October 11th, 2009
No, Formula is Not “Fine”
As the #NestleFamily scandal unfolded, you saw twitterers from all over the country weighing in on the debate. Some made it very clear that the problem we have with Nestle is their unethical business practices, just one being their blatant violation of the World Health Organization’s marketing codes for infant formula. In case you’re wondering why that’s a big deal, understand that an estimated 1.3 million children die each year from not being breastfed, especially in developing worlds (but not only in developing worlds — many right here in this country.) A few years back, it was discovered that a Unicef effort to encourage formula feeding in Botswana (as a misguided and fatally flawed attempt to limit the transmission of HIV from mother to baby) resulted in children dying in 20 times the usual numbers. Horrifying results. But even though most of the NestleFamily twitter debaters tried hard to keep this issue from turning into a breast vs. formula debate, others Twitter Debaters insisted that Nestle’s WHO Code violation was a non-issue because “my kid was formula fed and he/she is fine.”
I have a huge problem with this sort of statement. To say any formula fed child is “fine” is to argue that formula is “fine”, ergo “the same as breastmilk” — and that is an outright falsehood. People making these statements think that because their formula fed child isn’t limping around the schoolyard, slurring their ABC’s, then this is evidence that formula is a perfect substitute for breastmilk. You’ll find people like BackPacking Dad on Twitter making jokes like “Formula causes scurvy, leukemia, and libertarianism. Breast-feeding gives babies x-ray vision.” Very thoughtful and helpful, dude. That was funny how he used sarcasm to undermine the real science and evidence we have on the effects of formula feeding. Wow, what a totally smart argument. (See, I can be sarcastic too.) 
First off, breastmilk protects children against unseen enemies like childhood leukemia and type 1 and 2 diabetes. It also protects against asthma, dermatitis, and obesity, just to name a few things. The next intensely important benefit of breastfeeding is that it helps protect mothers against breast cancer, ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and Post-Partum Depression. No formula in the world can even attempt to offer those kinds of benefits to mothers.
If formula feeding puts women and children at greater risk for short term or long term health issues, then how in the world is that “fine”? It’s not. Stop kidding yourself.
But here is where some people argue that mothers face such pressure to breastfeed that we need to lay off the “Breast is Best” mantra and support whatever choice they make. To that I say “Give Me A Break.” Pressure to breastfeed? Laughable. According to the CDC, in 2008 only 7.2% of American Infants were breastfed exclusively to age 6 months. That’s it. Shocking, isn’t it? 7.2% of infants were fed according to the guidelines set forth by pediatric health experts. So who in the world are these people supposedly pressuring women to breastfeed? I see 10 ads a day for formula on television. ZERO for breastfeeding. I see a new article every week about some woman who was harassed or kicked out of an establishment for breastfeeding her child, and yet not a single woman has ever been kicked out of anywhere for formula feeding. Does Not Happen. You can’t open any parenting magazine without seeing ads for infant formula splashed on every 3rd page. We live in a Formula-Pushing world. In 2008, only 62% of babies in this country were EVER breastfed and only 58% are still getting at least some breastmilk by the time they leave the hospital. Only 20% of children in this country are given breastmilk all the way to 12 months of age, which is the minimum suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics — (the World Health Organization actually suggests until at least 24 months.) Our breastfeeding rates are dismal, and they speak for themselves. So nobody is going to convince me that women are facing such pressure to breastfeed. If you are facing pressure to breastfeed, either count yourself lucky, or turn 5 degrees in another direction and you’ll find swarms of people waiting to give you free formula and a big pat on the back.
