Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Breast Feed or Else
A friend of mine brought this article to my attention and I just had to comment.
I know that opinions abound concerning breast- feeding. I personally think that it is a personal decision. After reading the article, I was appalled at the audacity of the author and other supporters. And they wonder why the Le Leche League is labeled the “breast nazi’s” by many people. How dare they say that there is something wrong with my decision not to breast feed my children. I think that putting warning labels on cans of formula is the most intrusive and de-moralizing thing I have heard of in a long time.
I have two young children. I so desperately wanted to breast-feed DD that when I was unable to continue due to doctor’s orders (she was not gaining weight, had jaundice, and was an extremely lazy eater), I spiraled into a deep post-pardum depression for weeks. I would sit with DD and cry because I felt like such a failure. I was meant to feed her, so why couldn’t I? What was wrong with me? I had read all the pro-breast feeding literature. She was going to be sickly, stupid, and fat because I was forced to feed her formula. The nursing consultants at the hospital did nothing to ease my anxiety, they only fueled my feelings of failure. They would call me and tell me that I needed to continue to breast-feed for the health of my baby girl. “She will get what she needs”, they would say. Never mind that the Dr. said to stop exclusively breast-feeding. I managed to pump for a month before I started giving her formula. I just couldn’t continue to hook myself up to that milking machine anymore. A month was better than nothing. I told the lactation consultants “thanks but no thanks” and “don’t call me anymore” and went on my merry little way.
Then along came DS, 14 months later. He was a champion breast-feeder. He wanted to nurse ALL THE TIME. I was ecstatic at first. Finally I was going to be able to be a “real” mother and feed my child as God intended. Problem was, he wanted to eat ALL THE TIME. I couldn’t keep up with him. I knew that exclusively breast-feeding was time consuming and tough and I was willing to stick it out. However, I also had a 14 month old and was moving into a new house all at the same time. Between the two children and packing and moving I barely had time to pee, let alone eat and do the things necessary to keep my caloric intake up to produce milk. After a marathon 5.5 hours at the breast (I started at 11:30 am and he was on my boob until 4:30 pm with maybe a 30 minute break) and 1.5 weeks, I decided enough was enough. I loved DS dearly and I wanted what was best for him, but for my health and sanity I had to stop. I gave him to DH, walked to the sink, made a bottle and handed it to DH, all the while sobbing and again feeling like a failure. DH said I should pump again, but I wasn’t going to subject myself to that stress. This time I truly feel that I wasn’t making enough milk for him. It took me exactly 3 days to completely dry up.
I do think that breast milk is a lot better for them than formula. Anything that is coming straight from the mother is going to be better. It is full of antibodies to fight infection and hypoallergenic. However, to say that formula is hazardous to our children’s health is going too far. If it were unsafe, it wouldn’t be on the shelves. And it has gone a long way from when we were infants. We may be a society of over-weight and unhealthy people, but it is my opinion that if parents would parent and make their kids get off the couch and exercise and eat decent foods (instead of McDonald’s) all the time then we as a nation would be healthier. It is just another way of passing the buck to someone else for our failures. Sure I am over-weight, but I don’t think it has anything to do with the fact that I was a formula fed child. My mother was breast-fed and she is over weight too.
As far as the health issue. I believe that a majority of it depends on the child. For example, my DD has had multiple ear infections and she gets several colds per year. As stated before, she was breast-fed for 1 month. On the other hand, my DS has had 1 ear infection and 2 colds in his life so far. He was breast-fed for 1.5 weeks. They both go to the same day care and are around the same people. To me, that blows the whole “breast-fed babies are healthier” out the window. I feel it is just a way for the “breast nazi’s” to force-feed their views on those that do what they do.
To those that were able to successfully breast-feed their children for 6 months (or longer), congratulations to you. You, evidently, are more of a woman than I am. I applaud you for being able to provide what you children need biologically. I wish I could have, but it was not meant to be for my children and me. But we are doing just fine thank you very much.
What is your opinion? Did you breast-feed or give the evil juice?
