that is refuting the well-documented benefits of breastfeeding. I am trained in public health and maternal and child health, and I know that, like data on the benefits of vaccinations to public health, the evidence in support of breastfeeding is incontrovertible; the debate on this is over. I did a brief google scholar search with the keywords "breastfeeding," "benefits" and "meta-analysis" and easily returned three metanalyses published in high impact journals showing the benefits of breastfeeding. Please see here:
http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=481276
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/128/1/103.short
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/161/1/15.short
And this was a quick, five-minute search! The reason hospitals and healthcare practitioners push breastfeeding is not because they are getting kickbacks from breast pump companies; it's because breastfeeding is good for babies. Similarly, providers discourage their patients from smoking because it's bad for the human body.
What this article does tell me is that public health practitioners may have to do a better job of providing patients with information and data that describe and demonstrate the benefits of breastfeeding. Improving health literacy is always a task we can improve upon.
http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=481276
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/128/1/103.short
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/161/1/15.short
And this was a quick, five-minute search! The reason hospitals and healthcare practitioners push breastfeeding is not because they are getting kickbacks from breast pump companies; it's because breastfeeding is good for babies. Similarly, providers discourage their patients from smoking because it's bad for the human body.
What this article does tell me is that public health practitioners may have to do a better job of providing patients with information and data that describe and demonstrate the benefits of breastfeeding. Improving health literacy is always a task we can improve upon.
7
Lump this in with the general anti-science hysteria washing over this country, as if formula is not just inferior but BAD for children.
For some mothers and families using formula is a necessity and for others an intensely personal choice for any number of valid reasons. Children can and do thrive on formula. Amazingly their mothers benefit too. Remember them?
For some mothers and families using formula is a necessity and for others an intensely personal choice for any number of valid reasons. Children can and do thrive on formula. Amazingly their mothers benefit too. Remember them?
2
My kids are teenagers now but I definitely felt the pressure after my first was born. A nurse came in to instruct me how to breast feed and I left the hospital feeling shaky about the whole process. The first night, my son cried incessantly while I panicked. I called the hospital at 3 AM, and they told me to breast feed. I tried but to no avail. I finally opened one of the small bottles of formula that came home with us and gave it to my son. He inhaled it in seconds. He then fell asleep. He was hungry! I was one of those mothers who couldn't produce enough milk. So at every feeding, I breast fed for 15 - 20 minutes, then gave him formula, figuring he could get whatever I had to give, then fill up. He's 15 now, 6 feet tall, lean and athletic. Everything was fine. I did what was right for both of us. I think all mothers should be supported in however they choose to feed their babies. For those of you who feel like mothers need to be reminded how great breast milk is for babies, we know! It's hard to avoid the message.
2
Breastfed babies on WIC getting meat isn't about coercion - the breastfed babies may need the additional iron, whereas the formula fed babies are getting it in formula.
2
I don't understand all the angst. Breastfeeding is optimal, so is doing 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week along with at least two days of muscle-strengthening activity. In regards to diet, eating 5 servicing of fruit and vegetables is also considered best practice. Guess what, I'm reading the NYT instead of exercising and am having pizza for dinner. Why do women torture themselves with being perfect. It's the expectation for perfection that is hurting woman not the breastfeeding police.
2
I'm so glad the Times is taking a stand on a number of urgent issues! First we were treated to a piece about someone feeling undue and unwelcome pressure to meditate. And now--horrors!--the overselling of breast feeding.
Given the multiple catastrophes looming in the world today, how much sense does it make to worry for even a nanosecond about the overselling of meditation or breast-feeding?
Given the multiple catastrophes looming in the world today, how much sense does it make to worry for even a nanosecond about the overselling of meditation or breast-feeding?
2
My second child wasn't thriving at her 1 month visit at the doctor. I didn't have enough milk and the baby wasn't getting enough food. The doctor told me to add formula, I never looked back. Never mind the 'nurse them till they go to college' crowd, some of them family members, I did what was best for my child, now 24 and in perfect health. And btw. that cousin of hers, that was nursed until she practically went to Kindergarten, is now 300 pounds at age 27 and borderline diabetic. It helps to not care what other people think when you make decisions that affect you and your family.
2
Is the general public unaware of the naturalistic fallacy? Choosing to breastfeed is fine. Choosing not to breastfeed is also fine. I'm amazed at how the dogmatic breastfeed-at-all-costs commenters here, with their "it just seems right/is natural/must be good" arguments, are so unaware of how beautifully they are proving the author's point.
4
I was unable to breast feed because of inverted nipples. I remember the feeling of failure when my newborn daughter howled and cried because she was hungry and couldn't latch on. I remember my husband running out of the house our first night at home to the local Leche lady who lent him a breast pump. I remember crying because I skipped the chapters on bottle feeding in my well worn copy of What To Expect. I remember my mother-in-law, the mother of nine, telling me to relax and give my baby a bottle because being hooked up to a breast pump was not bonding. I remember sitting in public places holding my baby girl close, hiding the bottle and pretending to breast feed because the Mommy police were looking at me askance. My daughter is now 23. She's never had an ear infection. She's rarely sick and received a perfect attendance award every year during elementary school. She is a smart, independent young woman. Thank you for this piece.
8
The first and most important thing I learned when I became a parent just 8 weeks ago is not to judge anyone else's process or journey. I believe breast is best for our family, but that doesn't mean it's worked out for us.
I read this piece while attached to the hospital grade pump that I have at home - just one of the dozens of tools I'm using to try to boost my supply. In the last eight weeks I've met with multiple professionals to work on latch, positioning, supply, pumping, etc.. I'm lucky to live in NY and have access to these folks - all of whom advocate seriously for breastfeeding. I'm also lucky to be able to afford to meet with them, and to buy whatever they recommend. I would do literally pretty much anything to be able to exclusively breastfeed my baby, but it's just not working for us. All the consultations and work have also taken up a huge amount of the time that could have been spent bonding with him. I didn't experience PPD, but any of the sadness and difficulty I have had postpartum has been around not being able to supply and transfer adequate breast milk to my son. It's been heartbreaking.
It was a breath of fresh air to read this piece. For a lot of us who want to exclusively breastfeed but aren't able to, there really is no use in judging or berating - I guarantee we're doing enough of that to ourselves. Hats off to all the moms doing their best - count me in as one woman who will never judge you.
I read this piece while attached to the hospital grade pump that I have at home - just one of the dozens of tools I'm using to try to boost my supply. In the last eight weeks I've met with multiple professionals to work on latch, positioning, supply, pumping, etc.. I'm lucky to live in NY and have access to these folks - all of whom advocate seriously for breastfeeding. I'm also lucky to be able to afford to meet with them, and to buy whatever they recommend. I would do literally pretty much anything to be able to exclusively breastfeed my baby, but it's just not working for us. All the consultations and work have also taken up a huge amount of the time that could have been spent bonding with him. I didn't experience PPD, but any of the sadness and difficulty I have had postpartum has been around not being able to supply and transfer adequate breast milk to my son. It's been heartbreaking.
It was a breath of fresh air to read this piece. For a lot of us who want to exclusively breastfeed but aren't able to, there really is no use in judging or berating - I guarantee we're doing enough of that to ourselves. Hats off to all the moms doing their best - count me in as one woman who will never judge you.
9
Some of the nastiest people I've ever met were members of the LaLeche League in San Francisco in 1987. I barely survived childbirth. I was hospitalized for one week after my daughter's birth. I wanted to breastfeed and contacted the league. Since my daughter had been born at home, she was not a patient of the hospital and an adult had to be with us the entire time she was visiting. Kind friends took turns bringing her to see me. The La Leche rep demanded that I keep her through the night, which was impossible, and went on a tirade. At which point I hung up the phone. Sadly, I was unable to pull off the breast feeding due to my health and my daughter's obstinence. But the La Leche rep made me feel like I was nothing but a breastand nothing else, my own health included, counted.
3
I witnessed the damage that this breastfeeding pressure causes firsthand, when a young lady I knew who was physically unable to breastfeed was nevertheless made to feel very guilty. She told me that the lactation consultants even whispered "formula", as healthcare workers used to whisper "cancer". This seemed ridiculous to me, as had the claims of higher intelligence among breastfed babies. In the end, she and her husband opted for bottle feeding, which enabled him also to bond with their child and her to get much-needed rest.
This ridiculous bullying is not limited to breastfeeding. Lots of people have physical obstructions inside of their noses and/or throats that make breathing, especially during sleep, difficult. My spouse and I both had this problem, but, rather than just being offered the surgery that cures it, had to follow the protocol forcing sufferers to endure at least a month of CPAP machine use, whether effective or not, before trying other options. We both ultimately had surgery and haven't looked back. The medical-device industry unfortunately has a stranglehold on sleep apnea research and treatment that finding independent information online is nearly impossible. The idea that third-party lobbyists are able to prevent patients from getting necessary treatments is unacceptable. Where one treatment or practice is not any better than others, these profiteers should stay out of decisions that should be between patients and their doctors.
This ridiculous bullying is not limited to breastfeeding. Lots of people have physical obstructions inside of their noses and/or throats that make breathing, especially during sleep, difficult. My spouse and I both had this problem, but, rather than just being offered the surgery that cures it, had to follow the protocol forcing sufferers to endure at least a month of CPAP machine use, whether effective or not, before trying other options. We both ultimately had surgery and haven't looked back. The medical-device industry unfortunately has a stranglehold on sleep apnea research and treatment that finding independent information online is nearly impossible. The idea that third-party lobbyists are able to prevent patients from getting necessary treatments is unacceptable. Where one treatment or practice is not any better than others, these profiteers should stay out of decisions that should be between patients and their doctors.
THis piece strikes me as an ad for formula producers. Breastfeeding is often at odds with modern deliveries of babies, with an overwhelming and unnecessary use of caesareans which is MAJOR surgery.
13
1) I had a caeseren It was nothing like major surgery which I've also had. It took me much longer to recover from my V-bac than my caeseren.
2) I breast fed for 21 months after my caesarean.
2) I breast fed for 21 months after my caesarean.
1
This is a SHOCKING article with chosen statistics that she has quoted as "truths" that are simply not so...(IQ, cognitive, initiation numbers, etc....)
I am a pediatrician in an area where WIC has a very strong presence and we are NOWHERE near that 49%. We are one of the few mammals that have the option to give our newborns milk from another mammal. Not a good evolutionary mechanism it turns out!
There are too, too many things in Ms./Dr. Jung's article to take up in a brief reply. Suffice it to say that the ONLY thing I agree with is that breastfeeding should be an INFORMED choice followed by non-resentful commitment, if a mother chooses to breastfeed.....
I am a pediatrician in an area where WIC has a very strong presence and we are NOWHERE near that 49%. We are one of the few mammals that have the option to give our newborns milk from another mammal. Not a good evolutionary mechanism it turns out!
There are too, too many things in Ms./Dr. Jung's article to take up in a brief reply. Suffice it to say that the ONLY thing I agree with is that breastfeeding should be an INFORMED choice followed by non-resentful commitment, if a mother chooses to breastfeed.....
2
I got pressure NOT to breastfeed from my mother. She was born in 1931 to a working class family in Appalachia. Bottle-feeding in the 50s and 60s was considered more dignified for the woman, and only "low class" or "backward" women would breastfeed. She took great pride in using the sanitary formula and ritually sterilizing bottles and nipples, as I recall from my younger sister's infancy.
When my daughter was about 4 months old, she went through a thin period. My mother insisted it was because my milk wasn't "strong" enough. She found it embarrassing that her granddaughter looked scrawny in photos. I had looked like I was headed for the 4-H show ring at that age. Overall she was very supportive of me as a new mother, so I took this criticism as a generational difference that was culturally understandable.
I found it handy to breastfeed because you didn't have to cart all that stuff along. I nursed in public and never got the nasty looks that some mothers complain of. I tried to be discreet and always covered us with a light cotton wrap. I never loved it the way some women claim to, and forget the pump! Not a milk cow. My daughter started eating solids fairly early and was never a fussy eater, but nursed once a day till she was 13 months. I thought I would never wean her, but one day she just decided she was ready for our relationship to move on. I was glad to get my breasts back. My feeling is that 3 months is worth the effort, then let it go if it isn't working for you.
When my daughter was about 4 months old, she went through a thin period. My mother insisted it was because my milk wasn't "strong" enough. She found it embarrassing that her granddaughter looked scrawny in photos. I had looked like I was headed for the 4-H show ring at that age. Overall she was very supportive of me as a new mother, so I took this criticism as a generational difference that was culturally understandable.
I found it handy to breastfeed because you didn't have to cart all that stuff along. I nursed in public and never got the nasty looks that some mothers complain of. I tried to be discreet and always covered us with a light cotton wrap. I never loved it the way some women claim to, and forget the pump! Not a milk cow. My daughter started eating solids fairly early and was never a fussy eater, but nursed once a day till she was 13 months. I thought I would never wean her, but one day she just decided she was ready for our relationship to move on. I was glad to get my breasts back. My feeling is that 3 months is worth the effort, then let it go if it isn't working for you.
11
I never got any flack about breast feeding from my mom, but she did not want a thin baby either! She grew up in the depression and serious illness were frequent and dangerous. A thin baby was more at risk! We did not live near her when my first baby was born and she constantly telling me to supplement with cereal, she could not possibly get enough nutrients from breast or formula alone. When we finally saw them my baby was 4 months old and looked like a model for Buddha! No more nagging after that!
Formula costs money and is mostly made of GMO products unless you can manage to find organic formula. My daughters had to go to great trouble to find some for the occasional need for a babysitter, but mostly they pumped for extra milk. Fortunately, they breastfed their babies very successfully, as did I for all three children and my mother with all five of hers. What's the big deal? It is the simplest most efficient method to feed your babies! That's what your mammory glands are for, for heaven's sake. If it doesn't work out, there's no crime in that either. It just seems very inconvenient to NOT be able to breastfeed..no bottles or lugging around equipment, etc.
23
What a tone-deaf first-world whiny rant this is. Boo hoo for you. You felt pressure. Like those who smoke or are obese feel pressure.
Take your energy and make the world a better place rather than complain about peer pressure. This is so silly.
Take your energy and make the world a better place rather than complain about peer pressure. This is so silly.
37
Speaking of rants....
6
You took the words right out of my mouth. Thank you.
I'll bet the pressure doesn't compare to the relentless pressure these women put on any woman who doesn't have children or doesn't marry.
With my eldest, I was pretty broke but did not qualify for WIC, so I breastfed because it was cheap. It became easy (after 6 weeks of excruciating pain), and we did it for a year. My second child was born while I was working a job that required international travel, so she was weaned early and loved her bottle. My third was breastfed because he had some food allergies that made bottle feeding a challenge and quite expensive.
I'm glad that how to feed my babies is not an issue for me anymore.
I'm glad that how to feed my babies is not an issue for me anymore.
13
Breastfeeding is far and away best for babies and most likely for mothers too. Any inconvenience that people attribute to it is a factor of our current social structures. You make your choice and you live with it.
29
I appreciate this article, especially written by a breastfeeding mother. I'm currently breastfeeding my second baby, and am less judgmental than ever about the choices other parents make to make parenting work for them.
It's fair to say that a baby fed formula and unconditional love is going to turn out great. But it's not right to pretend that it's equally as good as breastfeeding on the merits. Is breastmilk SO MUCH BETTER than formula that it's worth the pain, the time and the effort? As this article points out, maybe, maybe not.
What IS so much better, in my experience as someone who has fed with bottles (usually formula because I have better things to do than pump), is the effect on the mother. Breastfeeding physically makes you feel good (once you've overcome initial obstacles). In my experience, it melts the baby weight off and more - which also makes you feel good! Even if you can only do it for a day, a week, a month - that counts!
Parenting is SO hard, and we have less community support than ever. The recent horrible stories about mothers snapping and killing their babies just screams to me about a need for more support. It may be tiny, but I think if a woman gets that little happiness boost a few times a day while staring at her newborn, it might just help her cope better with all that her newborn demands of her.
That said, I think the breast-is-best "zealots" are more of a vocal minority than a movement. Most of us moms have each others' backs on this issue.
It's fair to say that a baby fed formula and unconditional love is going to turn out great. But it's not right to pretend that it's equally as good as breastfeeding on the merits. Is breastmilk SO MUCH BETTER than formula that it's worth the pain, the time and the effort? As this article points out, maybe, maybe not.
What IS so much better, in my experience as someone who has fed with bottles (usually formula because I have better things to do than pump), is the effect on the mother. Breastfeeding physically makes you feel good (once you've overcome initial obstacles). In my experience, it melts the baby weight off and more - which also makes you feel good! Even if you can only do it for a day, a week, a month - that counts!
Parenting is SO hard, and we have less community support than ever. The recent horrible stories about mothers snapping and killing their babies just screams to me about a need for more support. It may be tiny, but I think if a woman gets that little happiness boost a few times a day while staring at her newborn, it might just help her cope better with all that her newborn demands of her.
That said, I think the breast-is-best "zealots" are more of a vocal minority than a movement. Most of us moms have each others' backs on this issue.
11
Women who lose weight breastfeeding are the exception, not the norm.
Dishonesty about facts diminishes credibility.
Dishonesty about facts diminishes credibility.
1
I never truly felt good breastfeeding because no matter how long mine did....she was always screaming because she was still hungry. Worse feeling in the world. I was so happy after I started formula feeding and baby was Fed and happy....which is the best feeling.
I see the La Leche League cult members are out in force, advocating breast feeding no matter the cost to the mother or the child. Isn't it better to bottle feed than to be all stressed about producing enough milk and, further, being tied to the little thing every moment of every day?
35
Not true. La Leche League advocates breastfeeding as long as it's mutually beneficial to mother and baby. If a mother is miserable, it's no longer beneficial.
2
It's gone from being your choice to everyone else's!
2
Also, pregnant women would not like strangers touching their baby bump.
5
Our culture is rife with shaming of nonconformists and strutting one's own moral superiority. Judging others is the national sport. But women are not incubators. Motherhood doesn't reduce them to breeding stock obliged to heed the advice of self-righteous, self-appointed guardians of moral virtue. Nurturing one's young is a mammalian universal, and lactation is part of that. Health-wise, it makes a lot of sense for sound scientific reasons. But if a woman can't breastfeed or prefers not to, that's her business. If she refuses to feed her baby at all, that's when society needs to step in.
36
This highlights the way many non Americans see it. It's not one or the other that is right. As with most things in life too much of a good thing will make it bad.
I chose to breastfeed my son, but I had a very limited maternity leave and had to return to a high pressure job after 10 weeks. To continue "breastfeeding", I had to pump behind my office door. It was an loud and noisy electrical pump, more suitable for a farm than an office. After doing this for a month, I gave up. Putting the burden on women to breastfeed at all expense is simply not fair. As the author states, if we had maternity leave for at least six months, breastfeeding would be feasible. As it stands, it simply is not.
9
There is nothing worse than statistics and politics when discussing something as fundamental as breastfeeding. It is the birth right of every human being- bottom line; for health, nurturing and bonding. Mothers benefit as well- through weight loss, bonding and protection from breast cancer in the future. Yes, good thing there is formula for mother's and babies who can't participate in breastfeeding for whatever reason, it is one of the wonders of modern medicine and has saved millions of lives. But to create a dispassionate intellectual argument that makes breastfeeding part of the culture wars is inexcusable.
25
Bravo for this piece! Way back in 1990, after absorbing nine months of morally loaded lectures on the wonders of breastfeeding, I felt guilty and inadequate when my infant son refused to latch on after repeated attempts. As the family's primary breadwinner, I had to return six weeks after his birth to a demanding job that would not have afforded me the opportunity to pump (or any place to do so but a stall in the bathroom). As the author points out, breastfeeding is wonderful for many women, but there are other choices that also result in happy and healthy babies. And I was truly shocked to hear of the disparities in the benefits provided by WIC to breastfeeding vs formula-feeding mothers. All of this is clearly just another effort to legislate what women can and can't do with their bodies, in ways that disproportionately punish poor women and women of color.
18
Um, I always figured nursing mothers got more food on WIC because you really do have to eat a lot to nurse a growing child. Really, you feed the mother to feed the child. That food on WIC was for ME.
Wealthier women wouldn't be getting WIC, would they?
Really? Almost 29 years after I had my son I can't believe breastfeeding remains An Issue that now also doubles as a 'middle-class' political statement.
In 1986 breast was best seemed to me a no-brainer, so I was determined to breast-feed my son, despite neither my mother nor mother-in-law having done so (both were very supportive).
With what became a dog-eared copy of "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" by my side, I learned to toughen up my nipples in the months leading up to childbirth; the book sat beside me during the first weeks of adjustment, and it was there when I developed mastitis. Along with great encouragement from a neo-natal nurse (I had had an unexpected C-section) who showed me the football hold, plus the sheer pleasure of feeding my child with my own body, I found breastfeeding to among the most satisfying accomplishments in my life. My son nursed for just over two years.
Why wouldn't I want other mothers to experience this? Why the backlash couched in terms like 'righteous zeal'? Hey, today's mothers can even use their smartphones while breastfeeding (I used to read books and the newspapers while my son fed). What's not to love?