When my 10 lb second son was born, I couldn’t throw a nursing pad without hitting someone who tried to convince me I’d never be able to breastfeed this child. He’s 17 months and I’m still nursing him today, no thanks to most of the people around me. That picture to the right is the stack of formula sitting behind the desk at my own pediatrician’s office. If you go into the office with a breastfeeding struggle, you’re given some formula. It’s like going to an AA meeting and being sent home with a 6-pack of beer, “just in case.” Even my pro-breastfeeding husband got frustrated one night and said “Just give him formula!” (and yes, he nearly lost an eye for that.) If I hadn’t been able to seek out hardcore breastfeeding help on these here internets, or from the few women I know who weren’t afraid to give me that extra push, I’m sure I would have given up on us. And it would have broken my heart. I gave up breastfeeding my first son after 4 weeks because everyone convinced me I’d be so much “happier” if I just started formula feeding. They were WRONG. I was not happier. I was horribly depressed about it, and it certainly was NOT because society made me feel what I did was wrong. Breastfeeding was a huge, painful struggle for Jonas and I, but if I’d had the support to make it through I know I/we would be better off today. The well meaning people around me did nothing but contribute to my failure, and I think it is partly out of ignorance, and partly to make themselves feel better about not breastfeeding their own child.
Why else would parents, knowing all the science and knowing it is a sub-par feeding solution, run around telling everybody else it’s “fine?” I formula fed, yes, I did. But do I sit here pretending that what I did was perfectly the same as breastfeeding? Absolutely not. I would never, ever tell another mother that either. What kind of favor is that?
I’m not saying that formula hasn’t been necessary in some situations, and I’m not saying I would shame another mother for doing what she had to do. I don’t have any problem with a mother who feels like she needs some help from formula, so long as she’s making an informed choice on the matter. But I will not sit idly by and listen to mothers try to drag other mothers and babies down with false information, or even well-meaning misguidance. As Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously said “You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.”
For people who’d try to use their own anecdotes to convince others that their formula-fed kids turned out fine, all I can think is “Okay, we’ll see” OR “Good for you, 1.3 million other kids this year weren’t so lucky.“
Breast IS Best — and no amount of tip-toeing around the subject is going to make that fact go away. So I’m not going to tip-toe. And if you don’t like it, I’ll give you the address for my pediatrician’s office where you get all the free infant formula you can carry. You will have no trouble at all finding formula-feeding support. Look around you. 93% of the babies around you are being formula-fed by their mothers.
_____________________
Updated to add: After some commentors drew my attention to this article, I would like to change my language to say, no, breast is not just “best”.. breast is in fact the standard, and anything else is simply subpar.
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Thank you for this. Seriously. It sort of reminds of how people say that we should stop “pressuring” women into natural birth. Right. So much pressure. I had a nurse nearly start a Pitocin drip in my IV without even letting me know first. And I was mocked by people who told me I was crazy for even thinking of going without an epidural.
Isn’t it ridiculous that while our government officially recognizes and promotes breastfeeding as the best for babies (via the links you provided), it completely disregards the need for better and more comprehensive maternity leave law? Do they not realize that the two are connected?
I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now and really appreciate and agree with so much of what you have to say. I gave birth naturally to my son earlier this year (despite my OBGYN’s condescending remark that “only a very small percent of women at this hospital are able deliver naturally”) and am still breastfeeding him, nine months later. Your blog is inspiring and helps give me the motivation to keep going! Thanks 
@marisa, you are absolutely right. Natural birth gets this same flack, and it’s so difficult to find a provider who will support a natural (and by the way CHEAPER) birth experience. It’s just mind-boggling.
When the whole “#nestleFamily” thing unfolded,I was kind of in shock because I’ve boycotted Nestle for YEARS, nearly a decade and I was just appalled that people still weren’t informed about the ethical ills of the company.
I was convinced to quit breastfeeding my twins at 6 months. As soon as my milk was gone, I regretted it. From the day those babies were formula fed, it was nothing but problem after problem — economically, logistically and health-wise. It was a bad idea to quit nursing but I was a single mom with 3 kids (2 of them babies!) with no support and a little stressed. I let myself be convinced that formula-feeding would alleviate my stress but it did the opposite. Doctors who give the kind of advice I was given should be held accountable for their misinformation.
“turn 5 degrees in another direction and you’ll find swarms of people waiting to give you free formula and a big pat on the back.” HELLO already!
You might of read my post in reply to the blogger fearlessformulafeeder because “formula feeders need support”
I’ve been boycotting Nestle since Rose was a baby.
And I’ve used the AA analogy before, it’s a perfect comparison.
