Health Buzz: Study Highlights Costs of Not Breast-Feeding

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Someone didn't breastfeed their kid? Eh. Oh well - one more kiddo mine will out-score on all the aptitude tests later on in life.
Breastfeeding is NORMAL and NATURAL. Formula is the 4th best way to feed a kid according to the WHO. Breastmilk directly from mom is 1st, followed in order by moms breastmilk from a bottle, breastmilk from another source (i.e., milk bank, lactating friend, wet nurse), THEN formula.
Research has proven that formula is NOWHERE NEAR similar to breastmilk, creates MORE fat cells rather than larger fat cells (setting baby up for obesity, heart problems, among myriad others), childhood cancers, etc.
Only about 4% of women cannot breastfeed due to medical problems. To everyone else, La Leche League is free, lactation consultants aren't too expensive, and there is no better food in the world for your newborn. Make the sacrifice, be a mom, or STOP making babies if you are too lazy to do as nature intended. I can't stand seeing babies left to cry in their carseats with a propped bottle pouring all over them...it's just awful. Babies need nurturing. And if you can't breastfeed, AT LEAST hold them when it's time to eat!
For those of you struggling with it: keep at it, its tough and sucks sometimes, but defnitely worth it!

Working mom with one on the way of CO 4:45PM April 06, 2010

Have to agree with Selena of NY - I did not breast feed any of my 3 boys. They are rarely sick (one ear infection each as an infant and maybe one cold per year since birth, if that). They also score off the charts academically and are in good percentiles for weight and height. Many of my friends and relatives who breastfed have had major illnesses in their children as well as behavioral issues. Breast feeding is not the be-all, end-all for healthy children - there are many factors in raising healthy children.

Kim of OH 2:19PM April 06, 2010

I can honestly say as an anonymous person, that breastfeeding past a certain point is an almost taboo subject to a lot of people. I hid that from our friends, relatives and even some doctors/dentists, because of the shocked reactions I was getting, even feeding past a year. I just got sick of it so decided to closet that part of motherhood from others. I breastfed our daughter for 4 years. As a stay-at-home mom I was lucky to do this. Was it difficult and inconvenient? Yes, of course. Emotionally rewarding but emotionally taxing, too. It came in handy when our daughter was sick, though, and wouldn't eat anything else. She had a 10-day bout with gastroenteritis that breastfeeding got her through as well. Would I recommend 4 years to anyone else -probably not, because I'd imagine a very small percent of women can do that -it is a lot. But putting the child before everything is a big part of what being a parent is -I think sometimes that people have kids, put them in their cribs to "cry it out", then off to daycare and have someone else take care of their kids. Fine, but I chose not to, even though some days I'd rather work at a "conventional" 9-5 job -because I don't get paid monetarily for what I do there's not a lot of recognition. But really, it's OK. Work will always be there, and I can go back P/T when she starts Kindergarten/1st grade, I'm lucky to be able to do that. I don't really regret it and I know that it helped me to bond with my daughter on the deepest level possible, it just seemed so natural and one of the most precious gifts I've ever given to another person. My advice would be to go six months breastfeeding and take it from there, if a person can go another 6 months to 2 years IMO that would be plenty.

Tara of CA 11:04AM April 06, 2010

We no longer live in caves, that is for sure. So when a mother is unable to breast feed for any reason, feeding the newborn the next best (formula) is what you would do, unless you are OK with natural selection ...
MommyMommy of CO, it is good that you were able to breast feed for nearly two years. But not all women are so fortunate (or have the resources). Hope you realize you could have been one of them. You'd be guilty only if you don't make an effort or don't feed your baby at all, breast milk or otherwise.
Anonymous of AL, get real. You sound like you wish your wife worked too. Sour grapes! Here is a thought: if everyone around you was a single income family and you were a double income family, you wouldn't be complaining so much, would you?