In 1986 breast was best seemed to me a no-brainer, so I was determined to breast-feed my son, despite neither my mother nor mother-in-law having done so (both were very supportive).
With what became a dog-eared copy of "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" by my side, I learned to toughen up my nipples in the months leading up to childbirth; the book sat beside me during the first weeks of adjustment, and it was there when I developed mastitis. Along with great encouragement from a neo-natal nurse (I had had an unexpected C-section) who showed me the football hold, plus the sheer pleasure of feeding my child with my own body, I found breastfeeding to among the most satisfying accomplishments in my life. My son nursed for just over two years.
Why wouldn't I want other mothers to experience this? Why the backlash couched in terms like 'righteous zeal'? Hey, today's mothers can even use their smartphones while breastfeeding (I used to read books and the newspapers while my son fed). What's not to love?
25
Fascinating. The story and the comments go hand in glove.
5
I breastfed two and bottle fed one because of health reasons. They are grown now and if you came to my home for Thanksgiving you would never know which is which. They are all equally healthy, intelligent and bonded. Looking back I cannot believe I was made to feel so inadequate and negligent for bottle feeding and that the benefits were completely overblown! The shaming and guilt have got to stop and young mothers need to be supported in the choices that work best for them and their families.
23
I breastfed my older daughter, but couldn't breastfeed my second because of a prescription I had to take. The moms in the nearby park would ask me if the bottle I was giving my child had breast milk in it. "Yep!" I lied, blithely and cheerfully. It's like politics. No point in arguing with an ideologue. You can see the ideological zealotry in the commenters here who argue with this article because "the benefits of breastfeeding are well established," without addressing the ways the article refuted those benefits. It's an interesting ideology, as the author points out, "left meets right" with conservative Christians who see breastfeeding as part of their role as Christian wives and mothers joining forces with fall-off-left-end-of-earth liberals for whom it actually IS religion. The fact is, nutrition science is mostly junk (see also: food pyramid), yet people (upper middle class white people, mostly) continue to cling to every morsel of nutrition news - pun intended. They can't let go of their passionate certitude that x y or z micronutrient is a cancer-fighting antioxidant even when long-term, double blind studies show it to have no discernible benefit. Let me know when they figure out which part of the egg we're supposed to eat and maybe I'll start listening.
17
Breastfeeding is science, not a political question to be debated. Breast milk just like the human body itself has slowly evolved over millions of years to enable the new born not only to survive but also thrive.
While formula can equally secure an infant's survival these days, it's still a bit early to tell if it can make our children thrive the same as breast milk does in the long term. After all no formula has been tested over a million-year time frame.
The author has her own choice when it comes to breastfeeding. It's not necessary to politicise the issue. Feeling 'compelled' is a private emotion that differs from one person to another. No institution is however coercing her into breastfeeding!
While formula can equally secure an infant's survival these days, it's still a bit early to tell if it can make our children thrive the same as breast milk does in the long term. After all no formula has been tested over a million-year time frame.
The author has her own choice when it comes to breastfeeding. It's not necessary to politicise the issue. Feeling 'compelled' is a private emotion that differs from one person to another. No institution is however coercing her into breastfeeding!
13
It seems that when we talk about what is best for babies, we are actually talking about what is best for adults. Motherhood isn't pretty sometimes, and it certainly insn't convenient. God forbid we have to sacrifice our modesty, our comfort or our time to nurse and/or pump. Breastfeeding is what our bodies are designed to do and to say that mother's milk shouldn't be the #1 choice is completely absurd. If we lived in a country that actually supported mothers and children we wouldn't even be having this debate.
24
Thanks Ms. Jung. I successfully breast fed my first child until 9 months when she dropped me. My second simply could not latch on properly even with the help of a lactation specialist trying to help me teach her. She was losing weight. To keep her from quite literally starving to death, I switched the bottle and formula and never looked back. But I distinctly remember the dirty glares I would get in Marin County, CA where I was living at the time, for feeding my baby with a bottle. Then again, had I breast fed her in the same public places, I would have gotten dirty looks as well. Women are damned no matter what they do, and it's time white middle and upper middle class women stopped judging each other and other not-so-privileged women for doing the best we can.
44
I don't understand what she is trying to say. There are tones of resentment towards the fact that she breastfed her child. I do think the article misses the point. What mothers need is support to make the right decisions around feed their child. The attacks from mothers who did not breastfeed, but maybe wanted to, toward breastfeeding I think are often a coping mechanism. The reasons I often hear from mothers as to why they chose to formula feed are often due to a lack of support of mothers, either no lactation support, poor work policies, discomfort with the idea of breastfeeding, etc.
Regarding the lack of research based evidence for or against breastfeeding, research is not the end all & be all of clinical decision making. Very few clinical decisions are based on evidence. It is difficult to get research evidence, especially for pregnant & breastfeeding women because pregnancy & breastfeeding constitute a generally short time span (as opposed to a lifetime diagnosis of hypertension, for example). The fact that breastfeeding is natural and the consistency changes based of the mother's diet & baby's needs is enough for me to decide it is best. I am thankful we have formula and clean water to supplement when breastfeeding is not enough. I would like to see breastfeeding be the norm for feeding a child and if a woman chooses not to or is unable to, I hope that she has had all the information and support to make a decision she understands and is comfortable with.
Regarding the lack of research based evidence for or against breastfeeding, research is not the end all & be all of clinical decision making. Very few clinical decisions are based on evidence. It is difficult to get research evidence, especially for pregnant & breastfeeding women because pregnancy & breastfeeding constitute a generally short time span (as opposed to a lifetime diagnosis of hypertension, for example). The fact that breastfeeding is natural and the consistency changes based of the mother's diet & baby's needs is enough for me to decide it is best. I am thankful we have formula and clean water to supplement when breastfeeding is not enough. I would like to see breastfeeding be the norm for feeding a child and if a woman chooses not to or is unable to, I hope that she has had all the information and support to make a decision she understands and is comfortable with.
13
This article took my breath away, and makes me (a progressive Democrat) understand why conservatives rail at regulations! And once more, we are promoting something that is healthy and natural—to help corporations! I breast-fed both my sons, one for eight months, one for eleven months. I discovered early on that using my own thumb and finger to pump was easy. I later told my daughter-in-law this, and she found it was easier to do it my way than with her expensive pump.
But it is a choice, and not one that should be frowned upon regardless of which way a mother decides. Of course, poorer women can't do it as frequently. They probably do not have jobs that allow time for pumping, and they probably can't stay home from work as long as wealthier women can, if at all. Let's stop being the Scolding Society.
But it is a choice, and not one that should be frowned upon regardless of which way a mother decides. Of course, poorer women can't do it as frequently. They probably do not have jobs that allow time for pumping, and they probably can't stay home from work as long as wealthier women can, if at all. Let's stop being the Scolding Society.
12
The cost of a pump is a drop in the ocean compared to the cost of formula.
My mother was pressured not to breastfeed by being told that it would not be enough to have a healthy baby and was very surprised that I didn't supplement. When my daughters were born, the nurses tried to get me to take free formula and thought I was weird to refuse it. At the same time, my doctor helped me to initiate breast feeding and supported my decision. Since then I've also been struck by the cult of the breast pump and the pressure placed on young women to not only breast feed, but to pump vast quantities of breast milk to be bottle fed to the baby. I've wondered if we haven't oversold breast milk. It sounds as though we may have.
16
And some women need to take prescription medications that are not safe if breastfeeding. Too often women feel it is a choice between taking medication they need and being a good mother. And what about the woman facing post partum depression? Suddenly she has limited options for tackling that problem because, again, if she takes medication she cannot safely breastfeed. In other words- she'll be a bad mother, harming her child.
13
It is most unfortunate that the misconception still exists that a medicated post partum mom can't breastfeed. The book Medication and Mother's Milk is an invaluable resource for both mothers and healthcare providers.
1
I am astounded at the complaint that women are shamed for NOT breasffeading. Women who breasfeed in public are routinely shamed and ridiculed. The reaction is so common and so expected and accepted that many breastfeeding mothers feel they are confined to home, in the back room, hiding even from family intimates. Some internalize the shaming, leading to "disgust" at the thought of nursing.The sexualization of the female breast, and behind that, the pornographic, sniggering, exploitative view of female sexuality in our society.
It is NOT shaming to warn someone about scientifically documented risks--especially if the "professionals" often give advice that does not reflect current knowledge. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20879657
It is NOT shaming to warn someone about scientifically documented risks--especially if the "professionals" often give advice that does not reflect current knowledge. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20879657
17
I was a La Leche League leader and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant years ago. I helped women to breastfeed, and I helped women to wean their babies when they wanted to. What I resent is being labelled a "breastfeeding Nazi", part of the "Breastapo". How rude. I was serving mothers and families, fighting a corporate and institutionalized message that formula was good, often for little or no pay, at all hours of night and day, and I did it with gentleness, hugs, respect, listening, information and encouragement.
And to the woman who commented that bottle feeding is a feminist act, come off it. Feeding a baby with your own body is a big middle finger to corporate greed and the patriarchy. I breastfed my own children exclusively and my husband was well-bonded and fully involved with their parenting from the hour of their birth.
And to the woman who commented that bottle feeding is a feminist act, come off it. Feeding a baby with your own body is a big middle finger to corporate greed and the patriarchy. I breastfed my own children exclusively and my husband was well-bonded and fully involved with their parenting from the hour of their birth.
164
44 years ago my ob-gyn encouraged me to breast feed and begged me not to join LaLeche because " They make breast feeding into a competition." The day after my second child was born without any sort of anesthesia, the same ob-gyn said, "He's a beautiful baby. Now, don't go making all the women who need pain medication feel bad. " Great advice in both instances.
Advice from my _doctor_: not some rude relative or stranger in a grocery store. What young mothers go through today horrifies me.
Advice from my _doctor_: not some rude relative or stranger in a grocery store. What young mothers go through today horrifies me.
10
Women used to get tons of advice from other women about nursing, childbirth, making babies, etc. now, we treat advice like dirty laundry, and we end up losing out on key information. I don't have a quilting circle or anything. I work at a job with both genders. I don't have many women in my family. Why wouldn't I want advice from LLL or other moms? Blogs were great, the LLL book, the womanly art if breast feeding was instrumental, and my friends were so encouraging. If you don't want advice don't take it.
1
Luckily where I come from people are by in large to polite to ridicule your parenting choices to your face. can't stop anyone from thinking I'm a bad mom because I didn't breastfeed but, at least I've never had a total stranger come up and proselytize about "the breast is best". I agree breastmilk is good for babies but, it's not that simple as the health and circumstances of the mother also need to be taken into account. Judging from the comments some people have reached the level of religious zeal when it comes to benefits of breastfeeding, there is no talking to them as it clearly isn't about logic anymore. They think they know THE way, THE truth and THE light and that it's their responsibility to "save" anyone who makes other choices.
13
The guilt that people pour on new mothers is horrible.
14
You could have the same argument about not drinking alcohol daily. There are people in their 90s who drink daily, so why bother to not drink?
Look at it this way. Breastfeeding is extremely economical. It also takes some things that previously were only exploited as sex objects on TV, in movies, and in print, and returns them to their true purpose.
People will *always* think they are expert and can give advice to anyone on anything. This is just another example of that and is not special in any way.
Look at it this way. Breastfeeding is extremely economical. It also takes some things that previously were only exploited as sex objects on TV, in movies, and in print, and returns them to their true purpose.
People will *always* think they are expert and can give advice to anyone on anything. This is just another example of that and is not special in any way.
9
I never noticed that my breasts became less erotic in their feelings after I breastfed.
1
This article tries too hard, over-reaches. Lost me when the formula business ($billions) is compared to the pump-and-accessory business ($millions, a thousand times smaller). If you decide to breast feed or not breast feed based on pressure from advertisers or peers, you are practicing poor parenting anyway. And the article is a long lament about that pressure. Big deal. Breast feeding is common sense, and the pressure you feel is insecurity and self-doubt.
16
Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.
-Albert Einstein
-Albert Einstein
Thank you. Thank you for some sanity.
I know many women who had difficulties breast feeding and persevered in trying to the point of endangering the health of their children, because of the self righteous fervor of breast feeding zealots. My wife was one of them. A week after birth our first daughter wasn't thriving and the doctor told us, "you need to get your daughter on formula NOW!!!" This came after many visits from La Leche League coaches, hot compresses etc. etc. And through tears my wife fed our daughter formula and then hooked herself up to a breast pump for hours at a time to get some precious natural breast milk to supplement. It was awful and I begged her to stop, "you and I and pretty much everyone we know grew up on formula and turned out fine. Let this go. Yes, there are some benefits. But they're not worth it."
But my wife persisted. Why? Because of people like the woman who told her, "I couldn't be friends with you if you didn't breast feed."
The world needs less judgment and more tolerance and understanding.
I know many women who had difficulties breast feeding and persevered in trying to the point of endangering the health of their children, because of the self righteous fervor of breast feeding zealots. My wife was one of them. A week after birth our first daughter wasn't thriving and the doctor told us, "you need to get your daughter on formula NOW!!!" This came after many visits from La Leche League coaches, hot compresses etc. etc. And through tears my wife fed our daughter formula and then hooked herself up to a breast pump for hours at a time to get some precious natural breast milk to supplement. It was awful and I begged her to stop, "you and I and pretty much everyone we know grew up on formula and turned out fine. Let this go. Yes, there are some benefits. But they're not worth it."
But my wife persisted. Why? Because of people like the woman who told her, "I couldn't be friends with you if you didn't breast feed."
The world needs less judgment and more tolerance and understanding.
203
I would dump that "friend" asap.
1
And your wife wanted to be friends with these women why? It sounds a bit iffy and may I add: all this defensiveness on a subject that is a personal decision. If you want to and you can do it do it and if not don't. I think we all spend way too much time whining about what other people think of us and our choices. Early on in my daughter's life we taught her the value of saying to her judgmental classmates-I think you have confused me with someone who cares what you think. Perhaps you and wife should try this.
1
"But my wife persisted. Why? Because of people like the woman who told her, 'I couldn't be friends with you if you didn't breast feed'."
Good riddance to "friends" like that! They would have ditched her anyway; probably over differences about toilet training or discipline.
Good riddance to "friends" like that! They would have ditched her anyway; probably over differences about toilet training or discipline.
3
Thanks for this good article!It is right to identify the sellers of goods and connected info about pumps, etc; and right to identify the workplace obstacles to breast-feeding. Talk about double-messages!! (You're bad; you're good; you're bad . . ..) The important thing is for the baby to live. I breast-fed, pumped in advance of work-related trips, froze the milk. But formula was a great back-up, and I always said, "My baby is going to live, because I am not his sole source of sustenance." He nursed for six months--with a bottle a day given (breast milk or formula) by his dear father, usually at four a.m., when I wanted to/needed to sleep. Then, he just got an idea in his head, and refused the breast. I thought--I was taught--"Get him back on! It's nature's most perfect food!" But then I thought, "I'm only going to have to teach him not to do this, and he's decided for himself." Oh--and the bond will be there, be it through bottle or breast. Just make eye contact. 'Nuff said.
5
Your choice to breastfeed is just that - YOUR choice. What works for you, your body, your lifestyle, your marital situation, and your baby may not work for someone else. Would you tell others to drive a different car like yours, because of your x,y and z belief that it is the best for them? No, none of your business. Although I chose natural childbirth as a way to deliver both my children, I do not chastise anyone who chooses an epidural. Your body, your pain tolerance. But what amazed me as I watched countless natural childbirth videos, was how it showed the great difficulty epidural babies had staying awake after delivery and latching on. So if the medical community is so hung-ho on insuring moms breastfeed, why do they set them up for failure with a drugged up baby who can't function normally, causing stress for the new mom? Because the epidurals still make tons of $$$ for the hospitals and doctors! Btw, I did not breastfeed kid #1 at all, and pumped/combined formula with kid #2 for 6 weeks. Neither ever had a propped bottle, and took almost an hour for each feeding; lots of bonding time with each parent. Both children are in advanced classes at their respective schools. Still think the jury's out on all the breastfeeding vs formula benefits, due to all the variances with environmental and social factors. Finally, a frazzled, stressed out mom is not a good choice for anyone!
5
I did not breastfeed. With child #1: After 26 hours of hellacious labor and a C-section in which the doctor messed up the order for pain meds big time and the spinal needle broke in my spine, I had only one question: "Is this breast feeding thing likely to cause even a little pain?" When the nurse hesitated --- I said "bottle it is." With child #2: I tried, I really did. But he kept getting yellower and yellower and when I'd bare my breast, he'd scream like he was going to be impaled. My partner (now husband) joked: "Maybe he'll grow up to be a leg man." I weighed the fact that I was going to have to go back to work just at the point where I might be getting this feeding schedule established --- and I bagged it. I called for a bottle. I have no regrets, but am active in my support of changing medicine and society to enable women to breastfeed. My daughter (child #1) breastfed her daughter for almost three years!
3
I am a prospective adoptive mom. Even with all the supplements and "hospital grade" pumping, I will not be able to exclusively breastfeed my child. And I KNOW for a fact that the so-called "breast feeding brigade" will give me dirty looks. Or even try to bully me. And we all know that bullying is WRONG.
13
We'll never know why our species always goes from "better" to "best," and then to "must." That's us, folks.
8
Thank you for this. The sanctimony over breastfeeding is just the opening salvo of competitive parenting. We all know breastfeeding is preferred. Like we all know that the baby should listen to Mozart tapes, and the 5 year old should study violin, and the 8 year old should go to coding camp... but sometimes, it just isn't feasible.
20
I didn't breast feed in part becasuse I was so turned off all the propaganda surrounding it . I've always believed that if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. I don't apologize for this, my son is very healthy, very smart and very loved and wasn't denied anything by not being breastfed. The best part is, I was actually able to get REAL rest with a newborn as my husband and I took turns feeding. I've litteralt hallucinated from lack of sleep before and can't imagine anything worse than trying to care for a newborn while being so severely sleep deprived as to be on the edge of sanity. If anyone doesn't like my decision not to breastfeed they can go you know where.
20
One of the reasons I loved breastfeeding is that I didn't have to get up to feed those babies - we co-slept and it was wonderful. Baby fed while I dozed (and yes, I was always aware of where everyone was and there was no danger of someone getting smothered).
1
@rs yea for you but, co sleeping is isn't feasable or desired by eyeryone either. The point is I didn't breastfeed, I didn't co sleep, I wouldn't change either decision.
I am a retired pediatrician.
I wish this Op_Ed piece had been available when I was in practice. It is hard enough to be a new parent or parent to be.
The natural child birth mafia and the breast feeding mafia should be made to read this article. Then they would stop trying to guilt trip 1000's of new mothers and mothers to be.
They should be ashamed of themselves.
I wish this Op_Ed piece had been available when I was in practice. It is hard enough to be a new parent or parent to be.
The natural child birth mafia and the breast feeding mafia should be made to read this article. Then they would stop trying to guilt trip 1000's of new mothers and mothers to be.
They should be ashamed of themselves.
23
formula is extremely expensive. i am currenly beast-feeding my 6 moth old daughter, pumping at work and the middle of the night (while she sleeps like an angel) and wouldn't change a thing. the baby weight is gone. i took a long maternity leave (thank you for the job protection california) and didn't return until i needed that paycheck.
formula isn't bad, my mom augmented her milk supply with formula for me, but it is a rip off.
thank you obamacare, for that free pump. my insurance is expensive but at least i am getting soemthing out of it!
formula isn't bad, my mom augmented her milk supply with formula for me, but it is a rip off.
thank you obamacare, for that free pump. my insurance is expensive but at least i am getting soemthing out of it!
86
The reason breast-feeding women on WIC receive meat-based iron-rich baby food, and formula feeding women on WIC do not, is because breast milk is not rich enough in iron to support growth of older babies. Do your research before making wild accusations!!
5
This subject really gets to me. Mostly because I'm sick and tired of all of the judgment that gets heaped on to new mothers. It does no good. It doesn't help women become better mothers. It doesn't lead to healthier babies. And at the end of the day, whether or not a child is breastfed isn't going to make an earth-shattering difference when it comes to what kind of life that child is going to have. There are too many other key factors that determine this.
I've known geniuses who were never breastfed.
I've met brilliant people who WERE breastfed.
Some of the healthiest people I've ever known were never breastfed.
Other incredibly healthy people I've known WERE breastfed.
If you want to breast feed, and you're able to do it, great. Do it.
If you don't want to breastfeed, or if you can't, then don't. Fortunately there's another option available that will nourish your baby.
Either way, IT IS YOUR CHOICE. YOUR BUSINESS. No one else's.
But you need to remember the words above when you're tempted to judge another woman about her breastfeeding choice.
I know many new mothers who won't even tell anyone how they feed their babies for fear of being criticized. Of course, this also means that these new mothers don't leave their homes much, and they don't have as much social interaction as they should. This is hardly ideal for postpartum women who tend to benefit a lot from getting out of the house and talking to other adults.