I know that opinions abound concerning breast- feeding. I personally think that it is a personal decision. After reading the article, I was appalled at the audacity of the author and other supporters. And they wonder why the Le Leche League is labeled the “breast nazi’s” by many people. How dare they say that there is something wrong with my decision not to breast feed my children. I think that putting warning labels on cans of formula is the most intrusive and de-moralizing thing I have heard of in a long time.
I have two young children. I so desperately wanted to breast-feed DD that when I was unable to continue due to doctor’s orders (she was not gaining weight, had jaundice, and was an extremely lazy eater), I spiraled into a deep post-pardum depression for weeks. I would sit with DD and cry because I felt like such a failure. I was meant to feed her, so why couldn’t I? What was wrong with me? I had read all the pro-breast feeding literature. She was going to be sickly, stupid, and fat because I was forced to feed her formula. The nursing consultants at the hospital did nothing to ease my anxiety, they only fueled my feelings of failure. They would call me and tell me that I needed to continue to breast-feed for the health of my baby girl. “She will get what she needs”, they would say. Never mind that the Dr. said to stop exclusively breast-feeding. I managed to pump for a month before I started giving her formula. I just couldn’t continue to hook myself up to that milking machine anymore. A month was better than nothing. I told the lactation consultants “thanks but no thanks” and “don’t call me anymore” and went on my merry little way.
Then along came DS, 14 months later. He was a champion breast-feeder. He wanted to nurse ALL THE TIME. I was ecstatic at first. Finally I was going to be able to be a “real” mother and feed my child as God intended. Problem was, he wanted to eat ALL THE TIME. I couldn’t keep up with him. I knew that exclusively breast-feeding was time consuming and tough and I was willing to stick it out. However, I also had a 14 month old and was moving into a new house all at the same time. Between the two children and packing and moving I barely had time to pee, let alone eat and do the things necessary to keep my caloric intake up to produce milk. After a marathon 5.5 hours at the breast (I started at 11:30 am and he was on my boob until 4:30 pm with maybe a 30 minute break) and 1.5 weeks, I decided enough was enough. I loved DS dearly and I wanted what was best for him, but for my health and sanity I had to stop. I gave him to DH, walked to the sink, made a bottle and handed it to DH, all the while sobbing and again feeling like a failure. DH said I should pump again, but I wasn’t going to subject myself to that stress. This time I truly feel that I wasn’t making enough milk for him. It took me exactly 3 days to completely dry up.
I do think that breast milk is a lot better for them than formula. Anything that is coming straight from the mother is going to be better. It is full of antibodies to fight infection and hypoallergenic. However, to say that formula is hazardous to our children’s health is going too far. If it were unsafe, it wouldn’t be on the shelves. And it has gone a long way from when we were infants. We may be a society of over-weight and unhealthy people, but it is my opinion that if parents would parent and make their kids get off the couch and exercise and eat decent foods (instead of McDonald’s) all the time then we as a nation would be healthier. It is just another way of passing the buck to someone else for our failures. Sure I am over-weight, but I don’t think it has anything to do with the fact that I was a formula fed child. My mother was breast-fed and she is over weight too.
As far as the health issue. I believe that a majority of it depends on the child. For example, my DD has had multiple ear infections and she gets several colds per year. As stated before, she was breast-fed for 1 month. On the other hand, my DS has had 1 ear infection and 2 colds in his life so far. He was breast-fed for 1.5 weeks. They both go to the same day care and are around the same people. To me, that blows the whole “breast-fed babies are healthier” out the window. I feel it is just a way for the “breast nazi’s” to force-feed their views on those that do what they do.
To those that were able to successfully breast-feed their children for 6 months (or longer), congratulations to you. You, evidently, are more of a woman than I am. I applaud you for being able to provide what you children need biologically. I wish I could have, but it was not meant to be for my children and me. But we are doing just fine thank you very much.
What is your opinion? Did you breast-feed or give the evil juice?
2 Comments:
I chose to bottle feed both of my kids (almost 3 and almost 6 months). I feel no guilt about my decision. Both of my girls are healthy and it makes me crazy when people go off on breast feeding and how wrong it is not too. I just think right now that is what people are pushing for some reason.
Hello, I read that article too. I bf one kid, didn't the other and they're both fine. It's no ones business, really. As mom's we're doing the best we can.
I enjoyed visiting blog, by the way. Great writing and pictures.
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