Some people would rather their babies have a stomach full of processed crud and sleep through the night than have to get up and nurse them a few times.
My eldest daughter nursed all night long. I slept with her for two years that way. We learned to link our sleep together, it was the closest I’ve ever been to another human being and it was wonderful.
I wanted to exclusively breastfeed my twins. I made sure everyone around me knew that. My daughters were born 7 weeks premature at 3 lbs 6 oz and 3 lbs 9 oz. My husband, lovely man that he is, threw a huge fit when the NICU staff prepared to feed them high-calorie formula shortly after birth. He knew how important breast milk was.
As it turned out, according to the hospital staff (and I have no reason to doubt them), their incomplete gestation indicated that formula was necessary. Without the umbilical cord, and without their baby fat having come in (their bones and muscles were visible under loose skin), they simply couldn’t wait for my milk to come in. I learned to be fine with that. What was frustrating was how little I was allowed to try to nurse them. (I understood that when they were being gavage bed, but once they were nippling feedings, I really would have preferred that to be able the breast. We could always weigh them before and after to see how much they’d consumed.) I pumped religiously every three hours during the weeks they were in the hospital, but only nursed them once for one and twice for the other. They needed to conserve their strength, apparently. To be fair, the staff took every drop of colostrum and milk I pumped and put it in their feeding tubes alongside the formula. Every drop. I watched them.
When the girls finally came home, I switched to breastfeeding, and it went surprisingly well. Our pediatrician asked me to keep two high-calorie formula feedings a day to supplement the breastmilk, which I did. I wasn’t able to maintain an adequate milk supply for both of them while working, so after a while the breastmilk-formula combo turned out to be the right solution for us. Here’s the thing. When we switched from high-calorie to regular formula, my daughters simply drank more. They did the same thing when we switched to cows milk. In their case, I wonder if the high-calorie formula was really all that helpful, or just a medical gimmick. They got the same number of calories.
Are they small for their age? Yes, but so am I. Are they otherwise advanced for their age. Yes, again. Does how they were fed have anything to do with it? I have no idea, but I wish I could have exclusively breastfed.
My MIL loves to say, “We did XYZ and our kids survived.” I once read that survival should not be the ultimate goal in parenting. I love that.
In truth, my husband is NOT fine. He suffered severe heartburn before he even turned 30. My MIL’s response to that was, “Oh, that’s a family thing. Your brother has that too.” My BIL was also formula fed.
So often we hear, “and he/she is fine,” but when you sit down and talk to them, you often find there are things they’re considering normal which are NOT normal for babies. Ear infections are not normal. Yes, they can happen in bf babies, but often they don’t at all. In the breastfed infant, if they do, they’re often less severe. Actually, the same is true of most illnesses in the bf baby.
And I’m another one who was pressured by family and medical professionals to formula feed. Frighteningly, not long after my twins were born, preemie formula (which my preemies would have been on if I listened to those who were misinformed) was recalled for having potentially fatal contaminates. To this day, that scares the hell out of me.
It can be difficult to help people, though. Some people just want everyone to give them permission to give up and when a health care provider says, “You can still breastfeed. This that or this other thing might help,” some moms run screaming about how we’re trying to pressure them to breastfeed. To some people, anything other than a pat on the back and a “There, there, you can stop bfing. That’s fine,” is pressuring them.
Sounds like you’ve had a similar weekend to mine. I couldn’t sleep for two days my mind was racing so much. And it all started with one little comment left on my blog by another blogger:
http://nursingbirth.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/why-its-not-irresponsible-to-research-the-hazards-of-formula-feeding/
http://nursingbirth.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/why-educating-our-patients-is-a-professional-responsibility-and-not-about-guilt/
check em out if your interested!! I absolutely love the quote you quoted: “You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.” That is EXACTLY how I feel!