Come on, people! We can do better than this!
I
I've known geniuses who were never breastfed.
I've met brilliant people who WERE breastfed.
Some of the healthiest people I've ever known were never breastfed.
Other incredibly healthy people I've known WERE breastfed.
If you want to breast feed, and you're able to do it, great. Do it.
If you don't want to breastfeed, or if you can't, then don't. Fortunately there's another option available that will nourish your baby.
Either way, IT IS YOUR CHOICE. YOUR BUSINESS. No one else's.
But you need to remember the words above when you're tempted to judge another woman about her breastfeeding choice.
I know many new mothers who won't even tell anyone how they feed their babies for fear of being criticized. Of course, this also means that these new mothers don't leave their homes much, and they don't have as much social interaction as they should. This is hardly ideal for postpartum women who tend to benefit a lot from getting out of the house and talking to other adults.
Come on, people! We can do better than this!
I
17
WIC "punishes" non-breastfeeding mothers by providing almost all of the artificial breastmilk that their babies need. Who knew WIC was so mean???
1
Seriously? Under the category of truly useful, file breast pump.
Skip the diaper bag. Take the pump.
Skip the diaper bag. Take the pump.
6
This person is not qualified to be providing medical advice or reviewing medical literature. The evidence is not ambiguous and it is irresponsible to insinuate otherwise. It is usually healthiest for mothers to breastfeed, if that's not possible for whatever reason then God bless formula for providing an alternative. Not trying to breastfeed is the moral equivalent of consciously providing less healthy options for your kids and this article's intent seems to be to offer a loophole to avoid taking responsibility for such choices.
12
Your unwillingness to critically examine the scientific evidence in this area is stunning.
1
Please re-read your first and last sentence. They sound very judgmental.
1
"A woman should breast-feed because she wants to, not because someone tells her she has to."
For me, its not about whether I want to or have to "best-feed", but whether I can. I have an anatomical issue that makes it impossible for the baby to latch (severely inverted nipples). We tried using a nipple shield, but the baby could not get enough milk through it. I now pump and feed (baby is four months old), but despite supplements, etc., I cannot make enough milk to satisfy her, so I have to supplement with formula. The internal breastfeeding pressure I feel keeps me up at night, fearing that I am somehow ruining the baby with the formula, despite the fact that she is healthy and strong. I think formula has come a long way, and this article has helped to finally set my mind at ease about using it.
For me, its not about whether I want to or have to "best-feed", but whether I can. I have an anatomical issue that makes it impossible for the baby to latch (severely inverted nipples). We tried using a nipple shield, but the baby could not get enough milk through it. I now pump and feed (baby is four months old), but despite supplements, etc., I cannot make enough milk to satisfy her, so I have to supplement with formula. The internal breastfeeding pressure I feel keeps me up at night, fearing that I am somehow ruining the baby with the formula, despite the fact that she is healthy and strong. I think formula has come a long way, and this article has helped to finally set my mind at ease about using it.
6
Thanks for writing this article. I could go into my own story--of how I nursed, pumped, AND formula fed my first born, despite people telling me it was not possible to formula and breast feed simultaneously, and how I stopped nursing my second after just a week because my pumped milk was more blood than milk--but, really, what's the point? Those who think breast is the only way will never try to understand the myriad of reasons why one chooses not to nurse. It's much easier for them to simply condemn.
9
I breast fed both my babies over 40 years ago, and my daughter breast fed both of hers. My DIL didn't like breast feeding and quickly stopped, but then she had a nanny for the first child (adopted) and a baby nurse for the 2nd, so not breastfeeding allowed her to sleep as late as she wanted.
To me, one of the best things about breast feeding is that it causes the mother to sit down and rest for a few minutes multiple times a day. This is good for the mother, and it's good for the baby. Frankly, I can't really see the point of pumping all day at work to give a baby a bottle of breast milk, assuming that one has had 8-12 weeks of maternity leave. To me, that sort of become a huge hassle with far too few benefits for either mother or baby.
But for a mother who does not work or has highly flexible hours? It's a very nice thing for both.
To me, one of the best things about breast feeding is that it causes the mother to sit down and rest for a few minutes multiple times a day. This is good for the mother, and it's good for the baby. Frankly, I can't really see the point of pumping all day at work to give a baby a bottle of breast milk, assuming that one has had 8-12 weeks of maternity leave. To me, that sort of become a huge hassle with far too few benefits for either mother or baby.
But for a mother who does not work or has highly flexible hours? It's a very nice thing for both.
5
I would debate the validity of the author's study citations concerning formula versus breastmilk. But in any case, mothers face constant scrutiny, from how we feed our kids to how our children are dressed for the weather to which school we choose for our kids. I breastfed for a long time and felt just as much negative energy directed toward me as the families who formula fed are describing. No one knows what someone's journey might have been and I wish that the author hadn't added to the culture of judgement by offering poorly backed up information that pits families against one another.
5
The big issue in the US context is lack of maternity leave. There would be a lot less need for breast pumps if women had adequate leave! How much of a choice between breast or bottle does a woman really have if she has to go back to work in a few weeks ? Google John Oliver's piece on Mother's Day and weep, Americans!
I breastfed my four daughters for varying lengths, from 11months to 3 years. It was not easy to get started but I persevered. At the time we were very poor, with student debt and low income, but of course in Canada we had free health care.
I breastfed my four daughters for varying lengths, from 11months to 3 years. It was not easy to get started but I persevered. At the time we were very poor, with student debt and low income, but of course in Canada we had free health care.
14
I had my second son two months ago, and I did not breastfeed either one and have not regretted it. I just wasn't interested. I am an educated upper class woman and I looked at the research and decided that it is not for me. Nobody has given me grief about this decision--not my pediatrician, not my OB, not my family.
The truth is: formula feeding is really expensive, but it's easy. Breastfeeding has health benefits, but it's really HARD for a lot of women. This isn't like vaccines or car seats or back sleeping where they evidence is clear and it saves lives.
I hope we can get to a place where we can respect women's choice to breast or bottle feed. I wish people would just back off and not be so judgy. There are a lot of economic and lifestyle factors that play into this decision, and it's nobody's business how a woman chooses to feed her baby!
The truth is: formula feeding is really expensive, but it's easy. Breastfeeding has health benefits, but it's really HARD for a lot of women. This isn't like vaccines or car seats or back sleeping where they evidence is clear and it saves lives.
I hope we can get to a place where we can respect women's choice to breast or bottle feed. I wish people would just back off and not be so judgy. There are a lot of economic and lifestyle factors that play into this decision, and it's nobody's business how a woman chooses to feed her baby!
17
Thank you for this article. Women should make an informed choice. Breast feeding is great if you have enough milk. women who elect to breast feed should be helped and monitored with a visiting nurse, since as you point out in your article some women don't produce enough milk.
When my first child was born in 1960 breast feeding was not very popular. My mother in law was somewhat shocked that I wanted to do it, but my mother had breastfed and found it easy and I had heard there were health benefits for the baby, so I wanted to do it. My daughter cried a lot. Every couple hours she would wake up and cry and cry. I wasn't sure how much milk she was getting. It was a difficult period. After 4 weeks we discovered at the first visit to the doctor that my baby had not only not gained weight, but had lost quite a lot, something like down from 7.3 lbs to 6.8 lbs. We started bottle feeding with similac and the situation improved rapidly. The baby slept and gained weight. When my second child was born, I didn't even try to nurse. He thrived and slept well. My daughter (the one I starved as a baby) choose to breast feed her two children and like my mother, her grandmother, she had no trouble at all. Plenty of very rich milk.
When my first child was born in 1960 breast feeding was not very popular. My mother in law was somewhat shocked that I wanted to do it, but my mother had breastfed and found it easy and I had heard there were health benefits for the baby, so I wanted to do it. My daughter cried a lot. Every couple hours she would wake up and cry and cry. I wasn't sure how much milk she was getting. It was a difficult period. After 4 weeks we discovered at the first visit to the doctor that my baby had not only not gained weight, but had lost quite a lot, something like down from 7.3 lbs to 6.8 lbs. We started bottle feeding with similac and the situation improved rapidly. The baby slept and gained weight. When my second child was born, I didn't even try to nurse. He thrived and slept well. My daughter (the one I starved as a baby) choose to breast feed her two children and like my mother, her grandmother, she had no trouble at all. Plenty of very rich milk.
4
I happily bottle fed my children formula and I loved it. I loved rocking them, singing to them, reading to them while I fed them. And you know, my husband loved it too. He got to feed his babies as much as I did. We enjoyed it so much we fed them formula until they were 13 months old when we slowly transitioned them to solid food. We have no regrets or guilt about this decision and I am saddened that women are being harassed and unsupported when they choose formula.
14
Some really twisted comments below from people grossed out by breastfeeding "older" kids. 99.99% of women breastfed for 99% of human history, whether you call our history 50,000 or 2 million years. Prehistorically, not breastfeeding is a bizarre aberration. Extended breastfeeding was a primary method of population regulation for hunter gatherers, and helped women stay below the roughly 18% body fat threshhold that allowed fertility in foraging cultures. Breastfeeding typically was 4 years or longer for more than 3000 generations of people until the last 10.
As AMiller and others note below, one of the best documented benefits from breastfeeding is reduced breast cancer rates.
I get the concern about blame and politics. It comes from all sides. In hippie subcultures in Eugene here, giving birth in a hospital, even if you tried at home with a midwife, is cause for shaming and shocked and disgusted looks.
But in my view, evolution and human history matters. We are evolved to breastfeed, and the benefits are profound. Many of the most important ones may not be known or even knowable. I think we should try to encourage and support all women to breastfeed, and work towards a 95% breastfeeding after 2 years rate. We should work towards this humanely and kindly, treating all well whatever their choices, and provide all women 2 years of paid maternal leave, free quality childcare for all based on need, subsidized health care, and the many other forms of support that help.
As AMiller and others note below, one of the best documented benefits from breastfeeding is reduced breast cancer rates.
I get the concern about blame and politics. It comes from all sides. In hippie subcultures in Eugene here, giving birth in a hospital, even if you tried at home with a midwife, is cause for shaming and shocked and disgusted looks.
But in my view, evolution and human history matters. We are evolved to breastfeed, and the benefits are profound. Many of the most important ones may not be known or even knowable. I think we should try to encourage and support all women to breastfeed, and work towards a 95% breastfeeding after 2 years rate. We should work towards this humanely and kindly, treating all well whatever their choices, and provide all women 2 years of paid maternal leave, free quality childcare for all based on need, subsidized health care, and the many other forms of support that help.
15
"99.99% of women breastfed for 99% of human history, whether you call our history 50,000 or 2 million years." 1) Evidence for this? Read some anthropology (Nancy Scheper Hughes' Death Without Weeping is a great start) for a more realistic perspective on the diversity of human practices in early infancy. 2) Nothing to be celebrated about deep human history - when there were no antibiotics, women rarely lived past 45 due to birth related mortality, etc. Today we have excellent formula substitutes and that is something to celebrate.
5
I am surprised at this article. Breast feeding is beneficial for both mother and baby, so what's this writer's problem with it? This is a woman's personal issue, and she should not cave in to peer pressure, but approach it from what works best for her and the baby. The plot to "coerce" mothers into breastfeeding is a bit of a stretch. Yes, now government encourages women to breastfeed because it is also proven that breastfeeding reduces obesity in children, and if the writer doesn't believe it, may-be she should get off campus a bit more. Is the writer too worked up about what the society would think of her if she didn't breastfeed her babies? Is she so concerned about mothers who caved into "societal pressure" and breastfed because they felt they had to, not because they wanted to? I found the article very confusing, for most of it was contradictory and nonsensical. "..breast feeding imperative has elevated the parenting habits of that relatively privileged minority to a universal standard of good parenting". Excuse me? Believe it or not most of the world is still breastfed and even more so the further back we go. This article is a great disservice to economically disadvantaged women, who would actually save a lot of money by breastfeeding not to mention other pluses of taking that option.
20
"it is also proven that breastfeeding reduces obesity in children" - the author addresses this one specifically - this has not been proved. In fact, this link has specifically disproved in a number of studies.
5
Like other commenters, you appear to not have actually read this article. The author has no problem with breastfeeding and did it herself for years, breastfeeding is actually a major industry because for working women it's not free as so many seem to believe, and the writer's skepticism over the claim that breastfeeding prevents obesity is based on scientific data, i.e., it is not actually proven that breastfeeding prevents obesity. And it seems perfectly obvious that she's discussing Western society, not less developed nations. She just wants people to stop shaming women for feeding their babies, for heaven's sake.
5
No one pressured me to breastfeed, although I had heard the mantra: breast is best. Breastfeeding was a struggle for the first few weeks -- sore nipples, wet clothes, the feeling that I was a filling and changing station. But then it got better; it was easy to pick up a baby and feed her or him, no trip to the kitchen and no bottles. I lost all of the 40 pounds I gained in a matter of months and our babies grew fat and healthy. Eventually, back to work six months later, and the babies were bottle fed. It was a sweet time in our lives. I'm glad I was able to do it.
10
I chose not to breastfeed my kids because as a feminist I wanted my husband to share equally in the childcare and early bonding that occurs when feeding babies. It was the best decision I ever made and both my kids are extremely close with their father due to late night feeds.
17
This speaks to what is *not* being said in any of this discussion--that breastfeeding ties a woman to child-rearing duties longer and to a greater degree than formula-feeding does. With the whole thing seeming to center around guilt, I think this is more at the hear of it than a runaway breastpump industry.
2
I'll never understand how studies that showed differences in mother-baby bonding between mothers who nursed and mothers who formula-fed somehow have been distorted into a belief that bottle feeding provides unique bonding opportunities with infants. Fathers of breast-fed babies are not doomed to a sub-par relationship with their children. To suggest they are is as unfair as suggesting that formula-feeding mothers don't love their babies as much as nursing mothers.
2
I chose to breastfeed for a multitude of reasons, but also want my husband to share in childcare (and he WANTED to share in the childcare duties as well). He's fed our son pumped breastmilk. He also got up every time I did with him at night, to change his diaper, then handed off to me to feed. The only times he doesn't get up with him are times when I purposely turn down the monitor when I wake up first so he can continue to sleep. He is very attached to his father.
sigh... another upper middle class woman from north america framing this important global health issue in the context of her guilt. women in your situation have access to the data and can decide for themselves. they also have the financial ability to pay for formula for a full 12 months if they want to. not every mother is so fortunate or so educated. there are compelling reasons to encourage breastfeeding across the globe, even if it makes some women feel bad.
17
Did you read the article? She's not discouraging breastfeeding or expressing any guilt on her part...she says she breastfed for years. Also, breastfeeding is not free if a woman works full-time and needs to pump.
5
Thanks - would love to hear more about this perspective. Among my questions: 1. I get it that there are women who need support to breastfeed and I think we should do this. But do you think that this should involve the kind of "overselling" the author is talking about? The scientific findings should be described with their full modesty and limitations. In other words, there should never be any reason to overplay the benefits of breastfeeding, right? 2. You mentioned financial ability to pay for formula. But, do women in other areas of the globe have the financial ability to take 6-12 months off to be able to breast feed every 2-3 hours?
4
Nobody feels bad that women are encouraged to breastfeed, women feel bad if they don't breastfeed and are subsequently bullied and berated for it. Just read the comments if you don't believe people say awful things about non breastfeeders. Encouraging someone to eat right is not the same thing as saying "you're a fat ugly slob and should stick to salads from now on". Now I don't care much what anyone thinks of my infant feeding choices but, when I was a new mom with PPD I wasn't always so secure.
3
This is an infuriating article, and one that appears with some regularity. I wish it would stop. All evidence shows that breast feeding, and/or breast milk, is nothing but beneficial for babies. So, why search for the ways that it's not quite as good as someone told you? It's like campaigning against exercise, because some runners still die of heart attacks, and get cancer. Human breasts exist to produce food for human babies. Failure to accept, and act upon , this fact is a failure of existential proportions.
188
A perfect example of the Scolding Society. Yes, breast milk is great. I did it with both my sons. Then I adopted a daughter who had actually been breast-fed (at least partially—no way for me to find out), and thought perhaps my milk would come in if I tried breast feeding. She was seven months old, and looked up at me as if I were crazy. On to bottles, and she is fine and healthy.
To repeat: breast feeding is great. I am so very glad I was able to do it. But it simply doesn't work for everyone, and no one should be shamed for using an alternative feeding method.
To repeat: breast feeding is great. I am so very glad I was able to do it. But it simply doesn't work for everyone, and no one should be shamed for using an alternative feeding method.
5
Why search for the ways that it's not quite as good as someone told you? Because breastfeeding is not without cost. It is incredibly time-consuming for mothers, limits their ability to be productive employees when they return to work, limits a father's involvement in caring for the baby, and is very unpleasant and painful for some women. Plus some women are unable to produce enough milk or experience repeated infections or require medications that prevent breastfeeding, and these women are made to feel terribly guilty. We need to understand exactly how big the benefit is in order to judge whether it is worth these costs.
12
"Failure to accept, and act upon , this fact is a failure of existential proportions." I just posted a comment that basically agrees with your observations about this article, but this last statement helps me understand the author's point of view ... "existential proportions"? I was bottle fed and I am still existentially human, even after 47 years careening through the universe with formula-fed cellular growth.
3
My mother had 4 children. She wanted to breast feed (this was in the 1950s) but with the first two it was difficult and she gave up. With the third, the child she thought would be her last, she was more determined and stuck with it. She did the same for the last of my siblings. There was no appreciable superiority in intelligence between the two kids in my family who were breast fed and the two who were not so I never bought the argument that breast feeding raised IQs. One reason I did not breast feed was that I wanted my husband, mother-in-law or babysitter to be able to feed the babies interchangeably with me. A baby is born with its own immune system so I didn't feel I had to worry about that. I sure wasn't into the pumping thing and the whole idea just did not particularly appeal to me. Nine months of carrying a baby to term and going through labor ... I figured the physical part of my job was done. I don't want to tempt the devil, as the saying goes, but my sons are in their early 20s and so far no ill effect from having been suckled on formula for the first months of their lives!
60
I think I was one of that 15%, whether because I was over forty or it ran in the family (my mother, an early breastfeeder, gave up exclusive breastfeeding after a month because I wasn't gaining enough weight), or my small chest, who knows, but my baby was slow in gaining back her body weight, fed constantly, and I could never pump enough milk to cover even a three-hour absence. After a month I started mixing in formula and then alternating breast and formula for nine or ten months. Before I had the baby I had always heard it as an either/or choice: breast feed (good), formula (bad). Then I discovered that many of my friends did both, and that revelation brought me great relief. Bottle feeding and formula brought her father into the process and made it possible for me to work. The kid was and is quite healthy: not one ear infection despite fulltime daycare, very rare use of anti-biotics, 50% percentile size, athletic, and top of her class. I'm glad I breastfed, and I'm glad I used formula, which has saved a lot of babies' lives and mothers' sanity. If I were to do it again, I'd start the formula even earlier. I used to make my mom feel guilty for giving up on her brave and lonely efforts to breast feed me in the 1960s; no more, now I admire both her effort and her pragmatism.
90
While I agree with the author that the current culture of pumping is not ideal, i take umbrage with her tone. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that "infant nutrition should be considered a public health issue and not only a lifestyle choice," not to make families feel guilty, but because well documented studies and research indicate this is true. This is why organizations like WIC give incentives to mothers who are breastfeeding. Thankfully for families that receive WIC benefits, WIC actually roots their recommendations in well documented studies and offers prenatal education and postpartum support for breastfeeding. The author's citations of studies that show that breastfeeding is not beneficial are based on observational studies that are inherently flawed by their design and by a lack of well defined parameters of what exclusive breastfeeding is as is documented in this WHO review http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/infantfeeding/WHO_NHD_01.08/en... are situations in which formula is a necessary tool to keep a baby alive or even to support breastfeeding, and certainly in those situations families should be supported and nurtured through what is surely a scary and trying experience. But to cite poor studies that say that formula offers no risk and that women are being "coerced" by trained health care professionals who are offering the most up to date and good, evidence based information is to mislead, undermine and underestimate families.
130
Other commenters have mentioned the alleged economic benefits of breastfeeding (i.e., formula is expensive and breastmilk is "free"). However, rarely does anyone include in this equation or even consider the value of a breastfeeding mother's own time. Round the clock nursing in the earliest several weeks will impact a mother's ability to accomplish nearly anything else during that time -- I should know, I just lived it (my first child was born in early August of this year). Upon returning to work, a nursing mother may or may not have the luxury of paid breaks during which to pump. If a mother's time indeed as no value, then yes, I guess breastmilk could be considered "free," so long as one also accommodates the cost of extra groceries for mom.
As for me, my daughter and I struggled mightily with breastfeeding, and I found breastfeeding to be a fast-track down the rabbit hole of postpartum depression. We switched to formula after a solid month of nursing. I'm lucky to have a husband and family who fully supported my choice to transition to formula, a pediatrician who came to accept my choice with only a small amount of pushback, and the self-confidence to tell the naysayers to take their judgment somewhere else. Baby is happy and growing like a weed, and my mental health has recovered to allow me to actually enjoy this time with my little one. So long as baby and mom are both healthy and happy, that should really be all that matters.
