Ooh, the controversy that kind of article header can arouse. Never the less, I'm going there.
I regularly speak to mums about the whole breastfeeding / bottle feeding debate. Frankly, it needs to end, along with the 'should mothers work' debacle.
This just in...
A British academic who is currently researching breastfeeding and maternal identity says: "It has become a war. 'Did you breastfeed? What kind of person are you?' It has become an index of your capacity as a mother." She would only speak anonymously because she is concerned about attacks from the pro-breastfeeding lobby. "Breastfeeding has become so strongly tied to what it means to be a good mother. There is no space to say, 'It didn't work for me'."
In the US a huge backlash against the breastfeeding lobby is gaining ground and the debate is polarising into "lactofanatics" versus "formula apologists". An article in Atlantic Monthly, The Case Against Breastfeeding by Hanna Rosin, has sent the US blogosphere into hysterics. Rosin questions the economics of breastfeeding: "It's only free if a woman's time is worth nothing." Rosin breastfed all her children but now believes the pressure on women is getting out of control. She dared to query several studies denouncing formula, prompting an angry response from the American Academy of Paediatrics.
Here's the thing. Every woman is entitled to her opinion, but you're not entitled to project your opinion on another mum, as she too has the right to choose what's best for her and her baby.
Rather, let's expend our energies together as one united group on raising the status of mothers in our communities. Now there's something worth fighting for.
4 comments:
Thanks for a great post. I totally agree that the pendulum has swung way too far towards the 'breast is best' propoganda. I found it a struggle and hated the patronising implication from all the 'advice' websites that I simply wasn't making enough effort. "Only 2% of mother's genuinely can't breastfeed." etc. Your baby needs you to be happy - however you choose to feed them should support your happiness.
Aparna Bang-Kalantri said...
I totally agree with what you're saying esp. the last few lines.
My experience: I delivered my daughter in Westmead private. My daughter simply wouldn't latch on and breast-feed. She was in teh hospital speacial care for 13 days, while I was at home. I used to stay in the hospital whole day, so that I sould try and feed her to get this going. Then after she was discharged I was at home and a special nurse would visit me, and teach breastfeeding. After this, I visited and stayed in Karitane for 7 days to get her and me to learn brestfeeding. After all this for 3mnths. I felt like a loser/ gave up on BF, but still would express (6-8 times a day, and give her the breastmilk in the bottle). This I did exclusively for 5mnths, and then with solids for 11 mnths. I don't feel bad that I had to express and give milk etc. Its just that the emotional trauma she and I went through to get direct BF going just doesn't seem worth it. In hindsight I should have just started to express and give without going through the whole gamut of experiments (I've tried all there is to try) for BF. And no one can undrstand the emotional trauma of going thorugh this, and plus letting ur newborn go through this.
I still believe BF is good, but till what extent will we go?
I think BF is best too but after watching my wife try for ages trying to get baby to latch on, I can see how frustrating it is when they just won't act up. I can totally relate to parents who want to BF but have no luck with it. The feeling isn't good but we are very fortunate nowadays to have the option of formula milk that contains so many of the right nutrients and more for baby.
Even though natural is best, there are so many circumstances where parents need to opt for formula instead. No one should prejudge and put extra unneccessary pressure and judgement on whatever decision parents choose.
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