~Melissa aka “NursingBirth“
http://www.nursingbirth.com
I don’t much care for the breast is best argument. It basically suggests that breast is best but formula is okay. I have friends that formula feed and I try to avoid discussing it with them. They admit that they wish they would have kept nursing, and they admire my nursing relationship when they witness it. I feel sadness that they don’t have that. And maybe their kids are fine. They are certainly are fatter, less developmentally progressed (although they are slightly older), and get sick far more often. I am amazed at what degree I expose my daughter to their illnesses and she rarely if ever falls ill. I do feel strongly about the natural birth and breastfeeding issues. Not because I did it and feel superior (although I’m sure that is what a lot of people think) but because I know the benefits each of these pose, and the benefits aren’t limited to physical health benefits. I love my nursing relationship and I feel a sense of sorrow for those that can’t understand or identify with it. I just don’t see how bottle feeding can possible feel like breastfeeding, for mother or child.
Brava! It takes courage to say that breast is best, and that is a sad state of affairs. You said it beautifully — condemning *not* mothers, but the *misinformation*.
My daughter is nearing 3 years (ie, just 9 months over the WHO-recommended minimum age for breastfeeding)and I get some very unsupportive comments when people find out we’re still nursing. It shocks and saddens me the number of people who *genuinely* believe that breastfeeding was designed to end after a number of weeks or months. What incredible marketing they must have been subjected to in order to come to believe something so illogical!
I love this quote. “While breastfeeding may not seem the right choice for every parent, it is the best choice for every baby.” ~Amy Spangler
Amen, hallelujah, preach it, sister!! I wish I had the courage to be this candid about my feelings about breastfeeding, but I always worry about offending someone who used formula for whatever reason (often insufficient support, occasionally a genuine physical problem, sometimes, unfortunately, laziness and selfishness). ITA that we live in a world that structurally and culturally pushes women to formula feed and there are many voices out there telling them it is fine and just as good. Thanks for speaking truth to power!
@clarissa — you are absolutely right. It really isn’t that breast is “best”, it’s that formula is sub-par. Somebody on Twitter pointed me to a great article on that subject.
http://bit.ly/1ur83
My daughter was born early, and I started pumping as soon as I could. The hospital let my colostrum go bad, so my daughter only got a tiny bit of it when she was transferred to the NICU. Our NICU was very pro-breast, and did everything in their power so my daughter never had formula.
She weaned at 9 months and went to cows milk. When we went to get on WIC, they told me she was too undersized and underweight and would have to have formula. I told them absolutely not and never went back.
My daughter will never be on the growth curve because I never was. But she is rarely ever sick, and she is more advanced than kids 6 months older than her.
My nephew was breastfed with supplement for 7 months, then weaned to formula till 13 months. He is sick all the time, and he is a bit ‘slower’ than other kids his age. My SIL dried up at 7 months, so it wasn’t as if she just switched for formula. She never had the greatest supply, and tried everything to go for as long as she could. She thought it would only be 6 months, but surprised us when she went 7.
I won’t judge someone that uses formula, since 3 of my friends have, but breast is the best thing for your baby!! There is a reason we make it. And no matter how hard formula companies try, they will never make anything close to what breastmilk is.
This is a fantastic post! I wish more women would read it. It makes me sad that the world is so pro-formula, even when it kills children around the world, and makes mothers think they can’t feed their own children.
Thank you for this wonderful post. I also do not see this “pressure to breastfeed” that I hear some women talk about. I got a lot of pressure to formula feed, from family, mostly my sister & after my sister had her third baby she went straight to formula again, despite seeing my success w/ breastfeeding and all I have taught her, she never even tried. I have been watching her baby since he was 8 weeks when she went back to work and it pains me to feed him formula. Because I can SEE the difference, she can’t, I can see how beneficial breastfeeding, not just breast milk, but BREASTFEEDING would be for him. It kills me! First he was on soy formula, then it made him sick, then he was on a special, VERY expensive formula, which made he constipated, this POOR baby was on 5 different formulas before they settled on Nestles good start LOL I kid you not, I have to feed this baby Nestles every day! But that’s not even what bothers me the most, I think its the bonding that doesn’t get enough credit. I just do not believe that feeding a baby a bottle comforts them the same as a breast, I wish every baby was breastfed not just for health benefits but so they could feel that comfort and closeness babies really need from their mothers. I do feel thankful for this experience tho, it really has made me even more sure that I never want to formula feed my child. Dean (my sisters baby) has way more colds than Lucy (my daughter), he also has awful skin problems, is VERY fat(not in a healthy way) and the spit up, ew, I had no idea formula fed babies spit up so much and had such horrible smelling poo. ugh. I could go on and on and on…
I struggled for 3 1/2 months to get breastfeeding down with my daughter. And when I say struggled I really mean, hellish zombieminded bawling all the time life. I got neither help nor support during this time because no one would listen to me. Even the LCs that I saw wouldn’t listen. My family constantly told me to give her a bottle. I even tried to get in touch with Le Leche only to find that the phone number to my local chapter had been disconnected.