As for me, my daughter and I struggled mightily with breastfeeding, and I found breastfeeding to be a fast-track down the rabbit hole of postpartum depression. We switched to formula after a solid month of nursing. I'm lucky to have a husband and family who fully supported my choice to transition to formula, a pediatrician who came to accept my choice with only a small amount of pushback, and the self-confidence to tell the naysayers to take their judgment somewhere else. Baby is happy and growing like a weed, and my mental health has recovered to allow me to actually enjoy this time with my little one. So long as baby and mom are both healthy and happy, that should really be all that matters.
240
SLS, I couldn't agree more. When I was expecting my oldest 25 years ago, I said "Of COURSE I'm going to breastfeed." There was no discussion of the subject and I didn't have bottles or formula on hand when he was born. Then I started nursing - and I hated it. He didn't nurse well and I didn't produce well, with the result that he was nursing just about every hour. I remember nursing, putting him down for a nap so I could shower, then coming back downstairs to find my mother trying to comfort a hungry child waiting to be fed - yet again. I reached the point where I truly resented him.
When I took him for his first check-up, our pediatrician said he was not gaining weight properly and I should supplement with formula. Right then and there I decided to wean him and switch to formula. He thrived and I was a much happier mom. Today he's a Navy officer who has never had any major medical problems and holds several school records for track meets. His two younger brothers, who were never breastfed, are healthy, active teens.
All these years later I completely support moms who can - and do - breastfeed their children. My employer is completely supportive of moms who need to pump during the day and I certainly see the benefits of breastfeeding. But I hope there is some understanding out there for moms who, for one reason or another, simply can't do it.
When I took him for his first check-up, our pediatrician said he was not gaining weight properly and I should supplement with formula. Right then and there I decided to wean him and switch to formula. He thrived and I was a much happier mom. Today he's a Navy officer who has never had any major medical problems and holds several school records for track meets. His two younger brothers, who were never breastfed, are healthy, active teens.
All these years later I completely support moms who can - and do - breastfeed their children. My employer is completely supportive of moms who need to pump during the day and I certainly see the benefits of breastfeeding. But I hope there is some understanding out there for moms who, for one reason or another, simply can't do it.
1
I couldn't agree more. Best wishes.
@SLS- your point about the cost of the mother's time is always missed. Most mothers will be returning to work (outside the home) within weeks of giving birth. They can't afford to take unpaid leave to continue to breastfeed. Most women work in situations that are not conducive to pumping/storing breastmilk. Stop judging what women do with their own bodies.
2
Breastfeeding is an important women's health issue. The evidence is quite good. Breastfeeding is a normal, healthy practice that protects women against breast cancer, ovarian cancer, obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke and diabetes. Where pregnancy disrupts physiological functions, breastfeeding resets them. But women's health and their right to breastfeed are continually sidelined. Breastfeeding is a rights issue not a choice issue. Women have a right to breastfeed and deserve to be supported to achieve that but it's hard in a society where bottle feeding is the norm. This kind of muddle headed, poorly researched piece is damaging to women and their babies. Most women want to breastfeed and the majority cease breastffeding before they had planned. That's the key issue - women want to perform a normal healthy bodily function that protects them and their infants and we shouldn't have to argue for that. It should be bloody obvious. Stealing baby cows' milk and processing it into powder, packaging it, transporting it, selling it and then giving it to human infants en masse is a bizarre practice. It's clearly unhealthy, uneconomical, unsustainable and more than a little creepy. With all the resources our society has, why we are choosing to do that to women and babies is the important question.
10
Bravo!
1
Setting aside the fact that formula is not "clearly" unhealthy, where do you live? In the US, breastfeeding is the norm, to the point where women who don't do it are shamed by everyone from their doctors to total strangers - it's not the breastfeeding women in need of support from society.
1
As a Registered Dietitian and Certified Lactation Consultant working for the WIC program, please, let me explain the differences in the food packages provided to breastfeeding mothers and their infants. An exclusively breastfeeding mother has greater nutritional needs for a longer period of time then a woman who formula feeds. They are provided with a larger food package for a longer period of time to improve their nutritional status. Their food package also includes canned fish to provide DHAs for themselves and their babies. Yes, exclusively breastfed infants are given pureed meats that are not given to formula fed infants. Formula fed infants regularly receive iron through their formula. Breast milk is low in that nutrient. Since infants' iron stores begin depleting at 6 months of age, they are provided with a good iron source. These differences are not given as "incentives for poor mothers to breast-feed", they are meant to provide moms and babies with the nutrients they need. Vilifying a program that helps thousands of moms and babies every year is repulsing. I have no respect for an author who can't do basic research.
18
Also, to add to your point, the price of the extra groceries the breastfeeding moms get is far less than the price of the FORMULA given to the non-breastfeeding moms. So, monetarily, the non-breastfeeding moms are getting the best deal.
I don't get it. You provide compelling evidence for the benefits of breast feeding -- better cognitive development and less illness -- and take that as evidence that breast feeding shouldn't be promote. Uh, OK. Then, you suggest that because slightly fewer African-American than white women breast feed, there is somethiing wrong -- racist? -- about the advocacy of breast feeding. Uh-huh. Does this mean that because more black than white mothers live in poverty, there is something wrong with seeking to end poverty?
27
Did you read the article? One of the points she's making is that the evidence is NOT "compelling."
2
Except theres no difference in IQ. So no gain in cognitive development
5
Did we read the same article? The author does not describe "compelling evidence for the benefits of breast feeding." The only consensus benefit is fewer infections - but even in that case it is a very small benefit, requiring 5400 hours of breastfeeding to prevent one ear infection. A rational person can weigh the trade-offs there.
2
Another short note. From what I read here and elsewhere, breast feeding has become big business, and some kind of medical specialty and teaching field. Hmmmm.
11
Its very frustrating that these studies receive so much attention, when they do not address "breastfeeding" according to AAP or WHO guidelines (exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months, with continued breastfeeding through toddlerhood). The cohort of American babies who are breastfed according to this standard is very, very small.
Here, a baby is deemed "breastfed" if the baby is receiving *any* breastmilk at a given age-- even scant amounts. Obviously the benefits of breastfeeding are going to be diluted (or lost, in the case of allergies) if the baby is also receiving artificial milk, leading to false conclusions.
By not drilling down to the flimsy definition of "breastfed," Ms Jung is working against the interest of low income women and their babies. (If, as the author implies, breastfeeding is virtually immaterial to health outcomes, why would she imagine workplace policies would ever get changed?)
If exclusively/long-term breastfed populations were studied, we might know the true costs of formula feeding, which might impel social changes to support all new mothers and their babies.
Here, a baby is deemed "breastfed" if the baby is receiving *any* breastmilk at a given age-- even scant amounts. Obviously the benefits of breastfeeding are going to be diluted (or lost, in the case of allergies) if the baby is also receiving artificial milk, leading to false conclusions.
By not drilling down to the flimsy definition of "breastfed," Ms Jung is working against the interest of low income women and their babies. (If, as the author implies, breastfeeding is virtually immaterial to health outcomes, why would she imagine workplace policies would ever get changed?)
If exclusively/long-term breastfed populations were studied, we might know the true costs of formula feeding, which might impel social changes to support all new mothers and their babies.
30
I think if there were real benefits from long-term breastfed populations we would know about it by now. The fact is, babies are fed with either formula or breast milk for the first 6 months or so then we move on.
What we eat for the rest of our lives is a whole lot more important.
What we eat for the rest of our lives is a whole lot more important.
4
But why only compare exclusively breastfed/longterm populations to those that don't breastfeed at all? It seems to me the really compelling evidence would come from dose-response effects of various levels of breastfeeding (and this is just the sort of evidence the author cites).
I agree with the author that women should not be coerced into breastfeeding--particularly if they are not making enough milk. No baby should be hungry because of current societal trends.
However--in my view, the emphasis on breastfeeding is part and parcel of more progressive and humane policies surrounding birth and the post-partum period that are increasing in popularity in this country. The birth process is all too often over-medicated and stripped of its essential human spirit. Breastfeeding is part of bringing back the focus to the important bond between mother and child after birth. Even if breastfeeding doesn't work out, it is better to have put some effort into trying than treating it as just another option.
In addition, we are not at the point yet where a woman breastfeeding is considered socially acceptable in all contexts. We need to get there. Yes, maybe some breastfeeding advocates have been too overzealous, but until breastfeeding is viewed by everyone as normal, someone needs to be banging the drum loudly.
However--in my view, the emphasis on breastfeeding is part and parcel of more progressive and humane policies surrounding birth and the post-partum period that are increasing in popularity in this country. The birth process is all too often over-medicated and stripped of its essential human spirit. Breastfeeding is part of bringing back the focus to the important bond between mother and child after birth. Even if breastfeeding doesn't work out, it is better to have put some effort into trying than treating it as just another option.
In addition, we are not at the point yet where a woman breastfeeding is considered socially acceptable in all contexts. We need to get there. Yes, maybe some breastfeeding advocates have been too overzealous, but until breastfeeding is viewed by everyone as normal, someone needs to be banging the drum loudly.
20
I think there's one thing that we can all agree on: a mother's choice should be the overwhelming criterion in making the breast vs. bottle decision, and shaming of mothers about this choice should have no place in our culture. Hospitals should be required to present information on both breast- and bottle feeding, and new mothers should be protected from activists on either side of the issue, especially during those vulnerable first few weeks after delivery.
I exclusively breastfed my now 25-year-old (disgustingly healthy) son well into toddlerhood, and the main reason this was possible is that after a self-financed three-month maternity leave, I worked half-time (as did my husband) for my son's first five years. As a professional working on a contract basis, I was able to negotiate this privilege, sacrificing only income (vs. sanity) to achieve the time to raise my child.
And it WAS a sacrifice: we paid for our own health insurance (its monthly cost was higher than our rent), failed spectacularly to qualify for a mortgage, drove ancient cars, and owned exclusively hand-me-down baby gear. Though we're still pretty broke 25 years later, I have never regretted this choice for a second.
So PLEASE, people, can we mommies stop fighting each other and start fighting the forces that stand in the way of real support for mothers and their children? A real maternity leave for every mother-infant pair would go a long way toward producing the desired public-health improvements.
I exclusively breastfed my now 25-year-old (disgustingly healthy) son well into toddlerhood, and the main reason this was possible is that after a self-financed three-month maternity leave, I worked half-time (as did my husband) for my son's first five years. As a professional working on a contract basis, I was able to negotiate this privilege, sacrificing only income (vs. sanity) to achieve the time to raise my child.
And it WAS a sacrifice: we paid for our own health insurance (its monthly cost was higher than our rent), failed spectacularly to qualify for a mortgage, drove ancient cars, and owned exclusively hand-me-down baby gear. Though we're still pretty broke 25 years later, I have never regretted this choice for a second.
So PLEASE, people, can we mommies stop fighting each other and start fighting the forces that stand in the way of real support for mothers and their children? A real maternity leave for every mother-infant pair would go a long way toward producing the desired public-health improvements.
37
Welcome to motherhood. The land of second guessing. You get oversold on breast feeding. I get loaded up with formula leaving the hospital and shamed by a family member to use it when my child is cluster feeding. What is your point?
Fact is that we live in a consumer based society. We project status on every aspect of our lives. You don't need a belly band or a diaper bag or a quilted crib set. Plenty of folks make a living selling stuff we don't need. If you want to complain about getting oversold, that's a pervasive cultural problem and nothing new here.
What I don't get is your disrespect of breast pumps. Medical grade breast pumps unstall labor like nothing else. Consumer pumps buy women more sleep, a work life, playtime, and even a few days away. You complain about class and ignore the history of wet nurses.
I remain grateful for the luxury of being able to work right next to my children's daycare so I could nurse them directly. I am grateful to Obamacare for improving access to breast pumps and helping women maintain their supply and its undeniable economic benefits. I advocate for the women who lack a clean, comfortable place to breast feed or pump. I never needed any other reason to breast feed beyond convenience. Why drag around bottles or whatever? Just a couple of diapers in my purse, a baby on my hip, and the wide world is open to us.
Fact is that we live in a consumer based society. We project status on every aspect of our lives. You don't need a belly band or a diaper bag or a quilted crib set. Plenty of folks make a living selling stuff we don't need. If you want to complain about getting oversold, that's a pervasive cultural problem and nothing new here.
What I don't get is your disrespect of breast pumps. Medical grade breast pumps unstall labor like nothing else. Consumer pumps buy women more sleep, a work life, playtime, and even a few days away. You complain about class and ignore the history of wet nurses.
I remain grateful for the luxury of being able to work right next to my children's daycare so I could nurse them directly. I am grateful to Obamacare for improving access to breast pumps and helping women maintain their supply and its undeniable economic benefits. I advocate for the women who lack a clean, comfortable place to breast feed or pump. I never needed any other reason to breast feed beyond convenience. Why drag around bottles or whatever? Just a couple of diapers in my purse, a baby on my hip, and the wide world is open to us.
39
I dutifully went to a breastfeeding class and gave birth without an epidural at a "Baby-friendly" hospital. They never take the baby away so you can get some rest after childbirth! Nope, my son was there in the room with me the whole time so that I could establish my milk supply. I didn't even know that most hospitals have nurseries where the blessed nurses will care for the baby while you get a well-earned night's rest.
Well, I had a decent milk-supply and proceeded to nurse my son for the first eight months of his life, as suspicions started to dawn on me: this is a lot of work. It hurts. I'm spending an awful lot of time pumping. I never sleep, because nobody but me can do night feedings. Breastfeeding in public awkward. I was exclusively breastfed, and I'm very healthy.
Why am I doing this?
Switching to formula was a game-changer. Next time around I'm getting an epidural, sending the baby to the nursery at the hospital, and being a lot less militant about breastfeeding when we get home. Motherhood is not a competition.
Well, I had a decent milk-supply and proceeded to nurse my son for the first eight months of his life, as suspicions started to dawn on me: this is a lot of work. It hurts. I'm spending an awful lot of time pumping. I never sleep, because nobody but me can do night feedings. Breastfeeding in public awkward. I was exclusively breastfed, and I'm very healthy.
Why am I doing this?
Switching to formula was a game-changer. Next time around I'm getting an epidural, sending the baby to the nursery at the hospital, and being a lot less militant about breastfeeding when we get home. Motherhood is not a competition.
61
I'm guessing this writer is too young to have been a mother when breast feeding was not supported or widely accepted. When my children were born nearly forty years ago breastfeeding mothers were often ridiculed, I know I was. I for one, think it is very positive that it now receives such widespread support.
35
Great comment. Not too long ago, women were coerced to formula feed.
1
Oh my god. Thank you SO MUCH for publishing this.
The "breastfeeding Gestapo" made me feel HORRIBLE for not exclusively breastfeeding. It seriously drove a lot of postpartum depression for me and for a lot of women.
In the "educated" circles, if you don't breastfeed, you're considered some kind of failure. It is a marker of affluence, education, dedication, hard-working status, persistence, liberalism. It even has a lot of connotations of femininity and health. I felt like a failure: that I was too lazy or unfeminine to manage it exclusively.
Especially in the NYC hospitals, the breastfeeding bullying never stops. Often it is MALE doctors pushing it. Or CHILDLESS doctors pushing it. Thankfully, from anecdotal evidence, it's not as bad in Jersey.
I had no idea that WIC mothers were bullied this intensely.
The "breastfeeding Gestapo" made me feel HORRIBLE for not exclusively breastfeeding. It seriously drove a lot of postpartum depression for me and for a lot of women.
In the "educated" circles, if you don't breastfeed, you're considered some kind of failure. It is a marker of affluence, education, dedication, hard-working status, persistence, liberalism. It even has a lot of connotations of femininity and health. I felt like a failure: that I was too lazy or unfeminine to manage it exclusively.
Especially in the NYC hospitals, the breastfeeding bullying never stops. Often it is MALE doctors pushing it. Or CHILDLESS doctors pushing it. Thankfully, from anecdotal evidence, it's not as bad in Jersey.
I had no idea that WIC mothers were bullied this intensely.
43
WIC mothers aren't "bullied" for not breastfeeding. Breastfeeding mothers needs several hundred extra calories a day to produce, so they are given more foods to make up that difference. Formula is fortified with iron, so the babies don't NEED the iron rich meats. Iron also doesn't cross that well from breastmilk, and mom was probably anemic from pregnancy anyway, and babies' liver stores start to deplete around 6 months so they need the iron fortified meats.
Lastly, if you compare the PRICE of the packages that non-breastfeeding moms receive compared to the price of that received by the breastfeeding moms, you'll find that the non-breastfeeding package pays for more because it pays for the FORMULA, which can be quite expensive (prohibitively so for some people who actually have jobs and make just enough to not qualify for WIC and are paying taxes that then pay for formula for babies of moms who aren't working... but that's a-whole-nother soap box for another day)... not to mention the ones that DEMAND prescriptions for Soy formula (which is far more expensive) because their baby spits up occasionally on regular formula.
Lastly, if you compare the PRICE of the packages that non-breastfeeding moms receive compared to the price of that received by the breastfeeding moms, you'll find that the non-breastfeeding package pays for more because it pays for the FORMULA, which can be quite expensive (prohibitively so for some people who actually have jobs and make just enough to not qualify for WIC and are paying taxes that then pay for formula for babies of moms who aren't working... but that's a-whole-nother soap box for another day)... not to mention the ones that DEMAND prescriptions for Soy formula (which is far more expensive) because their baby spits up occasionally on regular formula.
As a physician, a man, a husband and father, and someone who has specialized in evaluating the youngest children, their relationships and attachment and resilience, the evidence about the benefits of breastfeeding in an incontrovertible as the evidence supporting vaccines work. There are no two ways around this. That being said, whether a woman can/wants to/is prepared to/is allowed to/is supoorted to breast feed...and is taught to by nurses/La Leche specialists/etc... we have lost the generational education mothers and grandmothers passed on and down for millennia. We would not have survived as a species without breastfeeding. No other species drinks other species breast milk.
What's the commercial from the 70s. "Don't fool with Mother Nature." The rest is nonsense and tomfoolery and misplaced emotion and judgment.
What's the commercial from the 70s. "Don't fool with Mother Nature." The rest is nonsense and tomfoolery and misplaced emotion and judgment.
187
No other mammal drinks another's milk IN NATURE. I have bottle fed orphaned animals. They were fine.
10
What this response convinces me most is that I made absolutely the right decision when I chose a doctor who was a woman and a mother.
11
As a man, you really don't have any say in the matter.
8
My first labor lasted four days and ended with an emergency C-section where the anesthesia did not work. Although my breasts had been dripping for at least six weeks before, I never got a drop of milk. I can't tell you how many people, women and MEN! told me that I could breastfeed if I really wanted to. I had a man tell me about an adoptive couple where the woman made herself produce milk, because she wouldn't give up trying. All I wanted was to satisfy my baby. I asked for a bottle, and never looked back. My daughter just graduated from Cornell and has a full-time job and an apartment. I still get angry when I think about the cruelty, the shaming, and the judgment I received for not "trying" hard and long enough.
297
Umm, that man was lying. It is not possible to produce breast milk unless one has been pregnant.
1
Not sure if anyone mentioned this re longevity of breastfeeding: but I find it really disturbing when a 2+ year old is sitting there tugging at its mom's blouse.
16
My rule of thumb is that if the kid is old enough to walk over and verbally demand it, the kid is too old for it. It's gross to hear a kid yelling "Boob! Boob!"
12
Oh, Judy, how I wish you could see my 2 year old snuggling with me with his hand down my shirt right now. It's so awful and disturbing when a child wants to bond with his mother. The horror!
23
So it's not OK to shame mothers who use formula but it *is* OK to shame mothers who breastfeed?
3
Thank you for this article and thanks to the scientists who are examining the question. As a brand new parent, establishing a breastfeeding routine felt like the first thing that we had personal responsibility for after our little one was born. We needed to supplement our child with formula and the literature on breastfeeding vs formula was so alarmist. When I mentioned to someone in the park that we were using formula they pursed their lips and glared at me. I felt so ashamed, as though I was failing my child already.
9
My first child was bottle fed; my second child was breast-fed for 2 months. The second child got sick at the age of one month and stayed sick for 2 years, my first child was never sick until the sibling arrive; the second child has ADHD and multiple learning disabilities, although this child, like my first, has an above-average IQ; the second child has allergies up the wazoo, the first child no allergies.
Offer expectant mothers information on both breast and bottle feeding, but for heavens sake, please stop shaming women who choose to bottle feed.
Offer expectant mothers information on both breast and bottle feeding, but for heavens sake, please stop shaming women who choose to bottle feed.
