You’ve all heard me extoll my laziness before. I’m going to do it again and this is a big one. Ready? Breastfeed. Hell, you’ve got everything you need. It’s easy. It’s cheap. It’s portable. It has no expiration date, and already comes in the perfect comfortable and attractive carrying case for easy travel.
Now before everybody starts berating me for being insensitive to those moms that have overwhelming physical or emotional obstacles to breastfeeding, let me say right up front that I’m not about to put them down — they have my support and understanding. Now, as for the rest of you…
We all know, at least on an intellectual level, that breast is best. However, even with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation that infants be exclusively breastfeed for the first 4-6 months of life and breastfeed for a year and however long after is mutually desired — only 12% of new moms are still breastfeeding at 6 months.
Are we buckling under the pressure of corporate and societal campaigns against breastfeeding? Is it just too practically difficult? It does strike me as discouraging that of all the successfully breastfeeding mammals on the planet, ours if the only one that seems to think the process is “hard”. For me this begs the question, why? And more importantly, how can we change it?
I think and hope that we already know it’s worth it. Breastfeeding is incredibly important for child and mom’s physical and emotional health. It’s the perfect immune booster and incredibly portable, always available, comfort food. Sounds like something I want to travel with!
Don’t just take my word for it — check out the links below.
101 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Child
Tips for Discreet Breastfeeding
Baby Babble — breastfeeding benefits
Can You Breastfeed With Pierced Nipples?
Why Breast is Best
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Mothering Magazine Article: Breastfeeding
Mothering Magazine Article: HIV and Breastfeeding
Mothering Magazine Article: Discreetly Breastfeeding in Public
Traveling With Breastmilk
NABA Home page
Breastfeeding Advocacy Network
The Lactivist
Breastfeeding problems and benefits - why women wean too early
Conscious Choice: Baring Breasts for Baby
Breastfed babies cope better with stress in later life.
I think that one of the issues is the workplace. For those that work, breastfeeding is very difficult. Though many workplaces offer pumping rooms, they can exempt some employees from using them. And what about hourly employees? Or waitresses? or baristas? They don’t have the option. Some states have laws about pumping stations for work, but they don’t really have teeth. And most women are afraid to push it for fear of retaliation.
So, our culture is very breastfeeding unfriendly, in many ways. Lack of appropriate time off after childbirth, lack of facilities for pumping. And if you check out the lactivist blogs, you can note that there are daycare that treat breastmilk like a biohazard! So lack of appropriate education is also a problem. Its amazing to me that we argue about teaching sex ed in schools, but we don’t teach about breastfeeding. Thats biology, right? ~laughs~ We have our priorities all screwed up, even in the arguments!
Thanks so much for the comment. I couldn’t agree more. I have been lucky enough to have the option of staying home with my kids, but many people don’t have the option. Quite honestly, regardless of the individual situation, i don’t think career vs. caring for children is a choice women should be asked to make anyway. Sadly, the “privilege” of breastfeeding is now drawn along class lines as well. Mid-upper class women might be able to subsist on one income, take some time off, or demand special arrangements for pumping, etc., in the workplace–but, as you pointed out, a waitress doesn’t usually have the option to do any of that.
Shamefully, our country is at the bottom of the list in terms of family-friend workplaces and parental leave. There are many reasons to be sure–the power of formula companies, lack of education, etc. Partly, we are suffering a backlash of the feminist movement, in which women demanded to be treated equally–without special treatment. A little special treatment would go a long way toward improving our society. Not only would children and families benefit, but our society as a whole. Our country could save tons of money in healthcare costs alone, if breastfeeding was supported rather than discouraged.
I love being a mom and one of the best parts of being a mom has been nursing. I nursed my son until he was 18 months old. I planned to nurse longer, but unfortunately my family and my in-laws started getting to me. Comments like “You’re still nursing?” and “My daughter weaned herself at 9 months. Anything over 12 months is too long, you’ll spoil him” were discouraging to say the least. Not to mention the shocked look on their faces when he would toddle up to me and ask “Nur? Nur?” Suddenly because he could verbally express that he wanted to nurse it was wrong?
Oh well. Live and learn. I am hoping and praying that we are blessed with another child some day, then I can decide for myself how long is too long! lol