I returned to work when she was 4 months old. Pumping went really well, until it didn’t. She was weaned to formula at 8 months and that still kills me. It’s my fault that I didn’t keep at it. I did everything that I could think of to save my milk supply but I am sure that there are things that were missed.
I agree that I would NEVER say that formula is ‘fine’. I will tell everyone I know that breastfeeding is right and necessary and the best for their baby. I will offer to be the support that I lacked to any woman I know who is struggling.
If someone is feeling ‘pressure’ to breastfeed it is only because she knows that not doing so is wrong. It is her guilt that is making her feel pressured. If she has all of the information and makes a choice that isn’t the best thing for the baby, that’s on her.
See, this is why you need to move to the PacNW. We’re crazy about breastfeeding over here 
It never occurred to me to formula feed my girls. Formula cost money, and we didn’t have any. So that was easy. My girls are healthy and smart, but so are their parents. I don’t know if I can point to breastfeeding as the reason for their overall well-being, but it certainly didn’t hurt them. And now that my memories of mastitis have faded, it doesn’t seem to have hurt me either.
My main problem with formula is how it’s marketed, and how quickly it becomes the answer for nursing difficulties. However, I’m not always comfortable with how the breastfeeding discussion (not yours here, but others) can be harsh on the moms who are formula feeding their child. Even if breast is best, it doesn’t mean the mom is less than best for choosing formula.
Brilliant, so right. It’s criminal that we have to pussyfoot around this subject to avoid offending people. Breastmilk is the normal, default food for human babies. I think formula should be controlled in a similar way to medicines, only being given out on prescription. Now that would get people up in arms!
@Stephanie — see, that’s what we need. A world where it just doesn’t occur to someone to formula feed unless there was a real medical indication for it. Breastfeeding up there seems… well… normal! You’re right, I do need to move to Granola Central!
Woot woot! (High five) I also think formula should be made accessible by prescription. At least something’s gotta change. They have a big conference coming up in 2010 to discuss 2020 breastfeeding initiatives since the US failed miserably to meet their breastfeeding goals this past decade. But I expect it will be attended by formula reps and all those people who will continue to ensure breastfeeding numbers stay low. A sad state of affairs… so much more than formula advertising has to change too. Like the education system for medical professionals. Nice picture Gina! You must have snapped that when he was out? Or was he rather proud to show off his freebies? Ugh!
Wow, I really enjoyed that… you’ve got a way with words! Refreshingly honest. You might be interested in reading the article “Watch Your Language” by Diane Weissinger… (just google watch your language breastfeeding). She writes about how we should be promoting breastfeeding as normal, as promoting it as best, sends the message that “breastfeeding is best, but hey, formula is okay”, rather than “breastfeeding is normal and formula is substandard” if you see what I mean. Hi American milky moms from Australian milky mum!
we don’t get people to quit smoking by going on about the benefits of clean air.formula is dangerous. currently b/fing new baby amidst pressure from family to f/feed. they say of my 1st born: he had formula and he is fine. he is not fine. in his 20 short months he’s been hospitalised 3 times with asthma, he has eczema, delayed speech, colds all the time…i could go on.
Here here!
Thank you for the post. I get so tired of I did XYZ and I’m fine. I hear it a lot when it comes to lead in children’s produts.
Another important facet of the #nestlefamily issue is that many countries do NOT HAVE SAFE WATER. And most formula requires being mixed with formula. So, you mix formula with unsafe water (bacteria contamination, heavy metals, whatever) and the formula isn’t safe or fit for a baby.