15
Until recently, breast feeding wasn't an option for many women. Hospitals would whisk away babies and give them bottles. Pediatricians would recommend against it. There was no mechanism for mothers to learn how to breast feed. The workplace, public spaces, airplanes, none of them were required to accommodate breast-feeding or pumping mothers. It took a great deal of grass-roots advocacy to make the breast vs bottle choice real. Breast feeding is moderately healthier than bottle feeding, all else being equal. All else is not always equal, and the bottle is necessary for some. But let's keep this choice real, and remember that however moderate the advantage may be, there is a clearly proven advantage to breast feeding and it will continue to take advocacy, medical, and legal support for breast feeding to even remain a choice.
25
Your "until recently" was a long long time ago. My oldest is 17 and there was no whisking away babies to give them bottles, or pediatricians against breastfeeding then.
8
I will never forget the first night with our daughter in the Moms & Babies ward, with my wife having been through 9 hours of incredibly painful back labor, and my tiny daughter shrieking from hunger because my wife's colostrum wasn't nearly sufficient.
I wish I could describe the sneer and sanctimony of the nurse when we asked for formula, which resulted in us deciding against it (at the time, we also subscribed to the anti-formula religion but were desperate). So we all spent a completely miserable first night together.
Watching my wife being shamed into not getting an epidural even though she was continuously vomiting bile from an empty stomach due to the severe pain of back labor, and then facing the zealotry of the nurses regarding formula, just showed me how far down the priority list the well-being of the mother is.
Also, vaccinate your kids.
I wish I could describe the sneer and sanctimony of the nurse when we asked for formula, which resulted in us deciding against it (at the time, we also subscribed to the anti-formula religion but were desperate). So we all spent a completely miserable first night together.
Watching my wife being shamed into not getting an epidural even though she was continuously vomiting bile from an empty stomach due to the severe pain of back labor, and then facing the zealotry of the nurses regarding formula, just showed me how far down the priority list the well-being of the mother is.
Also, vaccinate your kids.
129
Amen!
It is historical amnesia to think that support of breastfeeding came about because it benefits breast pump manufacturers. They benefited from the Affordable Care Act, but the health benefits of breastfeeding have been touted much longer. Proof of the breastfeeding's benefit comes from poor countries, where formula company employees dressed as nurses gave free samples and encouraged women to bottle feed. The mothers' milk dried up, they could not afford enough formula for their babies and they did not have clean water to mix it, and many babies died of diarrhea or insufficient nutrition. That led to the 1977 boycott of Nestle. Now, I always buy Ghirardelli chocolate chips, my kids ask me why. They taste great, I still recoil at the cynicism that caused (and still causes) malnutrition and death of poor infants. In the US, with WIC, lack of infant food is less serious, but preparing clean formula is still hard for some women. If families use formula, they should feed on demand, use freshly made milk, clean bottles and nipples, use small bottles so they don’t force the baby to swallow more than the stomach can hold, and interact with the baby--talking, singing, kissing, playing peek-a-boo. Perhaps the cognitive benefits of breastfeeding are due to the fact that you can’t detach a breast and walk away, but it is easy to prop a bottle up so it aligns with the baby’s mouth and leave a baby unattended for long periods of time.
17
What a horrible end comment. My formula-fed baby is not left to feed herself — we engage her the entire time and enjoy a few quiet moments together after she's fed. She's a happy, healthy 8-month-old who has hit all of her milestones early.
It's conclusions like these that break my heart as a mother who dearly loves her child and formula feeds because it was the best for us.
It's conclusions like these that break my heart as a mother who dearly loves her child and formula feeds because it was the best for us.
3
As a man, I have often said that if men were to get together and concoct a way to avoid an enormous amount of the work of parenting an infant, they could hardly do better than to push vigorously on the idea of breast-feeding. In my case, my wife didn't have success breast-feeding. As a result, I got the opportunity to share in our infant son's feedings. It equalized the workload, and gave both of us a chance to bond with our new son.
73
I wonder if advocates for breast feeding are non-advocates for childhood vaccines.
1
Thank you for writing this.
The strong promotion of breastfeeding must be accompanied by an equally strong (at least!) fight for family leave benefits. When I returned to work after having my first baby, I pumped at the office 3 or 4 times a day. Every day. It is very, very hard for mothers to both go to work and produce food for a baby they are separated from. Either let us take longer leaves, or let us make our decision to breastfeed or not and leave us alone!
The strong promotion of breastfeeding must be accompanied by an equally strong (at least!) fight for family leave benefits. When I returned to work after having my first baby, I pumped at the office 3 or 4 times a day. Every day. It is very, very hard for mothers to both go to work and produce food for a baby they are separated from. Either let us take longer leaves, or let us make our decision to breastfeed or not and leave us alone!
10
Oh, I surely do appreciate this piece.
Breast is best, I was told. But no one told me what to feel when it just didn't work. I simply never was able to breast feed my own children, because my body didn't cooperate. All I ever heard, or read, or had discussed all around me was that failure is rare and people just give up too soon. Meaning: if I just stuck to it, I would have been a better mother.
Sometimes breast isn't best. Sometimes it doesn't work. Sometimes the baby doesn't cooperate. Sometimes work schedules don't cooperate. This is a personal decision. Your doctor can offer advice - everyone else? Butt out.
And, for those of you who are worried about the terrible impact of formula? The kids and I bonded fine: feedings, lullabies and rocking chairs, falling asleep on the sofa with your baby plastered on top of you give you lots and lots of bonding. My kids are healthy, smart and well adjusted. They survived formula just fine.
Breast is best, I was told. But no one told me what to feel when it just didn't work. I simply never was able to breast feed my own children, because my body didn't cooperate. All I ever heard, or read, or had discussed all around me was that failure is rare and people just give up too soon. Meaning: if I just stuck to it, I would have been a better mother.
Sometimes breast isn't best. Sometimes it doesn't work. Sometimes the baby doesn't cooperate. Sometimes work schedules don't cooperate. This is a personal decision. Your doctor can offer advice - everyone else? Butt out.
And, for those of you who are worried about the terrible impact of formula? The kids and I bonded fine: feedings, lullabies and rocking chairs, falling asleep on the sofa with your baby plastered on top of you give you lots and lots of bonding. My kids are healthy, smart and well adjusted. They survived formula just fine.
12
Cathy, thank you for your comment. I feel the same way. My breast-feeding did not go well and when my son started losing weight I went for the formula. I too got tired of the "breast is best" gestapo, it was horrible - family members to nurses all made me feel like I was a lousy mother for going to formula. I tried to ignore them and did what I thought was best for my son. He turned out just fine, like yours - healthy, smart and well-adjusted.
1
Wic provides different food packages based on different needs. Breast milk is low in iron, hence breastfed babies need iron rich baby food; formula is high in iron. Formula fed babies aren't atrisk for iron deficiency anemia. Breast feeding mothers use more calories than formula feeding mothers, so they do need a larger food package. The differences aren't designed to force women into breastfeeding, rather they support the different needs of breast fed vs formula fed babies.
7
This is an excellent article. I wish that I had received more balanced information about feeding my baby when he was born (he is now 2 years old). I was strongly encouraged to breast-feed, despite having several risk factors that often make breast-feeding difficult (baby was born early, at 37 weeks; advanced maternal age; and I was on the cusp of developing pre-eclampsia). Besides that, I was encouraged to exclusively breast-feed. When my son was three days old, his lips were painfully chapped, he had a sunken appearance and was clearly dehydrated. I asked if I could give him water from a bottle or a spoon. I was discouraged from doing so because it may cause "nipple-confusion". By five days, my son had lost 15% of his initial body weight and was becoming jaundiced. At this point, I started supplementing with formula, while continuing to breast-feed. I wish that I had done this from the beginning. I felt absolutely terrible that I had starved and dehydrated my baby for the first five days of his life. Balanced advice should be given to women about nourishing their babies, keeping in mind the particular circumstances of the mother and child. Exclusive breast-feeding is not a "one-size fits all" solution.
15
My mother had 4 kids in the 60's. Not a one of us were breast fed. None of us have any health or mental problems.
11
Thanks for this article. I always assumed that breastfeeding would be like turning on a tap and was very surprised when it was painful, exhausting, and my baby was not growing. I was told to 'comp' feed, which the breast-feeding groups told me was unnecessary and would spell the end of breastfeeding. I kept breastfeeding, and coping, and finally after 6 months it all got better. I ended up breastfeeding for years - but the activism around breastfeeding, and aversion to formula, was completely counterproductive and simply wrong. Mixed feeding was fine. The guilt was unnecessary.
9
I did breastfeed and I was happy to do so. But I also supplemented with formula when my baby was not gaining weight. When I went back to work I did pump, but the pumping didn't last long as it was very disruptive to getting any work done (and I did have a supportive work environment and my own office). So I stopped breastfeeding around six months.
I actually didn't have any health care providers or folks in my circle judge me or my decisions, which I was happy about. Everyone was supportive of my decisions along the way.
Frankly, if we want to increase breastfeeding we'd be better off putting more effort towards getting paid maternity leave and/or longer leave as it gets very difficult to breastfeed once you go back to work.
I actually didn't have any health care providers or folks in my circle judge me or my decisions, which I was happy about. Everyone was supportive of my decisions along the way.
Frankly, if we want to increase breastfeeding we'd be better off putting more effort towards getting paid maternity leave and/or longer leave as it gets very difficult to breastfeed once you go back to work.
24
The author makes no mention of the fact that iron is added to formula and is not as readily available to infants who are exclusively breastfed. That's likely why WIC includes meat-based baby foods for breastfed babies and not formula-fed ones. Too much iron can be detrimental. I wonder why the author fails to consider the nutritional science behind those decisions, focusing instead only on the political and socio-economic ramifications. And might she also consider the medical benefits to the mother: post-birth weight reduction, reduced breast cancer rates, to name two of the most well documented. And what about the economic benefits of breastfeeding? Formula is very expensive. While the supplies needed to sustain breastfeeding aren't inconsequential if the one breastfeeding works outside of the home, those costs pale in comparison to formula prices, especially if your infant ends up needing specialized formula. This is especially important to the working middle-class: those families who make too much to qualify for WIC, but are still struggling to make ends meet. I agree that the 'moral' imperative to breastfeed is problematic and the health benefits often overblown for political reasons. And that those things, combined with this country's lack of parental leave, hit low-income families particularly hard. But the author is selectively choosing evidence to back up her argument.
37
I was thinking the same thing re: iron. There is a common belief in pediatrics that breastfed babies need iron supplements starting sometime between 6-9 months, and that was surely behind the WIC policy decision, not a desire to provide baby food as an incentive to breastfeed. There is now research that shows that even though there is less iron in breastmilk than in formula, babies digest and process it efficiently and are maybe not at risk of anemia to the extent that we have thought they were. But, the evidence is not extensive yet, so seems logical that the government is still providing for additional iron-rich foods for breastfeed babies who receive WIC benefits.
Both pregnancy and breast feeding have taken on a kind of holy status. As the mother of three Boomers, I find the whole thing rather tiresome. I did breastfeed two of my babies, but was unable to do so with one. They all turned out just fine, can't tell the difference 60 years later. In those days people looked at you as if you were dim witted if you breast fed, and "formula" was canned milk, Karo syrup and water. My point? Breast feeding is what all mammal females do, if they can and if they want to. Getting pregnant has also become something to "futz" over and crow about, breast feeding is now a holy ritual and children are often treated like delicate flowers. Sorry to say, I don't see much difference in the final result... There!! I said it and I'm glad.
29
Surprising how many people know benefits of breast-feeding that extend beyond those shown by medical science. Yes, although too complicated for you personally to figure out, it is possible for scientists to determine if ADHD, allergies, or obesity are correlated with breast-feeding. Continuing to cling to refuted theories puts you in the same camp with young earth creationists, anti-vaccination advocates, and people who believe in bigfoot. Yes, breast-feeding has some benefits and should be promoted over formula, but telling people that with breast-feeding your child will be supermodel einstein and without they will be a sad, pathetic disaster, is not the way to do it.
11
I didn't necessarily believe breast-feeding was the panacea it was made out to be, but I can see no literature that says its bad. The "benefits" maybe doubtful but it was great time to bond one-on-one when someone is stuck to your breast and no study ever reported adverse effects on either mother or child.
47
Of course there are adverse effects. If the child has problems latching or the mother has trouble producing milk the child with suffer from failure to thrive. Additionally, even without discussing a child thriving breastfeeding can be impossible if the mother needs sleep, has medication the renders her breast milk dangerous, or simply lacks the luxury to give up work.
2
Perhaps no physical adverse effects, but what about psychological adverse effects on the mother from being forced to either be with the child 24/7 for months on end or to pump if she has to return to work?
3
Not true; about 1 in 20 babies born in the US experience failure to thrive, from slight to severe. This means that they don't gain weight; in fact, they can lose weight. The results can be catastrophic: from fatal to severe neurological defects to no symptoms. The babies can end up hospitalized, usually in the PICU. There are studies out there reporting this -- that's where the 1 in 20 number comes from. I don't know why more medical professionals don't talk about this.
With my 2nd child, I was at an ER and was without food or water for almost 3 hours so I gave her a bottle.
Then the female dr walked in to examine her. Her first question was Is this breastmilk or formula?
I said I usually breastfed but hadn't eaten, so I was feeding her formula. The dr looked horrified. Then I saw her Breast-fed is Best-fed pin and knew I was in trouble.
She said, The WHO recommends breastmilk exclusively until age 3.
I said, That's because in developing countries the water is often contaminated and shouldn't be mixed with formula. Also, there was zero research at the time indicating any benefits past 6 weeks when comparing breastfed and formula-fed babies.
Breastfeeding is not easy, it usually causes the mom to lug around the baby weight until she stops breastfeeding, your milk comes in and soaks your clothes if the baby sleeps later than usual--not to mention the painful 2 weeks when you start breastfeeding. Ugh. Not a pleasant experience and I didn't even work! The lactation fanatics need to calm down.
Oh--and the doctor? She didn't have any children and had never personally breastfed. But she had no problem trying to guilt a mom with a sick newborn.
Then the female dr walked in to examine her. Her first question was Is this breastmilk or formula?
I said I usually breastfed but hadn't eaten, so I was feeding her formula. The dr looked horrified. Then I saw her Breast-fed is Best-fed pin and knew I was in trouble.
She said, The WHO recommends breastmilk exclusively until age 3.
I said, That's because in developing countries the water is often contaminated and shouldn't be mixed with formula. Also, there was zero research at the time indicating any benefits past 6 weeks when comparing breastfed and formula-fed babies.
Breastfeeding is not easy, it usually causes the mom to lug around the baby weight until she stops breastfeeding, your milk comes in and soaks your clothes if the baby sleeps later than usual--not to mention the painful 2 weeks when you start breastfeeding. Ugh. Not a pleasant experience and I didn't even work! The lactation fanatics need to calm down.
Oh--and the doctor? She didn't have any children and had never personally breastfed. But she had no problem trying to guilt a mom with a sick newborn.
239
Preach sister! NYC is filled with childless and/or male docs with those damn buttons torturing new mothers!
6
I support your position on not shaming mothers for choosing formula, but your assertion that mom will "lug around the baby weight until she stops breastfeeding" is simply untrue. It is a fact that breastfeeding burns calories - up to 500 a day.
2
OK, so there are painful moments and maybe even embarressing ones occasionally with breastfeeding, but failing to get the baby weight off is not one of them. My friends and I loved that we could eat whatever we wanted and the weight just fell off in comparison with the moms we knew who fed formula who just couldn't get rid of the weight. Producing milk requires a lot of calories.
1
I can't overstate how much pressure there was on me to breastfeed my son, which I was 100% committed to doing and was delighted beyond words when he "latched on" the first night I had him in my arms (he was taken to intensive care directly following the birth after minor complications). However, when he failed to "thrive" on my meager output, the doctor and my mother both advised me to switch to formula. I was so brainwashed I found this incredibly painful and worrisome to do. My mother kept saying to me -- "you see all your friends who are all so brilliant and beautiful and healthy that you love so much -- guess what, they were all bottle fed (I was born in 1961). Still, I felt like a bit of a failure and prickled at all the suspicious looks I got when I whipped out a bottle for my 3 months old. The irony is, in contrast to the children of my siblings and friends who did breastfeed their children, my son has never had an earache, or cavity and has been on antibiotics maybe twice in his whole life. He's 15 now, and beautiful and brilliant and healthy and strong. I loved breastfeeding for the short time I was permitted to do it, and I think it's great if you can pull it off, but if you can't DO NOT WORRY -- YOUR CHILD WILL BE FINE. Hugs to all the new mothers out there!
305
I am so happy that you were able to breast feed your child. I am sure the complications were worrisome and frustrating. I was wondering, was it ever an option to supplement with formula and continuing to give our baby what breastmilk you could rather than switch completely to formula?
My mom is fond of saying: they all grow up. I have three kids. This whole discussion is a tempest in a teapot. Breast feed if you want to and if you can afford to take time off work, but if you hate it, if its painful or impractical, give it up. Your kid will survive with no adverse affects. The problem with formula lies in third world counties where the water used for mixing it is unsafe. We have clean water. There are some advantages to breast feeding but not breastfeeding does not make you a bad mother.
4
I could have written this exact comment - I'm the same age, went thru the same thing, and my mom said the same thing, and my son is the same age! FTT is sooo scary, having to weigh your kid every day, trying to do the right thing....I even went as far as using this stupid supplemental nursing system. It got to where I would nurse for an hour, pump for an hour, sleep for an hour and then do it all over again, just trying to make enough milk. No wonder I couldn't - I was exhausted! And shamed, to boot. Thanks so much for your post!
2
As the bottle-fed baby boomer mom of grown-up bottle-fed millenials, I am currently far removed from involvement in the latest breast feeding trends. Nonetheless, I read this article and was surprised to learn that the concept and mention of formula is taboo in maternity wards today. I will suggest that this seems ridiculous to me. My children and I are as healthy or healthier than most people I know. None of us take or need any regular medication and we are all of appropriate weight. What I see as key in that is that we have maintained healthy eating habits longer after infancy ended. I work in an elementary school where processed food and drinks are the norm, where I see kids bringing bowls of cold sugar cereals for lunch and then pouring chocolate milk into them. I would agree that closed-minded claims of the righteousness breast-feeding are out of line.
4
My son is now 28. Not breast-fed. Perfect attendance grades K-12. He didn't miss one day of school due to illness. He has been very healthy adult as well.
4
I can see why the Times is running this piece. A column that bluntly contradicts conventional wisdom or attacks a sacred cow (so to speak, in this case), whatever the merits of the column's arguments, makes an opinion section seem edgy and exciting. If nothing else, it's great click bait.
This column will resound with many affluent, educated women who resent being told what to do and don't want to be tied down to constant feedings, to say nothing about having to use one of those unpleasant breast pump machines. These women can even claim a kinship in oppression with poor mothers who suffer lectures from health care professionals on the benefits of breastfeeding.
Far be it for me to judge Prof. Jung or any other woman on her choice whether to breast feed, but it seems Jung has it backwards. Rather than insisting on proof that breast feeding is superior to formula before accepting its advocates might have a point, shouldn't she be putting the burden on formula companies to prove their industrial product is at least as healthy as a food optimized for infants through millennia of evolution?
This column will resound with many affluent, educated women who resent being told what to do and don't want to be tied down to constant feedings, to say nothing about having to use one of those unpleasant breast pump machines. These women can even claim a kinship in oppression with poor mothers who suffer lectures from health care professionals on the benefits of breastfeeding.
Far be it for me to judge Prof. Jung or any other woman on her choice whether to breast feed, but it seems Jung has it backwards. Rather than insisting on proof that breast feeding is superior to formula before accepting its advocates might have a point, shouldn't she be putting the burden on formula companies to prove their industrial product is at least as healthy as a food optimized for infants through millennia of evolution?
11
I had terrible mastitis and could not breast feed. I still had to put up with all kinds of pressure, starting at the hospital, which only made me feel worse about not being able to. Yes, it's the best thing, but it's not always possible.
7
The last paragraph is key. Without public and workplace policies and structures that are supportive of family life and childbearing, women, especially those in economic hardship, do not have real choices. They need those supports, and then should be given the right to make their own choices about how to best nourish and raise their children.
7
I'm a novelist, and my most recent novel imagines the life of the most famous breastfeeder in history, Juliet's Nurse (from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet). No readers ever ask me whether I breastfed a child (I am actually child-free by choice), even as they compliment how well I capture the physical and emotional experience of breastfeeding. (By contrast, my first book is told from the point-of-view of Mary Bowser, an African American woman, and in every audience I've spoken to, someone asked how a white woman could write from the POV of a black woman) I see this as a presumption that breastfeeding is so "natural" that every woman somehow has an inherent understanding of and commitment to it. And yet, Shakespeare's character and thus mine are a part of a long historical tradition in which it was as normal to "outsource" the nursing of your child to another woman, or series of women (sometimes sending the child away for months or even years at a time), as it now is to "outsource" the daily care of children, to daycare providers, nannies, schools, camps, etc. So yes, there's a whole lot of social/cultural relativism that parades as science, from medieval Italy to the contemporary US.
