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Okay, I just got totally carried away commenting on a post at Mormon Mommy Wars Unfortunately, I was very late to join that thread and I don’t think anyone will ever read it, so I’m going to copy my comment here with a few modifications.
***
Did you see the Washington Post article that came out last week?
There is a problem in our country. Moms are constantly marketed to by formula companies. No one markets breastfeeding. The Washington Post Article I linked to discusses how the government was going to market breastfeeding, but then formula companies fought and fought and fought to get the message softened and they won.
I understand why people favor the softer message. There are a whole lot of women out there (my mother and most of my friends) who have fed their babies formula. No one wants to hear that they haven’t done the best thing for the baby. The problem is, too often we allow our reticence not to hurt others feelings (which is a good thing) keep the truth about the importance of breastfeeding hidden. And then another generation of mothers turns to formula. Unfortunately, breastfeeding can be really, really hard. We want to believe what the formula companies tell us: that formula feeding is almost equal to breastfeeding. That you’re not a bad Mom if you want to give your baby a bottle.
It’s true, you are not bad if you are that Mom. Those feelings make sense and there’s nothing wrong with feeling that way! But for your baby’s sake, you need to know what the best medical studies suggest about the benefits of breastfeeding. [I strongly recommend the book So that's what they're for! It’s hilarious and has a lot of great information.]
When mothers are fully informed about the health of breastfed babies vs. bottlefed babies breastfeeding is worth the struggle in most cases. Obviously, there are exceptions. But they are *exceptions.* [Unfortunately, in our country breastfeeding for any sustained length of time is the exception. We have it backwards.] It’s true that some women can’t successfully breastfeed (although it’s a much smaller number than the number of women who believe they are in this category). Some have had breast surgery, others need medicines that make it too dangerous. But most of us can.
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2 Responses to “Yes, I’m pro-breastfeeding”
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You know I found your blog when looking up the effects of garlic when breasteeding…too funny.
(feeding my son as I type!)
And interestingly from your title you like chocolate!
You might be interested in my post here…
http://slenderoctopus.blogspot.com/2008/04/chocolate.html
[...] Read the following with the knowledge that most would consider me a pretty hardcore breastfeeding advocate. [Of course, it isn't my business to tell other people what to do, and I think it is best [...]