Another issue is the DHA & ARA supplements in formula. Hello? DHA in formula is DHASCO and ARA is ARASCO — these are not structurally similar to the DHA and ARA in breast milk. They are derived from fungus and algae and processed with hexane, a petroleum solvent. And they are structurally different.
Breast is best, though, of course, I support the choices that other parents make.
Thank. You.
Did those 1.3 million children die from formula or from contaminated water used to make the formula? Your article makes it seem it’s the former. If we want to talk about facts then we need to be clear.
My 2nd child was also 10lbs. And he was also my problem nurser. If I hadn’t already had a successful BFing experience with my daughter I might not have made it with him. For well over a month getting him latched on took forever. He would literally spit me out dozens of times before we finally got a good latch. In the hospital when I was struggling to get him to nurse I had a nurse stand over me until I gave him formula because he was such a big baby they were worried about his blood sugar levels. I had to give him an ounce of formula before I tossed the bottle away and went back to getting him to nurse. Thankfully he eventually got the hang of it and we went on to nurse to 33mos just like his big sister.
Having a good support network is so important to successful BFing. Being educated is so important. And the RIGHT education is just as important. Bad advice is just as bad as no advice at all.
Sometimes formula is better especially if the mum has to take certain medicines. Also sometimes due to outside factors the mother is unable to breastfeed — like my mother –one breast oversupplied so I would choke the other didn’t supply and both were bruised so she was in constantly in pain, her doctor told her to stop. I get your point and agree but your ‘facts’ like children will slur their ABCs, I’d liketo say know a child that has been breastfeed for four years and still can’t say his ABCS. While I had formula was speaking well by the age of two and I have two university degrees and as a teacher I can say it DOES not impact a child’s ability to learn, the parents are in control of that, not milk supply.
@Ribby — this is where misinformation is so harmful. Your mother’s doctor didn’t know what he was talking about (most obstetricians don’t know anything about lactation.) Oversupply does NOT stop a mother from breastfeeding, and if your mother had a supply with one child, she’d have it with another child. IF she didn’t it was because somebody was giving her really bad advice on how to manage the breastfeeding relationship (sounds like this doctor is to blame.) And btw, there are very few medications that are not compatible with breastfeeding, at least that don’t also have a breastfeeding compatible alternative. Ignorant people tell mothers lies in an effort to “support” them, and all it does is ruin the breastfeeding relationship.
I have a small lingerie shop in NYC. I get lots of pregnant moms-to-be looking for a larger sized bra to fit their expanding ribcage/bust. I ask if they’re going to breastfeed. I cannot tell you how many times they say: “I’ll probably nurse for at least a few months, three or four”. (As though I’m supposed to say: “Wow, that’s a long time!”) I then, quickly rattle off as many benefits as I can before I start to sound preach-y. It’s as though they aren’t even listening until I say “and it’s a great weight lose program! I was always the skinny flat-chested girl in school and I was 200 pounds and a 36G when my son was born.” (I’m now about 140 & 32C) Why is it THAT is what gets their attention — the losing weight part? Why can’t they see that the benefits are really what matter? UGH!!! It makes me so crazy!
I think I need to go to Kinko’s and print out a giant sign explaining all the benefits of breastfeeding and post it on the wall or something.
Thank you SO much for writing this. This is so true. My mom and several of my family members are trying to pressure me to give up on BFing and switch to FF because it will make me *happier*, less-stressed, whatever.
I am currently struggling to nurse my 4-month-old. He’s been supplemented with formula since birth (not my choice). And I’ve been trying to get rid of it ever since. Everyone sees me struggling to maintain my BFing relationship and tell me it’s “okay” to give up. I haven’t done everything in my power yet! I will continue to keep trying until my milk dries up or my baby completely rejects me. It’s not nursing that’s depressing me, it’s the problems I’m having. Giving him a bottle makes me cry.
While I appreciate your right to breast feed and what you’re talking about here, I think that this article is a mix of anger and half truths.
I was a nanny for several families who breastfed and it was the first time I had ever heard about the importance of breastfeeding. Since then, I’ve been able to do a little research and gain a clearer understanding of the problem. Because of your article, I did a little further research.