Our daughter arrived seven weeks early, and my wife chose bottle feeding (I would have supported her decision either way). So I was able to do a lot of the nutrition, including the 3 a.m. calls. I treasure those memories! Daughter is now almost 6 feet tall and doing well at Ohio State.
8
My late husband never wanted me to breastfeed. Then my first pregnancy and delivery were difficult and made the decision for us. My husband always felt grateful and blessed that he was able to feed and bond with his three babies as much as I was, brlieving that it formed the especially strong bond he had with his three children.
2
Since when is promoting the gold standard for infants bullying? The actual opposite is happening in the US.
In hospitals mom's are offered "free" care packages with formula by the nurse, but often only when they indicate they WILL breastfeed. Hospitals get paid by formula manufacturers for this 'service'.
Maternity nurses will strongly suggest formula at night so mom can sleep.
The US is one of the few countries that allows formula marketing and does not adhere to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
Breastfeeding (and pumping) in public is still often seen as indecent and can lead to arrest.
I could go on.
It seems Ms. Jung did breastfeed in Canada (her home). A country that does promote best practices.
In hospitals mom's are offered "free" care packages with formula by the nurse, but often only when they indicate they WILL breastfeed. Hospitals get paid by formula manufacturers for this 'service'.
Maternity nurses will strongly suggest formula at night so mom can sleep.
The US is one of the few countries that allows formula marketing and does not adhere to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
Breastfeeding (and pumping) in public is still often seen as indecent and can lead to arrest.
I could go on.
It seems Ms. Jung did breastfeed in Canada (her home). A country that does promote best practices.
6
The benefits of breastfeeding are best kept between a woman and her physician or selected pediatrician. Brochures detailing these benefits are great. Friend to friend discussions only at the request of the mother to be would be helpful. Everyone else - butt out.
6
I'm curious about the author's data on white upper class women breastfeeding more than "poor minorities ". In the late seventies this was not the case as most career women were being advised against breastfeeding, which included Ivy league educated older women I know. In most third world countries with brown or peach skinned women, breastfeeding is less of a political movement and more of an essential element of mothering and providing nutrition. This article points to the recent American "fad" of breastfeeding and the hubris of spouting data that glorifies how " the white wealthy " are on to it. This is a problematic article but I do think if no health concerns contradict breastfeeding, then by all means, do it!
This op-ed comes from an alternate reality. I'll admit that my experience is from 20-plus years ago when my children were infants, but I never felt coerced into breast-feeding, and I consume enough popular media that I doubt it happens today. I truly doubt that the breast-pump industry is at all comparable to the formula industry. Most of my friends breast-fed their children for at least a few months, and some of us, myself included, did pump at work despite the difficulties. But none of us judged women who didn't.
9
I had two of my children in the early sixties. No one breastfed back then...I gave them formula (Pet milk, water and Karo syrup)...do you know why they call it formula? Because you adjusted the milk and water, depending on the baby's demands...the older they got, the more milk and less water....worked like a charm! That went along with sterilizing bottles, et al. They all did just fine...no allergies, healthy, intelligent. Fifteen years later, I had another one and everyone expected me to breastfeed and I gave it a go. Very bad experience...couldn't produce enough milk, cranky baby, felt pressured to keep it up. One day, I said enough! Back to formula...although now it was in a can....happy, healthy baby. I have raised three healthy adults, all vaccinated, I might say, with no adverse conditions. I agree totally with this article...if you want to do it, fine...but stop pressuring women to do it...and stop feeling so superior.
8
Best breastfeeding quote ever from my pediatrician - "it's just food".
And yes, I breast fed three kids.
But I hated the moral smugness of the breast is best advocates and the disapproving looks when I pulled out a bottle.
Feed your kids as you please, but please mind your own business.
And yes, I breast fed three kids.
But I hated the moral smugness of the breast is best advocates and the disapproving looks when I pulled out a bottle.
Feed your kids as you please, but please mind your own business.
15
Like other areas of health, diet and child-rearing, people are often religious on these matters.
My wife breast fed both our kids until they reached the age of two. They were exclusively breast fed as infants. My wife is also an OG/GYN who deals exclusively with high risk pregnancies. She sees all sides of the topic.
So it was with great irritation that she endured all the proselytizing from the local La Leche league folowers, both during pregnancy and afterwards. Total strangers would come up to her, ask very personal questions and offer unsolicited opinions intended to shame her if she didn't toe the line.
At one point, when a woman came up to her and asked how the breastfeeding was going, my wife had half a mind to tell the woman she'd had a double mastectomy just to shut her up and make her understand that such intrusions are not helpful. Instead--and fortunately--she just told the woman to mind her own f**king business.
It's hard enough to be a mother. Women with young kids do not need to be shamed or bullied, no matter how good the intentions may be.
Glad you wrote this piece!
My wife breast fed both our kids until they reached the age of two. They were exclusively breast fed as infants. My wife is also an OG/GYN who deals exclusively with high risk pregnancies. She sees all sides of the topic.
So it was with great irritation that she endured all the proselytizing from the local La Leche league folowers, both during pregnancy and afterwards. Total strangers would come up to her, ask very personal questions and offer unsolicited opinions intended to shame her if she didn't toe the line.
At one point, when a woman came up to her and asked how the breastfeeding was going, my wife had half a mind to tell the woman she'd had a double mastectomy just to shut her up and make her understand that such intrusions are not helpful. Instead--and fortunately--she just told the woman to mind her own f**king business.
It's hard enough to be a mother. Women with young kids do not need to be shamed or bullied, no matter how good the intentions may be.
Glad you wrote this piece!
16
The point of this article is to justify that you didn't want to breast-feed and felt pressured to do it. I get it. Parenting is hard and there are sacrifices at every corner. If you aren't ready for sacrificing, don't become a parent if you can help it. I would rather (and have so far) sacrifice my own energy and well-being if that means my child will be better off.
10
You'd rather feel self righteous that you're such a better parent than other people, you mean.
4
Did you even read the article? The author breastfed her child for years.
2
When I gave birth to my first child 33 years ago, I had to fight against the system for my right to breastfeed her. As a physician I was aware of the benefits my baby would derive from breastfeeding and was planning to breastfeed my baby for as long as possible. At that time all new mothers were leaving the hospital with free formula in hand, making it so easy not to breastfeed. The doctors asked the new mothers if they wanted to get a shot so that their breasts would dry. Breastfeeding was something to be ashamed of and to be done secretly.
I had to fight for my right to breastfeed my baby, for my right to pump milk during work hours, even when I was in night duty, so that my baby could have her milk even when I was working, as she did not tolerate formula. I am thankful to my colleagues, many of whom supported me and helped me during that time. This was a real hard fight for me, because at that time there were none of the laws to protect breastfeeding mothers that the author mentions.
So this is why this strikes me hard. If you had to fight for a human right, the right a baby has to be fed with what nature has provided for optimum growth, you do not take this lightly. I respect the choice of the mother, and there are cases of medical need. But don't down play the importance of mothers having the right to breastfeed a baby. It is supported by the struggle many of us had to engage into so that today mothers don't have to fight for something that is a basic need of a baby.
I had to fight for my right to breastfeed my baby, for my right to pump milk during work hours, even when I was in night duty, so that my baby could have her milk even when I was working, as she did not tolerate formula. I am thankful to my colleagues, many of whom supported me and helped me during that time. This was a real hard fight for me, because at that time there were none of the laws to protect breastfeeding mothers that the author mentions.
So this is why this strikes me hard. If you had to fight for a human right, the right a baby has to be fed with what nature has provided for optimum growth, you do not take this lightly. I respect the choice of the mother, and there are cases of medical need. But don't down play the importance of mothers having the right to breastfeed a baby. It is supported by the struggle many of us had to engage into so that today mothers don't have to fight for something that is a basic need of a baby.
33
OK, lots of opinions here.
The dirty little secret of nursing is that it is HARD.
I was lucky that my first baby was big and an easy nurser. My second was fussy and difficult to nurse, but I was relaxed because I was experienced.
Both times, I was surrounded by shamed women struggling to do the right thing.
The cuture of "macha" (what I call the female version of "macho") seems to be just as present as ever (my girls are 25 and 28).
How sad.
The dirty little secret of nursing is that it is HARD.
I was lucky that my first baby was big and an easy nurser. My second was fussy and difficult to nurse, but I was relaxed because I was experienced.
Both times, I was surrounded by shamed women struggling to do the right thing.
The cuture of "macha" (what I call the female version of "macho") seems to be just as present as ever (my girls are 25 and 28).
How sad.
8
Where is the commentary that breastfeeding protects mothers from future breast cancer? We've had anecdotal evidence for decades, and now there's research evidence, as well.
Doesn't it make sense that a process of feeding that is excellent for baby also helps Mom?
It bothers me that the pink ribbon people are all about a pound of cure, while adding an ounce of prevention to their message would help women and girls from actually developing breast cancers. How to prevent these cancers: avoid overweight/obesity, eat mostly veggies, drink little alcohol, and if you give birth, breastfeed,
Doesn't it make sense that a process of feeding that is excellent for baby also helps Mom?
It bothers me that the pink ribbon people are all about a pound of cure, while adding an ounce of prevention to their message would help women and girls from actually developing breast cancers. How to prevent these cancers: avoid overweight/obesity, eat mostly veggies, drink little alcohol, and if you give birth, breastfeed,
111
Sorry, but nursing even for extended periods of time, will not necessarily stop a woman from getting breast cancer. Many of the women I know who have had breast cancer, including me, nursed for a year or more with each of multiple children. Nursing is good for the baby and a wonderful way to bond with that baby, but it's not the only way to raise a happy and healthy child and while it may lower the incidence of breast cancer (especially if you start having babies early and have many) it does not stop women from getting breast cancer.
8
My mother breast-fed all 5 of her children -- who were born in her 20s -- then developed breast cancer in her mid 30s. As did both of her sisters, the youngest of whom never had children. I think this hypothesis, that breast feeding decreases the risk of breast cancer, is bogus. If there's any credible scientific evidence, I would love to see citations to the publications. btw, my sister, who did not have children, and I, who had one whom I breastfed, also developed breast cancer. And no, we don't have any BRCA mutations.
3
Sorry pdianek, breastfeeding isn't a magic bullet that prevents breast cancer. If it were true then no woman until modern time would have developed breast cancer. I myself breastfed 3 children yet developed breast cancer in my 40s. My daughter was diagnosed in her 20s. We are both BRCA1 & 2 negative. And there is no history of breast cancer in our family.
4
I'm waiting for the breast-is-best zealots to come out of the woodwork in response to this article. I wasn't able to breast-feed, for physical reasons, and I experienced the most ridiculous shaming, from strangers doing double-takes and glaring when they saw me giving bottles to my young babies, to an acquaintance at a dinner party suggesting that I needed to have a third child, so that I could "get it right." Incidentally, my children are healthy as horses. There's a whole lot of crazy around this issue in America, especially among the rich and privileged.
266
Thank you! I was so devastated after learning I had a low milk supply that I consider that fact to be the leading reason I had to be hospitalized weeks after the birth of my son. The rest of maternity leave was lonely as most meeting groups were for breastfeeding women only. Additionally, feeding him from a bottle in public was too embarrassing.
Luckily at 7 months, he has had no medical issues and has been reaching all developmental milestones early. I cannot wait for the day where I no longer have to feed him food with a label saying, "Experts agree on the many benefits of breast milk. If you choose to use infant formula…" I cannot wait for the day where there is more research, understanding, and policies in place so that nobody has to.
Luckily at 7 months, he has had no medical issues and has been reaching all developmental milestones early. I cannot wait for the day where I no longer have to feed him food with a label saying, "Experts agree on the many benefits of breast milk. If you choose to use infant formula…" I cannot wait for the day where there is more research, understanding, and policies in place so that nobody has to.
13
" ... the teacher at our hospital birth class announced that she wouldn’t explain how to use formula because it was against hospital regulations ... "
This is the stupidest thing I have read all day, and I did spend time reading comments from climate change deniers at lunch.
Unless the hospital is trying to drum up business in the NICU, it is absurd to leave new parents who can't or won't breastfeed in the dark about safe ways to prepare and feed formula. So much can go so very, very wrong. I'd run, run, run from this hospital, even if I were in my third trimester and forced to waddle really fast.
This is the stupidest thing I have read all day, and I did spend time reading comments from climate change deniers at lunch.
Unless the hospital is trying to drum up business in the NICU, it is absurd to leave new parents who can't or won't breastfeed in the dark about safe ways to prepare and feed formula. So much can go so very, very wrong. I'd run, run, run from this hospital, even if I were in my third trimester and forced to waddle really fast.
9
"Even though I might breast-feed as a way to nourish my baby, I could no longer use it as a talisman to ward off evil and disease. It’s a perfectly good choice, but it’s not the only choice, and it may not even be a better choice."
"...may not be a better choice"? Is the author simply saying, in effect, "There are no absolutes! Don't think that a breast-fed baby will necessarily become a happier, healthier (mentally and physically) adult than a bottle-fed baby?
Oddly (to me) Ms Jung doesn't cite (or even mention) relevant research in the field of developmental psychology at all. If she had, this is where her opinion piece might have gotten really good -- that is, subtle and nuanced in a way that many readers probably would have found both intellectually enlightening and pragmatically useful.
"...may not be a better choice"? Is the author simply saying, in effect, "There are no absolutes! Don't think that a breast-fed baby will necessarily become a happier, healthier (mentally and physically) adult than a bottle-fed baby?
Oddly (to me) Ms Jung doesn't cite (or even mention) relevant research in the field of developmental psychology at all. If she had, this is where her opinion piece might have gotten really good -- that is, subtle and nuanced in a way that many readers probably would have found both intellectually enlightening and pragmatically useful.
1
We have evolved to breast-feed. The act of breast-feeding is as important as the nutrition.
5
Women who pump are not really "breast feeding" -- the pumped milk goes in the fridge, then into bottles where it is fed to Baby by the hired illegal nanny from Guatemala.
So what IS more important? the milk itself? or the close contact with the baby's mother, as she cuddles and feeds the baby? If it is the milk, then pumping is the answer and it does not matter how the milk is "delivered".
If it is the 24/7 physical contact & intimacy with your mother -- then it doesn't matter if it is formula in that bottle.
So what IS more important? the milk itself? or the close contact with the baby's mother, as she cuddles and feeds the baby? If it is the milk, then pumping is the answer and it does not matter how the milk is "delivered".
If it is the 24/7 physical contact & intimacy with your mother -- then it doesn't matter if it is formula in that bottle.
1
I, too, breastfed both my (now adult) kids for years -- in part because there was a strong breastfeeding culture in the late 80s and early 90s, in part because I believed everything I read about it being the healthier alternative, and in part because I had had a breast cancer scare and knew that breastfeeding can help reduce the risk of cancer in some moms. Make no mistake about it: if you have the time, the milk, and the energy, it is a wonderful, satisfying way to bond with your child. I stayed home, and then worked as a breastfeeding mom. It wasn't easy but we made it work. The most interesting result, now that I have the perspective of time, is that neither of my kids was particularly healthy -- ear infections were common, both were diagnosed with ADD and associated emotional challenges as teenagers, one became a smoker.
My advice to pregnant moms today? Go with your gut, don't give in to the breastfeeding police if you truly don't want to, and enjoy your baby's company no matter how you choose to feed her.
My advice to pregnant moms today? Go with your gut, don't give in to the breastfeeding police if you truly don't want to, and enjoy your baby's company no matter how you choose to feed her.
8
'...advocates cross the line from supporting a woman in her decision to breast-feed into compelling a woman to do so...'
Does the word 'compelling' now mean something different in today's world?
Or are women so weak that they cannot think for themselves?
I breastfed two children until their teeth came in, nature's way of letting us know when to wean them. The fact that women breastfeed for years and years is insane. The child, who is no longer a baby, is not particularly interested and is more than capable of drinking out of a sippy cup, so the only reason for women to put themselves through this is because they have no spine and care more about what others think of them than what is best for themselves and the child. (Breastfeeding an older child keeps them infantilized and, at a certain age, veers well into creepiness.)
Does the word 'compelling' now mean something different in today's world?
Or are women so weak that they cannot think for themselves?
I breastfed two children until their teeth came in, nature's way of letting us know when to wean them. The fact that women breastfeed for years and years is insane. The child, who is no longer a baby, is not particularly interested and is more than capable of drinking out of a sippy cup, so the only reason for women to put themselves through this is because they have no spine and care more about what others think of them than what is best for themselves and the child. (Breastfeeding an older child keeps them infantilized and, at a certain age, veers well into creepiness.)
4
If the U.S. was serious about wanting moms to breastfeed for longer they would mandate longer maternity leaves. It can be crazy-making and exhausting to try to produce enough milk to leave for daycare while trying to figure out this parenting thing and returning to your own work. I really enjoyed breastfeeding, and found it convenient when I was around my kids to have their meals already prepared, but going back to work after six weeks complicates the process to the point where it is untenable for many. And once you add a breast pump to the equation, with its bags, hand-washing of parts, the cost of the bottles and the machine itself, the financial and environmental benefits to breastfeeding are a lot lower.
I breastfed for 6 months + with each of my kids, but supplemented with formula because I could not produce enough food for them and they were hungry. My husband, who is a physician, started the supplementing because he wanted me to sleep at night, not wake at 3 am to try to get just three more ounces produced and bagged for later that day. Both kids are above average intelligence and very healthy.
I breastfed for 6 months + with each of my kids, but supplemented with formula because I could not produce enough food for them and they were hungry. My husband, who is a physician, started the supplementing because he wanted me to sleep at night, not wake at 3 am to try to get just three more ounces produced and bagged for later that day. Both kids are above average intelligence and very healthy.
6
This is like the anti-Cesearean delivery campaign. Natural is great if it works but there's nothing wrong with having other options if needed. My firstborn was 11 lb and 6 oz. Nursing didn't feed him enough. I had to supplement with 4 oz of formula. I returned to work when he was six weeks old. Pumping didn't work out very well so we used formula. He drank 16 oz. in one meal. He's now 6'8" and weighs over 300 lbs. so he turned out just fine. Let's not demonize women about this.
7
I am surprised that you so easily dismissed the statistic that it only takes 26 breastfeeding mothers to prevent one infectious hospitalization. To me, that's the most telling benefit. Never mind the IQ issue, keeping your child healthy and antibiotic free is paramount these days.
2
where are the fervor and over-selling? recommendations are not fervor.
"While Probit found that breast-feeding had some benefits, including for cognitive development, it did not reduce the risk of obesity, asthma, allergies, dental cavities and childhood behaviors such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder."
what would you like? a prophylaxis for cancer? maybe it's one's expectations that need adjusting.
mothers and women routinely trade stories and offer unsolicited advice about infant care. call this over-selling if you like, but it can easily be avoided by changing your social circles.
"While Probit found that breast-feeding had some benefits, including for cognitive development, it did not reduce the risk of obesity, asthma, allergies, dental cavities and childhood behaviors such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder."
what would you like? a prophylaxis for cancer? maybe it's one's expectations that need adjusting.
mothers and women routinely trade stories and offer unsolicited advice about infant care. call this over-selling if you like, but it can easily be avoided by changing your social circles.
3
Professor Jung, a political scientist, should defer to health scientists on this issue and better represent the public health consensus about the valuable health benefits of breastfeeding. As one Cochrane Review [1] states plainly in its background, "the health benefits of breastfeeding are widely acknowledged." Another systematic review published this year [2] found that "substantial benefits in reducing neonatal mortality and morbidity can be achieved with effective promotion of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding during the first month of life." The evidence goes on and on.
The author tries to belittle the positive effects of breastfeeding by trying to sensationalize reasonable limitations of the scientific process or cite benefits that breastfeeding might not provide. Did you know that eating vegetables won't cure all forms of cancer? Don't worry about eating vegetables, unless you want to, of course.
Is breastfeeding a health panacea that will prevent any and every negative health outcome? Of course not. Are some passionate advocates overselling the value of breastfeeding? Very possibly. There is certainly an active debate about how long infants should be exclusively breastfed, but the valuable health benefits of breastfeeding are "widely acknowledged" by the medical community.
Breastfeeding is good for babies.
1. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003517.pub2/abstract
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24894730
The author tries to belittle the positive effects of breastfeeding by trying to sensationalize reasonable limitations of the scientific process or cite benefits that breastfeeding might not provide. Did you know that eating vegetables won't cure all forms of cancer? Don't worry about eating vegetables, unless you want to, of course.
Is breastfeeding a health panacea that will prevent any and every negative health outcome? Of course not. Are some passionate advocates overselling the value of breastfeeding? Very possibly. There is certainly an active debate about how long infants should be exclusively breastfed, but the valuable health benefits of breastfeeding are "widely acknowledged" by the medical community.
Breastfeeding is good for babies.
1. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003517.pub2/abstract
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24894730
10
A friend who had twins through a surrogate was chastised for bottle-feeding, by a stranger. The mother was too flabbergasted come up with a great response. Her gestational surrogate -- who was pumping and Fedexing milk -- came up with the snappiest answer: "I have a wet nurse"!