Dodd of CA 9:48AM April 06, 2010

With my first child. I too tried to breastfeed, but had many problems. the baby would not latch, I bleed, then the baby got jaundice and had to go to the hospital. I had to go to formula.
As for healthly babies. My daughter was hardly sick as a baby, and now as a toddler. some of my friends who did breastfeed were in the doctors countless times for colds and ear infections, while my daughter has never got one.

selena of NY 9:29AM April 06, 2010

Employers and society in general want new mothers to return to work ASAP after having a child (by limiting maternity benefits up to 8 weeks). How in the world then you expect us mothers to strictly adhere to "breast-feed infants exclusively for six months"?

... of AZ 9:27AM April 06, 2010

I am all for breastfeeding. I know that it provides the best nutrients for the baby and saves a lot of money. However, some women struggle with it. My wife had our baby 3 weeks ago and he has problems latching on correctly so he doesn't get enough to eat. We had to supplement for a while. Then something in her milk caused him to be fussy and gassy, though the docs could never figure out what it was. So we had to go strictly to formula.
Formula is great too. They have made some that are so broken down they mimic breast milk. It's not 'evil' or anything to feed your child formula. Some women just can't produce enough milk for their child or have troubles getting them to feed correctly.
I am all for breast-feeding. It really can save money and help the baby. But it's not the end of the world if you can't breast feed. And it's up to the parents to decide what is best for their child. So for all of you 'anti-formula' people and those coming down on other people for not being capable of breast-feeding, go back to your caves and stop trying to force your views on other people.

SJS of UT 9:13AM April 06, 2010

To MommyMommy, women like you made my life absolutely horrible when I was unable to breastfeed my daughter. I had a thyroid condition that prevented my milk from coming in. Despite weeks of effort, countless lactation consultants, medications, and pumps that only caused serious bodily harm I was forced to give up or starve my baby. That was hard enough to deal with without the judgement of ignorant, self-riteous people like you.
And to anonymous of AL, go back to your cave. You belong in there with the dinosaurs. With women by far outnumbering men in colleges, your days are numbered. Women (and men) who are supported in their workplace are more productive and more loyal than other employees. If you've ever had to pay for recruiting and training, you might understand the value of keeping all of your employees happy and working.
How you raise your child is your choice. That includes how you feed your child and if one parent leaves the workplace once children are born. It is up to every parent, and every family to make the best decisions they can given the information and resources available to them. It is not up to you to decide that your way is best or that anyone who choses differently should feel guilty. I'm certain you don't want me to tell you what to do with your family. So how about you shut up about mine.

Maria of VA 8:18AM April 06, 2010

Read the article and you can see that the health of the baby is secondary to the Woman's career. Here's a tip, if you want a career don't have a baby, just like very other guy in the world who doesn't have the option. Every effort to help working women hurts a "working family" just as much. i.e. Every day my family (with a stay at home mom) competes with two earner families and it's tough. We go without pay and material things for the mental and physical health of our children. Those who don't have those priorities in order deserve no help or subsidy.

Anonymous of AL 7:34AM April 06, 2010

It's a sad comment on our society that even discussing the importance of breast feeding is viewed as inappropriate pressure and criticism of non-breastfeeders.
For the record I breast fed twins for 22 months. (at the end it was down to once a day). It was hard to get started but with the help of a good lactation consultant I built up my milk supply. The hospital where my children was born gave me absolutely no help on breastfeeding. I had to get myself and my children out of that hospital as quickly as possible and seek a lactation consultant elsewhere.
My children are, to this day, extremely healthy. I remember when they were nearly a year old the pediatrician was admiring how lean they were. (This pediatrician was uncomfortable with the idea of extended breast feeding so I never told him how much breast milk they were getting!) I stayed home and for that I'm paying economically but I did the best for my kids that I could.
People don't think it should be a choice to get proper prenatal care so I don't see why we should try to solve the breastfeeding issue by making it a "choice."
So to all the mothers out there who failed to breast feed because of societal pressures and lack of economic and social support: feel the guilt, get over it, and start helping to change things so that we do what is right for future babies.

MommyMommy of CO 2:52AM April 06, 2010