First, the 1.3 million is, scientifically, a pitifully small number. Now, I know you’re all going to think I’m a cold-hearted bitch for suggesting that it’s ok to let any babies die from preventable circumstances, but I feel it’s important to understand the full weight of statistics being thrown about to support such an argument. (It’s one percent of babies born, which is nearly nothing.)
Furthermore, baby bottle disease is not simply, “babies who weren’t breastfed died.” Baby bottle disease is babies dying of symptoms from improper nutrition. A main factor in this is the lack of clean water available for those who want to use bottles. This lack of clean water is also a consideration for anyone who would pump milk and use that water in any part of bottle preparation. Furthermore, the babies dying in the countries with the poor water conditions are part of a larger problem among the people of that area. Instead of getting all self-righteous about bottle feeding, why not also educate your readers on how they can help the fight for clean water in the countries that need it.
The babies dying from lack of proper nutrition suffer many symptoms first. These symptoms go untreated and the baby dies. This speaks to lack of health care for those children. Proper health care is another area in which your readers might be able to lend a hand of support. Boycott Nestle all day long, but please, direct your energy to helping those without to receive proper health care.
Now, as far as first world countries go, another factor is socio-economic status. It is easier for those with more money and better health care to be in a position of education and understanding about breast feeding. I have several poor friends who didn’t even consider breastfeeding. They simply don’t see it as an option in any way, shape, or form. Their health care professionals are certainly not assisting them. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone giving high fives in this column did something to help their local, low-income clinic, educate women about breastfeeding.
After all, breastfeeding simply makes the most sense. It is fact that breast milk is essential for a baby’s immune system…not helpful, but absolutely essential. Furthermore, it is the cheapest way to go, which is what would sway me to the breast, should I ever bear children.
I love that there are women out there who are supporting each other in their right to breast feed, but I would love to see some of the anger in this article directed toward educating those most at risk…and those most at risk are NOT reading your blog. I think it’s a case for more education, and I think your energy could be directed to a local place to educate mothers who don’t even know they have another option, a better option.
@Fenn — While I appreciate your comment, you have no idea who reads my blog, and you also have no idea what I’ve done to help educate and empower women who struggle with breastfeeding. I also think that “1% of babies born” is a statistically GIGANTIC number — especially when we’re talking about something so easily preventable. If or when you ever have children, I’m sure you’ll see that even one baby dead is too many.
[…] findings, and we need to remember those. One study does not all other studies crush. Formula is not just as good. Some women can eventually produce milk for their babies. High levels of androgen are only one […]
Thanks for the nasty comment on my blog. I’m on your side did you not realize?
Tanya´s last blog ..Breastfeeding Nazi 
p.s but thanks. post has now been updated
Tanya´s last blog ..Breastfeeding Nazi
@Tanya, I don’t know why you thought my comment was “nasty” — I was simply pointing out that it’s not cool to call us “Breastfeeding Nazis” — especially not when you’re trying to promote breastfeeding.
It isn’t just breastfeeding. It seems that there are a large contingent of mothers who cannot accept in any way shape or form that their parenting did not consist of entirely “PERFECT” choices.
As applied to breastfeeding, they NEED to believe that if they used formula for any reason, there was no effect on their baby, and any presentation of evidence to the contrary is perceived as a personal attack.
If it weren’t so charged, it would be funny. I was on an internet group of new mothers when one person published a study that nightlights caused vision problems. Immediately, EVERYONE had to remove the nightlight from the nursery. That was approximately 10 years ago, and attempts to replicate the results have never succeeded. I wonder what would have happened if a study had said you had to paint your baby blue to prevent skin cancer.
May I quote you? Your AA meeting analogy is great.
@Sarah — of course, but the AA analogy is not mine. I don’t know whose it is; it’s used constantly in the Lactivist community. I’m no innovator in that area
Listen, I want to hear from you - I really do. And if you're being nice to me, I encourage you to leave eleventy-billion comments. But for realzies - don't be mean to me or anybody else here. I mean seriously, do not make me use the delete button, because I will. Oh, I will.
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