The backlash against the bottle is not surprising. In the 50's and 60's formulas that were nutritionally inadequate were pushed by formula makers and doctors, sure that science, however incomplete, was better than nature. Because these formulas were inadequate, early feeding at 2, 4 or 6 weeks was necessary to keep infants growing. Early feeding is suspected as the culprit in the rise of certain food allergies. Foods now are introduced at 4-6 months of age in conduction with breast-feeding or formula.
Some women can't store milk. Due to a high level of an enzyme that breaks down fat, mine was sour after 24 hours in the freezer. I had to scald the milk to kill the enzyme before storing. At that point, pumping didn't seem worth it, so the baby got formula during the day, and milk only from the breast. Women should do what works for them.
The backlash against the bottle is not surprising. In the 50's and 60's formulas that were nutritionally inadequate were pushed by formula makers and doctors, sure that science, however incomplete, was better than nature. Because these formulas were inadequate, early feeding at 2, 4 or 6 weeks was necessary to keep infants growing. Early feeding is suspected as the culprit in the rise of certain food allergies. Foods now are introduced at 4-6 months of age in conduction with breast-feeding or formula.
Some women can't store milk. Due to a high level of an enzyme that breaks down fat, mine was sour after 24 hours in the freezer. I had to scald the milk to kill the enzyme before storing. At that point, pumping didn't seem worth it, so the baby got formula during the day, and milk only from the breast. Women should do what works for them.
6
Seems like what is being oversold is the author's yet to be released new book, "Lactivism:How Feminists and Fundamentalists, Hippies, Yuppies and Politicians Made Breastfeeding Big Business and Bad Policy."
Any chance Jung has an agenda? Any chance the author tries to be a bit controversial, a little bit of provocation? Why? To sell her new book?
Yes, I do think so. Why does the Times engage in such blatant promotion of this book? To highlight an author's inclination to whip up a storm to promote her book.
If parents could enjoy real paternal leaves with pay then more mothers would not feel under so much stress in their lives to be able to provide the best food for their little babies, right from their mothers. Mothers benefit greatly from natural feeding also.
Any chance Jung has an agenda? Any chance the author tries to be a bit controversial, a little bit of provocation? Why? To sell her new book?
Yes, I do think so. Why does the Times engage in such blatant promotion of this book? To highlight an author's inclination to whip up a storm to promote her book.
If parents could enjoy real paternal leaves with pay then more mothers would not feel under so much stress in their lives to be able to provide the best food for their little babies, right from their mothers. Mothers benefit greatly from natural feeding also.
9
Honestly how one parent chooses to feed their child is their choice. I understand this article was written with a hateful and dramatic undertone to stir up mommy wars, but if anybody truly believes that there's no difference between the biologically normal food for babies and the synthetic replacement then there's something wrong with the logical part of their brain.
6
Look up the "naturalistic fallacy" before you tell others they lack logic.
1
Thank you for a thoughtful and balanced article. Unfortunately, I fear that breastfeeding has become a faith-based issue like vaccination, natural birth, climate change, and taxation where a certain segment of the population are not interested in factual evidence unless it confirms a pre-existing opinion. I'm sure you will be slammed by many commenters who will claim your retrograde opinions will kill babies (or something). Thanks for having the courage to write this.
9
Put on your your armor Professor Jung! I can feel smarm and scorn clouds coming your way! Thank you for pushing back against borderline religious insistence of breast feeding, which cannot command unchallenged scientific backing. For those vehemently disagreeing, I ask you to rigorously scrutinize your reasons for being implacably committed to breast feeding.
Because that's what you've always been told? Because you did it and refuse to relinquish one ounce of your petty moral superiority. Moreover, have YOU read all the studies, and do YOU have the scientific acumen and training to parse their significance?
To me, yes, the totality of the evidence tilts in favor of breastfeeding. It may not be beyond reproach, but frankly, much of what we take as scientific gospel seldom is. Disconcertingly, as much as fifty-percent of peer reviewed research is false or unreplicable (See Ioannidis, "Why most research findings are false" http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.00.... And as Jung notes, breastfeeding studies are necessarily suffused with all kinds of confounding variables casting further doubt on their validity. Our messy lives, in other words.
I'm untroubled, also, by the "behavioral nudges" embedded in programs for new mothers. Kowtowing to political correctness and the societal injustices that has placed young mothers and their children at risk in the first place is a mistake. Tough love beats principled neglect any day.
Because that's what you've always been told? Because you did it and refuse to relinquish one ounce of your petty moral superiority. Moreover, have YOU read all the studies, and do YOU have the scientific acumen and training to parse their significance?
To me, yes, the totality of the evidence tilts in favor of breastfeeding. It may not be beyond reproach, but frankly, much of what we take as scientific gospel seldom is. Disconcertingly, as much as fifty-percent of peer reviewed research is false or unreplicable (See Ioannidis, "Why most research findings are false" http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.00.... And as Jung notes, breastfeeding studies are necessarily suffused with all kinds of confounding variables casting further doubt on their validity. Our messy lives, in other words.
I'm untroubled, also, by the "behavioral nudges" embedded in programs for new mothers. Kowtowing to political correctness and the societal injustices that has placed young mothers and their children at risk in the first place is a mistake. Tough love beats principled neglect any day.
7
Humans are the only species that even has a choice in how they feed their young. That alone shuold tell you that there is built in reasons that we "should" do it. We shouldn't be stealing milk from baby cows to feed our species. An inferior product no less. Don't breastfeed so that your baby will be smarter or healthier, breastfeed because that's the sole reason that humans were designed to have mammary glands and fall into the category of mammal. Breastfeed because formula feeding is still a new development in the history of human kind that's long term effects have yet to be proven non-detrimental(again, big picture, anecdotal experiences don't count).
Yep, I'll compell women to do it. Because having a baby isn't about you, it's about doing what you can to give your baby the best start in life.
Yep, I'll compell women to do it. Because having a baby isn't about you, it's about doing what you can to give your baby the best start in life.
5
Cows do not exist in nature. They are purely artificial animals bred so that humans can eat their meat and drink their milk.
Have you ever seen a photo of cows frolicking in nature? You cannot, because they are domesticated farm animals.
If you are a vegan, say so.
Also: formula is not necessarily made out of anything dairy. There are many kinds of formula.
Have you ever seen a photo of cows frolicking in nature? You cannot, because they are domesticated farm animals.
If you are a vegan, say so.
Also: formula is not necessarily made out of anything dairy. There are many kinds of formula.
I am currently breastfeeding/pumping and appreciate the reality check. Breast feeding has helped create a wonderful bond with my little girl; at the same time, it has:
- pushed my husband away from even a close division of labor, including night time feedings
- created a huge daily time suck/stress from having to pump multiple times at work
Does this mean I'll give it up? I'm not sure, but the pros and cons come out on both sides.
- pushed my husband away from even a close division of labor, including night time feedings
- created a huge daily time suck/stress from having to pump multiple times at work
Does this mean I'll give it up? I'm not sure, but the pros and cons come out on both sides.
7
What astounds me is the silence from the breast cancer brigade regarding the huge benefit of breastfeeding in preventing breast cancer. Studies show that every 6 months a mother breastfeeds reduces her risk of contracting breast cancer by 5%. That is immense. Yes, using breasts for their intended purpose makes sense and prevents cancer! We need more encouragement to breastfeed, not less. I myself breastfed our three kids a total of 11 years - one of the greatest joys of my life. I can't remember what factors I considered, but I simply called it "the second miracle," birth being the first. To be able to feed a baby the perfect food from one's own body is simply amazing. But not always easy - I faced a number of challenges along the way (baby not latching on, mastitis, etc.) and was grateful that lactation professionals helped me through them all.
9
I'm glad someone spoke up about this... I often notice women who chose not to breastfeed feel compelled to follow up with an apology or reason as to why they don't. Or vice versa, when it comes up that I did breastfeed my child others feel like they have the right to congratulate me on my great decision. The pro-breastfeeding initiative has taken yet another very personal choice for women and transformed it into a public forum for exercising judgement over women's bodies.
7
I wasn't especially interested in breastfeeding, but I do have asthma, so I wanted to at least try breastfeeding if it could protect my baby against asthma. Then I read the 2007 AHRQ report, and guess what -- if the mother has asthma, breastfeeding may actually increase the risk of asthma in her child! So I stuck with formula and was very happy with my choice.
4
I grew increasingly irritated as I read this. As a nurse of 30+ years, I am one of the people that teaches pregnant and new mothers about breastfeeding. Ms. Jung, you were not there way back when, when it was standard practice in the hospital nursery to give all babies formula as needed, especially at night so the mothers could sleep. Some babies will not take the effort to nurse after finding the easy delivery system of formula through the bottle. That was the reason why LeLeche and other groups asked that the old policies change. I don't doubt that you found studies that blows all the benefits of breastfeeding out of the water. Your criticism on WIC and the difference between what breastfed and formula fed babies receive comes down to this: formula has iron added to it. They don't need the iron rich meat like the breastfed babies, who don't get iron in the milk.
I don't doubt that you felt pressure from your community. The pendulum tends to swing too far one way when it has been too far the other way. When I talk to women about this, I emphasize the ease and less expense of breastfeeding, the ease in losing "the baby weight", and the other benefits you are not so sure about. If a woman is not interested in it at all, or switches to formula instead of pumping at work, that's ok. I do agree with you that no woman should feel a failure for not breastfeeding. But I will still continue to advocate for breastfeeding.
I don't doubt that you felt pressure from your community. The pendulum tends to swing too far one way when it has been too far the other way. When I talk to women about this, I emphasize the ease and less expense of breastfeeding, the ease in losing "the baby weight", and the other benefits you are not so sure about. If a woman is not interested in it at all, or switches to formula instead of pumping at work, that's ok. I do agree with you that no woman should feel a failure for not breastfeeding. But I will still continue to advocate for breastfeeding.
365
DO NOT let what was determine what is. Stop fight the last war. You won. Go ahead an advocate breastfeeding but don't use it as a club to beat women who disagree with you.
7
There is no "ease" in breastfeeding.
4
Re the ease in losing "the baby weight:" I never knew anybody for whom this was true. I breast fed my daughter, and I certainly didn't lose any "baby weight." What the weight loss seemed to be correlated with was maternal age at birth: younger mothers lost the "baby weight" more quickly than older moms, and I was 39 when my daughter was born. I know one mother who had two children as a teenager and a third near age 40, and she was shocked after her third baby that her "baby weight" did not melt off or disappear as it had two decades earlier.
9
My nieces were all breast fed in the beginning. The second of three failed to thrive. She was in the bottom quintile for growth and so her doctor ordered my sister in law to stop, to feed formula. My sister in law thought she was a failure. My niece is a healthy little medal winning gymnast now.
We LOVE to order women to do things, particularly in the reproductive realm, and we simply adore shaming them if they can't or don't want to follow orders. It makes me sick.
We LOVE to order women to do things, particularly in the reproductive realm, and we simply adore shaming them if they can't or don't want to follow orders. It makes me sick.
283
This is yet another realm in which others seek to impose their opinion on a woman's personal medical decisions. Who else but the woman and her doctor should decide what is best for a child, or for the mother?
2
And, it should be noted, the ordering around of women comes in this case primarily from other women, just as it often does to put career first, study STEM topics, and in many other areas.
1
You hit the nail on the head. Help mothers where you can, with all their choices to bring up healthy children. That can include breastfeeding or not.
2
What hasn't changed, sadly, in the half century since I had my children, is the relentless pressure on women to adhere to whatever the prevailing opinion may be on matters to do with our bodies. I experienced tremendous pressure NOT to breastfeed, just as today's mothers experience precisely the opposite. Shouldn't we all step back, on this issue as on so many others to do with women's bodies, and treat women as the intelligent, thoughtful human beings they are, able to make their own decisions?
483
AMEN. The fact that what women choose to do with their bodies continues to remain a focus and a topic of regular conversation in this society is absolutely mind-boggling to me. Why should someone else, who is a complete stranger to me, care about how and what I'm feeding my baby? I happen to be done having kids and mine are in their teens, but I distinctly recall feeling like I had to hide when I fed my kids bottles in public after making the transition from breastfeeding. I desperately tried to time feedings around when I had to run errands or be anywhere in public. I breastfed each of my kids a minimum of 6 months and then when returning to work full time, it just didn't work for me anymore. AND THAT'S O.K. It's o.k. to do whatever works for you and your family and to hell with the self-righteous who get a sad sense of joy out of judging that decision. The who issue - and why it's an issue - is just mind-boggling to me.
2
The reason there is so much push to breastfeed is that's its better for the baby. Human breast milk cannot be duplicated, it is a complex substance that babies need. You don't have to be middle class or above to breastfeed, it's cheaper than formula. The act of sucking at a mothers breast is a primal act that sets up children to be healthier and more satisfied on a primal human level.
160
If you work full-time in a place that won't give you paid breaks and privacy in which to pump breast milk, then breastfeeding is not free. The amount of nursing and pumping required to exclusively feed an infant breast milk takes a huge amount of time and energy, and as with so many things, it's easier for more privileged citizens to make the effort.
12
No. Just because you say it or assume does not make it true. It is simply not confirmed by science. The global push to breastfeed come from a lack of available clean water and safe, well-regulated formula industries in much of the developed world.
9
And what about the infant who is lactose intolerant? Do you still insist that breast milk is best when the child cannot tolerate any milk - not human milk, not goat milk, not cow milk, NO milk at all. What kept me alive was a concocted formula based on soy. To this day, I cannot tolerate dairy foods, including cheese and yogurt, without severe discomfort, and I never acquired a taste for milk. I think it tastes disgusting..
4
Amen Ms. Jung! It's hard enough to be a new Mom without having the Mommy police questioning your choices. I had to abandon breastfeeding early - repeated infections and clogged ducts. I spent most of my first year thinking I was a horrible mother and person, a position that was reinforced when total strangers would point out that I was doing my child a disservice by giving him a bottle. Needless to say, he's just fine and I have come to detest the pressure that women are put under. Breastfeeding is fine, but so is bottle feeding. The important thing is in growing great people, not how they are fed the first year. Call off the crusades, please!
313
Sorry you made yourself feel so guilty. You're not pressured to breastfeed. You are given information about the normal feeding of a human and the risks involved with formula. Hopefully you were being helped to resolve the infections and clogged ducts. I say call off the guilt cry and the formula ads that are everywhere.
1
No one ought to condemn you, or anyone, who has legitimate health reasons/restrictions for not breastfeeding. But your legitimate medical issues do not alter the fact that breastfeeding is far better for children than formula, and they shouldn't inhibit that information from being shared.
1
Dear JES, et al, I have an opinion about which you choose: bottle- or breastfeeding. Do you want to hear it? You won't, it's not my place.
BTW, ask any doctor . . . It is not only fairly common to have trouble breastfeeding with a first child, but also common to unintentionally lose the first. You did nothing wrong; that's just nature.
BTW, ask any doctor . . . It is not only fairly common to have trouble breastfeeding with a first child, but also common to unintentionally lose the first. You did nothing wrong; that's just nature.
1
You write a really long article to maintain that breast feeding isn't that much better health wise than formula. Except for the fact that it is what babies are meant to eat and therefore perfect for them and the alternative is a concoction that makes the manufacturers a lot of money. And to tell people to breast feed only if it is easy for them is just stupid.
22
"Except for the fact that it is what babies are meant to eat and therefore perfect for them."
Well, that totally refutes the well-researched and coherent argument laid out in this article! Also, she didn't tell people to breast-feed if it's "easy" for them, she advocates people making their own choice based on what they think is best for them and their child. And did you miss her point about how much money is being made in the breast pump and breastfeeding accessories market? Breastfeeding is a great choice - the author never discourages it; she says she breastfed for years - but it is a choice. Why not read the article instead of being defensive?
Well, that totally refutes the well-researched and coherent argument laid out in this article! Also, she didn't tell people to breast-feed if it's "easy" for them, she advocates people making their own choice based on what they think is best for them and their child. And did you miss her point about how much money is being made in the breast pump and breastfeeding accessories market? Breastfeeding is a great choice - the author never discourages it; she says she breastfed for years - but it is a choice. Why not read the article instead of being defensive?
16
Jane, what about babies who are allergic to breast milk, like my youngest? And what about mothers who can't produce enough milk so the baby is not being adequately fed?
1
This is exactly right. The moral sanctimony surrounding breast feeding is out of control and has no basis in medical science . Much of it comes from religious groups such as the Catholic La Leche League. Even if it's not explicitly religious, it is inherently conservative.
The breast-feeding movement is an anti-feminist, anti-woman backlash that believes that because of biology women should stay at home with children while men go out and earn money. Needless to say, many of these sanctimonious stay-at-home moms are "kept women," married to very high earners. There is more than a little self-justification in their ideology.
This should be a woman's choice, period. It is not a decision for friends, acquaintances, doctors, nurses, dulas, insurance companies, or government bureaucrats.
The breast-feeding movement is an anti-feminist, anti-woman backlash that believes that because of biology women should stay at home with children while men go out and earn money. Needless to say, many of these sanctimonious stay-at-home moms are "kept women," married to very high earners. There is more than a little self-justification in their ideology.
This should be a woman's choice, period. It is not a decision for friends, acquaintances, doctors, nurses, dulas, insurance companies, or government bureaucrats.
72
OK, lh, your comment illustrates the problem with the women-MUST-breastfeed crowd: A person so much acknowledges an alternative to breastfeeding, and suddenly they're a terrible parent. This is not logical, useful, or kind; all it does is make life more difficult for new mothers and their babies.
12
I think breastfeeding is very pro-woman. I felt empowered and proud.
5
Dear Ms. Jung,
You seem to think that breast feeding is a matter of political correctness.
Breast feeding is about establishing the newborn's intestinal bacteria flora and providing the infant with maternal antibodies.
As inconvenient and politically incorrect as this will sound, it is STUPID to not breast feed a child as much as possible in the first year of life...in the absence of a MEDICAL condition that contraindicates breast feeding.
Period.
I suppose you believe the vaccines that protect our children from horrific disease as also "oversold."
Well, there your children. So you can throw away your children if you want to, Mr. Jung.
You seem to think that breast feeding is a matter of political correctness.
Breast feeding is about establishing the newborn's intestinal bacteria flora and providing the infant with maternal antibodies.
As inconvenient and politically incorrect as this will sound, it is STUPID to not breast feed a child as much as possible in the first year of life...in the absence of a MEDICAL condition that contraindicates breast feeding.
Period.
I suppose you believe the vaccines that protect our children from horrific disease as also "oversold."
Well, there your children. So you can throw away your children if you want to, Mr. Jung.
19
wow - not 100% pro breast feeding, and you accuse her of throwing away her children. That's exactly the bullying the author is trying to expose.
9
What is your problem? It's not your concern how the author chose to feed her baby. Nor is it your concern how anyone else chooses to feed their baby. I am going to presume from your screen name, that you are a male. If that is so, then you have absolutely no say in the matter.
7
Jon - kind of an absolutist position, no?
You demonstrate an interesting aspect of the phrase "politically correct". When someone uses that phrase, as Greta Christina put it:
"You’re saying, “I don’t want to have to think very carefully about the things that I’m saying. I want to say whatever pops into my head — and I don’t want to think about whether it’s unfair, inaccurate, bigoted, or otherwise harmful.”
You then double down by conflating non-breast feeding with anti-vaxers and finish by claiming that failing to breast feed is tantamount to throwing away children.
The author was not against breast feeding but the largely unsupported or oversold claims made for it. Claims you echo. Many women cannot for a number of reasons meet the new "gold standard" of all breast milk all the time. They are not throwing away their children who will most likely thrive despite this horrific neglect.
You demonstrate an interesting aspect of the phrase "politically correct". When someone uses that phrase, as Greta Christina put it:
"You’re saying, “I don’t want to have to think very carefully about the things that I’m saying. I want to say whatever pops into my head — and I don’t want to think about whether it’s unfair, inaccurate, bigoted, or otherwise harmful.”
You then double down by conflating non-breast feeding with anti-vaxers and finish by claiming that failing to breast feed is tantamount to throwing away children.
The author was not against breast feeding but the largely unsupported or oversold claims made for it. Claims you echo. Many women cannot for a number of reasons meet the new "gold standard" of all breast milk all the time. They are not throwing away their children who will most likely thrive despite this horrific neglect.
11
I agree 100 percent. It's wonderful if a woman can breast-feed, but she should not be judged as unfit if she can't, for whatever reason. It is amazing to me how women jump all over other women for something that should be a personal choice. I remember a neighbor who wanted desperately to breast-feed and had a terrible time. She was depressed and bleeding. Her baby failed to thrive. She was counseled by all manner of breast-feeding experts and she could not get it to work. Finally, after months of torment, two of her friends (including me) launched an intervention, convincing her that she needed to quit the struggle for her baby's physical health and her mental health. She stopped and mother and baby improved immediately.
Yes, mothers ideally should breast-feed if possible. But my entire generation grew up quite well (and without a million food allergies and asthma) and very few of our mothers breast-fed us. If someone can't do it or doesn't choose to, please respect their decision and leave them alone. Good grief.
Yes, mothers ideally should breast-feed if possible. But my entire generation grew up quite well (and without a million food allergies and asthma) and very few of our mothers breast-fed us. If someone can't do it or doesn't choose to, please respect their decision and leave them alone. Good grief.
55
I think we have a collective responsibility to do good and breast feeding is an excellent example. If collective responsibility is not a society's or governments responsibility, then sending kids to school should be optional as well. However, I find the article mere rhetoric than convincing science or studies. It is in the best interest of a poor woman to breast feed her baby, economically, health wise and for greater chances of success later in life. I think poor women should be encouraged to not have more than one or two child.
5
If it's the public good we're worried about, then surely stopping WIC support earlier for infants whose terrible mothers made the woeful choice to formula-feed isn't the best way of executing that responsibility, no? And what of making foods more expensive for those same infants while still on WIC's (shortened) support?
Surely we can agree there is a line past which a marginal greater good is being offset by a larger social ill.
Surely we can agree there is a line past which a marginal greater good is being offset by a larger social ill.
7
When I had my son 15 years ago, the chatter on breast feeding was deafening. So I tried - I worked with lactation consultants and nurses and, regardless what drugs or supplements they gave me, I never produced much milk at all. The frustration at my inability to feed my son with breast milk likely led to even less production, as the consultants I met continually insisted that I had to keep trying no matter what, as otherwise my son would be obese, less intelligent, and more prone to infections and allergies. When I finally gave it up, I was both relieved at ending the stress and pressured to feel shame that I couldn't do this basic maternal service for him.
And it's appalling that this is the way it works. In all other ways, my son was adored and well tended. He eats healthy food, is not obese, and is clearly smart. The benefits of prolonged breast feeding always sounded excessive, a symptom of magical thinking. I never feel badly about stopping my attempts, but I do feel irritation when not breast feeding is thrown into my face. What a woman does or does not do with her body should be her choice, or so I always thought.
And it's appalling that this is the way it works. In all other ways, my son was adored and well tended. He eats healthy food, is not obese, and is clearly smart. The benefits of prolonged breast feeding always sounded excessive, a symptom of magical thinking. I never feel badly about stopping my attempts, but I do feel irritation when not breast feeding is thrown into my face. What a woman does or does not do with her body should be her choice, or so I always thought.
41
The last line of this article is the key: "A woman should breast-feed because she wants to, not because someone tells her she has to." I nursed each of my kids for two years because it was the right choice for us. Some women can't or don't want to, and that choice should be equally valid. Some babies are adopted and some have only male parents. The "Mommy Wars" are tiresome and diminish all of us. Isn't the only important thing that a child is loved and cared for?
151
I agree whole-heartedly! I breastfed my eldest for just over two years, and my youngest for just over four years. It was truly the easiest option for my family, but was not by any means the only valid option. The most important thing is that the child is loved, valued, and cared for.
5
Thank you for this well written opinion piece. I still remember having baby blues after my first child was born. Even though I wanted desperately to breast feed, my supply was poor and the pump (that I bought pre-ACA, completely out of pocket) was ineffective. I felt the very pressure that the author of this opinion piece describes, the full weight of the public health establishment pressuring me and my body simply not cooperating. Meanwhile, it felt like my child might suffer as I was forced to supplement with formula. Our pediatrician suggested that I take an herb (Fenugreek) to boost my supply, 3 horse pills, 3 times per day. I tried it once and it worked, but how do we know the longer term health consequences of an herb (to Mom or baby)? I was skeptical enough to wonder. The breastfeeding issues made my baby blues worse. It didn't get better until I was able to get back to work and get some distance from the whole thing. With my second child I resolved not to succumb to the pressure and try again to breastfeed, but just let it go if my body didn't cooperate. Sure enough my supply was still low, but this time I didn't let the pressure get to me. Happily, my kids are now 8 and 10, and both healthy and smart. Would they have been healthier and smarter if they had been exclusively breast fed? It now seems that the evidence is mixed and I'm glad to see we're starting to talk about the excessive social and health establishment pressure on new mothers.
29
Thank you! Someone who understands. Both my children were bottle fed by choice, and they are both very healthy, active, intelligent kids. I, too, was bottle fed, as were millions of children who grew up into healthy, normal adults. Breast feeding has its advantages, I agree, but I always felt pilloried over my choice, as though it was shameful, like not covering your mouth when you cough. How you choose to feed your child is something multifactorial, including time, ability, inclination, the mother's/child's medical condition, how much help you receive, and it's also none of anyone else's business except the child, the parents and the pediatrician. Yet, for some reason, people love to be able to air their opinions on what you're doing wrong if you don't breastfeed, and right now its intensely popular to make a woman feel like a skunk if she doesn't follow along to what all the mothers in the La Leche League are doing. I bottle fed and strangely enough, my kids are growing normally, have friends, do well in school, and they still seem to get along with me. That's good enough for me.
46
It is really very simple------what is best for the baby and the mother, breast feeding or bottle feeding?
Whatever the mother wants to do and feels most comfortable doing is clearly the best choice, not only for herself but for her baby as well.
****A Connecticut physician
Whatever the mother wants to do and feels most comfortable doing is clearly the best choice, not only for herself but for her baby as well.
****A Connecticut physician
164
My child was adopted, so breastfeeding was obviously not an option. I can't tell you how many rude comments I received, and that doesn't include the disapproving looks. The breastfeeding advocates can be thoughtless bullies.
129
I'm sorry that you had that experience, but just to clarify, breastfeeding an adopted child is entirely possible. I'm doing it right now.
7
Move to strike down all recommendations lest we offend anyone.
8
I did my best - visiting specialized clinics, herbs, off-label medication, acupuncture, industrial scale pumping on strict schedule for weeks - but could never come up with more than 6 oz. I kept at it though, including pumping at work for 10 months - although I had to supplement with formula because baby stopped gaining weight at 4 weeks, was getting thin. The whole BPA thing (in bottles and in linings of canned formula) only erupted after my son was older. I feel really bad about that.
But we do have to remember that breast feeding does not work for everyone - no matter how hard they try - and not beat people up about it.
But we do have to remember that breast feeding does not work for everyone - no matter how hard they try - and not beat people up about it.
19
What infuriates me about breastfeeding advocacy is how badly it misrepresents reality. Convenient? Nonsense! You have to watch everything you eat (onions, garlic, brussels sprouts, beans) or you'll pay the price of a howling, colicky baby. Pump all you want but your body will respond by producing more milk. Think you can get away because you left the sitter with bottles of freshly pumped milk? Think again. You'll be soaked as your breasts produce milk right on schedule. And don't think you'll get to sleep longer when your baby adds hours to his or her nightly sleep cycle. Nope. You'll be wet and awake with painfully engorged, leaking breasts. So sure, stick with it for a couple of months because it's good for your baby, but for heaven's sake, don't feel guilty about throwing in the (wet) towel and switching to formula.
130
Amen!
6
Colic in babies is not related to what mothers eat.
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What a strange editorial... Is she fighting an all powerful 'breast pumping' industrial complex? In the vast majority of places, mothers do not have access to a pumping room.
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No, she's discussing the very extreme ways that breastfeeding is promoted, sometimes to the detriment of mother and child. Surely our society can encourage breastfeeding in a more positive way, one that doesn't involve intensely shaming women who even consider not doing it?
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Or an electric breast pump for that matter, in the vast majority of the world.
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Thank you. Breast feeding was definitely one of the worst parts of motherhood, especially since it was painful as well as inadequate. I went to special classes at the hospital where crazy people were showing of their emaciated babies and bragging about how they had stuck it out, and we could too. By my third child they had worn me down and I breastfeed exclusively for the first time. My skinny little boy was thrilled when I went back to work and my husband feed him his first formula bottle. It was the first time he had truly looked healthy in his three months of life. I immediately felt selfish for putting the trophy of exclusively breastfeeding over the well being of my child.
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Thank you! I had very similar experiences. And I too say that breastfeeding was the worst part of early motherhood. It only added to my already considerable stress levels and was always a struggle.
My first child was breastfed for the first 5 months of her life until I finally gave up after returning to work. She was hungry and tiny and clearly started thriving with formula.
My second child was exclusively bottlefed and everyone was happy and healthy from the start. And far less stressed out. I spent hundreds of dollars on pumps, classes, etc. to no effect.
My first child was breastfed for the first 5 months of her life until I finally gave up after returning to work. She was hungry and tiny and clearly started thriving with formula.
My second child was exclusively bottlefed and everyone was happy and healthy from the start. And far less stressed out. I spent hundreds of dollars on pumps, classes, etc. to no effect.
10
I had a similar experience -- terrible time with repeated mastitis infections and the baby never getting enough to eat and crying all the time and not sleeping well. My mother, who gave birth to me in the 50s when bottle feeding was the norm, couldn't understand why I was making myself sick and the baby ravenous and unhappy. Fortunately, my mom and my husband talked sense into my hormone addled brain and we used formula, much to the satisfaction of a very hungry little boy. With baby #2 I was not going down that path again. When breastfeeding didn't work, we used formula and the first weeks with the younger son were so different than with the first son that I felt guilty and selfish too thinking back on what a crazy person I was. I hope that people stop judging every single thing we do as parents and mothers in the prism of what's righteous and perfect. Enough.
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Shaming working women is deemed acceptable in many corners of our society. And yes, it is hard to carry a pump around the office, and very embarrassing to those of us who feel a need for privacy.
And you don't hear any attempts to criticize the many (too many if you ask me) women who continue to breast feed well, well past infancy. It would seem that is an issue ripe for some psychological inquiry.
And you don't hear any attempts to criticize the many (too many if you ask me) women who continue to breast feed well, well past infancy. It would seem that is an issue ripe for some psychological inquiry.
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Hate to break it to you, but the WHO reports that the worldwide average age of weaning is 4.2. That's YEARS, not months or weeks. So unless the majority of nursing mothers around the globe are whack jobs, breastfeeding past infancy is well within the norm. If you still think that's weird, perhaps it's you who is in need of some psychological inquiry.
11
Yes, breastfeeding is ideology but so is "choice" - until the very last paragraph the evil doers in all this are the "breast-feeding warriors" who do not allow personal choice - I should decide for myself (presumably I live in a social vacuum?). If ALL women in this country had at least 9 months of PAID maternity leave the rates of breastfeeding would most likely go up significantly, whether they increase the child's IQ or not. That should be our focus and not whether it is a woman's obligation or choice to breastfeed. IQ (however we measure it!) is too complex to be convincingly connected to breastfeeding, same ADHD. We should stop this endless attack on women as the source of all things wrong with their children because they made the "wrong choice". There is a social context to it.
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I hated breast feeding. I tried with two children and stopped. My third got a bottle. I encourage breast feeding to my patients but if they don't want to I don't push. It's a woman's body and her business, not anyone else's.
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Thank you! I found it to be the single largest stress point of my early motherhood. And I had visions of being great at it and breastfeeding for as long as I could. But it was awful, painful, stressful and I didn't produce enough, probably due to spiraling distress at not being able to do it effectively. There was so much pressure and shaming to breastfeed. After quitting with my first one she began to thrive. I wanted to try again with my second one but pretty quickly I realized it wasn't going to work. Letting go of that made all the difference in my mental health and my babies thrived.
It had no effects in bonding good or bad. And the child who wasn't breastfed is the one who never gets sick in the family. Go figure.
It had no effects in bonding good or bad. And the child who wasn't breastfed is the one who never gets sick in the family. Go figure.
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I breast-fed my firstborn, against the objections of my mother-in-law, because I felt that it was best, bonding-wise and nutrition-wise, for my baby and to protect myself against breast cancer. It was not easy, it was very painful, and I wasn't able to do it for very long. I tried to breast-feed my second-born, but it just didn't work for either of us from the get-go. Formula was the go-to option, which worked for my first-born but my second-born was lactose-intolerant and we had to go in a different direction. Fortunately, I had both kids before motherhood became an intensely-competitive dog-eat-dog sport. I feel sorry for new mothers now. They seem to be hit from every direction.
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Jackie wrote: I breast-fed my firstborn, against the objections of my mother-in-law...
And your MIL had a say in how you fed your child because?
Too many grandmothers think their individual experience defines child-rearing/marriage/fill in the blank. I imagine your MIL did not tell you that breastfeeding would help you prevent breast cancer. It does. Anecdotal evidence has been around for decades, and now we have research to back them up.
And your MIL had a say in how you fed your child because?
Too many grandmothers think their individual experience defines child-rearing/marriage/fill in the blank. I imagine your MIL did not tell you that breastfeeding would help you prevent breast cancer. It does. Anecdotal evidence has been around for decades, and now we have research to back them up.
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It's only "oversold", or rather talked about so much, because for so long it wasn't talked about and formula was the assumed food for babies. My grandmother explained that when she had my mom, no one even discussed breastfeeding with her and when my mom had an allergic reaction to formula, she had to go out of her way to find goat's milk, which was her doctor's advice at the time. Never did anyone teach her that breastfeeding was an option.
Same for my mom. She tried to nurse me for three days and when I "didn't gain enough weight" according to the doctor, she was told to start using formula. But no education or help on how to increase her supply or even a "let's wait another week and see what happens."
Meanwhile I successfully nursed my son until he was 20 months with help from certified lactation consultants, nurses and a weekly breastfeeding support group.
The way I see it: vegetables grow naturally, processed fast food is made by man. You can feed your child broccoli or McDonald's. They'll survive on either. But what is the more nutritious choice? Our bodies were made to feed our babies, so if you can breastfeed, it's the more natural, nutritious choice.
Same for my mom. She tried to nurse me for three days and when I "didn't gain enough weight" according to the doctor, she was told to start using formula. But no education or help on how to increase her supply or even a "let's wait another week and see what happens."
Meanwhile I successfully nursed my son until he was 20 months with help from certified lactation consultants, nurses and a weekly breastfeeding support group.
The way I see it: vegetables grow naturally, processed fast food is made by man. You can feed your child broccoli or McDonald's. They'll survive on either. But what is the more nutritious choice? Our bodies were made to feed our babies, so if you can breastfeed, it's the more natural, nutritious choice.
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Thank you for this comment! If it weren't for my mother who was raised in a third world country and breastfed all five of her children, the nurses at the Harvard teaching hospital would have shoved formula down my baby during her first 24 hours. I think the tide in medicine and American popular belief is changing. Thank goodness my mom knew better and said, let my daughter's milk come in, give her time. She was my support and I have breastfed both of my children until 24 months.
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Vegetables are made of "ingredients" off the Periodic Table of the Elements. So is formula. Formula is formulated to include all of the same necessary calories, vitamins and minerals.
I breastfed both of my children and breast milk has the bonus of being free, but let's not kid ourselves and make unsupported claims about nutrition. Nutritionally, formula and breast milk are likely even.
Also, if breastfeeding is the "natural" thing to do, why would one need a weekly (!) support group?
I breastfed both of my children and breast milk has the bonus of being free, but let's not kid ourselves and make unsupported claims about nutrition. Nutritionally, formula and breast milk are likely even.
Also, if breastfeeding is the "natural" thing to do, why would one need a weekly (!) support group?
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Because of disinformation and the 1950's/60's interruption in the intergenerational transmission of knowledge re correct breastfeeding management.
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Breastfeeding is the gold standard. It is good for babies and the environment. Why would we not want to promote it? Why would we not want to pressure employers to accommodate it? Having made gains, why would we want to stop just because we're ahead of Britain? It's not at all surprising that an educated and privileged group is better able to follow the recommendations. So we should continue to strive to bring breastfeeding rates up among groups that are lagging, right? Smoking rates are lower among those with more income and education too. Are campaigns to reduce smoking also elevating a habit of a privileged minority?
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I will add, as I'm sure you well know, that breastfeeding has great benefits for the mother also. We as a society have lost much of our knowledge of how to take care of ourselves with our diet, which I feel involves the same kind of knowledge and attention that good parenting needs. If we have a country that is supposedly comfortable with a constant diet of fast food it may be difficult, if not impossible, to convince these same people to do something healthy for their babies.
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You are equating the effects of smoking with choosing not to breast feed? Smoking is the same as formula? Well then my 3 healthy children were smokers from day one!
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When the promoting crosses the line of "your children that you failed to breastfeed can't stay on WIC while other babies (with better mothers) can, and your formula-fed baby will not get as many foods subsidized as the babies of mothers that comply" then we are are the ones imposing a huge personal cost to the infant, not the mother that dared to formula-feed.
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This is an important piece, and I really hope the tide is turning when it comes to bullying women about breastfeeding. There have been a few good articles about this over the last few years, notably one by Hanna Rosin in The Atlantic, but they seem to have fallen on deaf ears. As this author notes, the research simply does not back up the most fantastical claims of breastfeeding advocates, nor even the more mundane ones of many well-respected medical professionals. Once you control for social class, nearly all of the much-touted effects diminish considerably. And this is simply morally reprehensible:"Women who breast-feed are eligible for WIC for twice as long as women who do not breast-feed, and they get an “enhanced food package,” which includes vouchers for a wider range of more nutritious food." I mean, really. As someone with every middle class support available, who struggled mightily to breastfeed, and made it for 8 long agonizing months, I cannot imagine the additional pressure of having my efforts scrutinized by those who have the power to extend--or deny--additional food sources to my child.
Unfortunately, those who are privileged have become obsessed with markers of "natural" parenting. It's tunnel vision, ultimately quite self-centered, and not at all helpful to the vast majority of children and parents everywhere, who are just struggling to get by.
Unfortunately, those who are privileged have become obsessed with markers of "natural" parenting. It's tunnel vision, ultimately quite self-centered, and not at all helpful to the vast majority of children and parents everywhere, who are just struggling to get by.
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I agree with what you're saying about social status, but when I was reading the article, I did have a question about the WIC benefits you mention again. I thought the reason breastfeeding women got enhanced benefits was because the mother's nutrition affects her milk. As a WIC beneficiary nearly 20 years ago, I recall being advised to continue being conscious of the quality of my own nutrition during breastfeeding as in pregnancy, because lactation requires extra nutrients and calories. So I could be wrong or misunderstanding something, but I'm not sure it's accurate to say that the WIC program is trying to punish women who bottle feed. Perhaps it's just that breastfeeding women have greater nutritional needs? I really am asking. I don't presume to know.
1
Bonding with a baby via baby-sitters and breast pumps, now that's a winner. Not!
Excellent article.
Excellent article.
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Protecting infants from infection is getting "carried away"? Breast-feeding delivers a variety of maternal factors to the baby, including proteins, cells, and hormones, and most research supports this process evolved to promote long-term health. While dose requirements are not yet clear, even a modest period of breast-feeding may be sufficient to deliver protection to the recipient, and should not be discouraged unless contraindicated for medical reasons.
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I think the author makes it pretty clear that she supports breast feeding if it works for mother, child and family.
But spending 'about 5,400 hours of breast-feeding to prevent one ear infection' might be getting carried away, particularly if it isn't working well for mother, child and family.
Breast feeding is great.
But I know a number of people (including but not limited to single widowed dads of infants & adoptive parents who physically cannot possibly breast feed and women who did not produce enough breast milk, or couldn't breast feed because of medication or injury, or just did not want to breast feed) that cannot get good information about formula feeding because breast feeding is so promoted.
I know dads who never get to spend more an than hour alone with their infants because mom has been told she absolutely must breast feed, and even feeding pumped milk in the first few months may cause nipple confusion.
And I know one mum who was just so damn tired from being the one who always had to get up at night to feed the kid that her judgement was truly impaired. Crazy sleep deprived driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving. She almost killed herself, the baby and another motorist.
Breast feeding is great if it works for mom, baby and family. But not exclusively breast feedings is not a moral failure. Putting breast feeding above the general safety of others is not OK. And chastising anyone for not breast feeding is not OK.
But spending 'about 5,400 hours of breast-feeding to prevent one ear infection' might be getting carried away, particularly if it isn't working well for mother, child and family.
Breast feeding is great.
But I know a number of people (including but not limited to single widowed dads of infants & adoptive parents who physically cannot possibly breast feed and women who did not produce enough breast milk, or couldn't breast feed because of medication or injury, or just did not want to breast feed) that cannot get good information about formula feeding because breast feeding is so promoted.
I know dads who never get to spend more an than hour alone with their infants because mom has been told she absolutely must breast feed, and even feeding pumped milk in the first few months may cause nipple confusion.
And I know one mum who was just so damn tired from being the one who always had to get up at night to feed the kid that her judgement was truly impaired. Crazy sleep deprived driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving. She almost killed herself, the baby and another motorist.
Breast feeding is great if it works for mom, baby and family. But not exclusively breast feedings is not a moral failure. Putting breast feeding above the general safety of others is not OK. And chastising anyone for not breast feeding is not OK.
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You say, "most research supports this process evolved to promote long term health." The whole point of this piece by Jung is that her extensive research showed no such thing.
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The author is not discouraging or discounting breast-feeding. The message I take away is that advocacy has changed from "you should if you can" to "you must, and we'll punish you AND your infant if you don't or even if you can't." For the record, I did, but it's not my business if you don't.
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