To echo a running theme on Grey's Anatomy:

Seriously? Seriously! Seriously?!?!

I have been totally and completely irritated with the lack of breastfeeding advocacy in the US. Especially after visiting the Philippines, and seeing pro-breastfeeding stuff EVERYWHERE. And no, that's not being overdramatic. Posters explaining the benefits were everywhere you looked.

Here? Here we're too damn PC to say "HEY! LADY! You're supposed to be giving your baby the best! There are r-e-a-s-o-n-s that there are breastfeeding slogans like 'Breast is Best', you know! There are reasons that formula companies put that on the can and in every commercial!!!" Nooo, we can't say that. Because that might undermind the decision of a woman who believes that her breasts are sexual objects only, or the woman who thinks that breastfeeding is gross, or the woman who thinks it's just too hard.

In the grocery store the other day, a woman had a Breast Cancer Awareness tote bag, and yet was buying a huge can of formula for her roughly week-old daughter sitting in her carrier, in the very back of the grocery cart.

:crickets chirping:

In the words of Homer Simpson: "DOH!". Yes, let's make sure that everyone knows about Breast Cancer...but did YOU know that breastfeeding actually reduces your risk of said cancer? Again: "DOH!"

In the past 2 days, I have seen commercials on feeding your BABY ( not toddler, not child...BABY ) the essential fatty acids such as the Omegas, and about making sure that your baby gets enough DHA in his or her diet. They mention fish sources, foods, even FORMULAS with ADDED nutrients ( because it's manufactured, processed, and preserved REMEMBER? )....but not ONCE did the damn thing mention, oh yeah, BREASTFEEDING!!!!!

Have we really gotten that PC as a society that the babies don't matter? "It's her choice, I can't make her feel bad or change her mind!". Really? What if the people who were against slavery decided that it wasn't any of their business what went on in other households? What if the civil rights activists decided that it wasn't their problem if a black person had the very same right to be in schools and buses and shops and theaters, as white people?

Now you've gone too far, Birthkeeper!

Have I? Really? Is it so far fetched for someone to worry about the babies who have the misfortune of being born to mothers who obviously don't care enough about their well being to simply breastfeed? I'm not asking for the woman to sign her breasts up for the next 3 years. But one year?!?!? Six months?!?! I advocate for longer than that, as does many health organizations, but I'd be happy if babies got at least 6 months to a year.

But that's not going to happen unless women start their selfless portion of motherhood during pregnancy.

Fourth Baby Dies

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/18/china.tainted.formula/index.html?eref=rss_world


BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Chinese officials in the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reported the death of a fourth baby Thursday in the country's expanding contaminated infant formula case. The tainted milk powder has already sickened more than 6,200 babies.

Disclaimer: This is a RANT. If you will be offended by a rant over women bottle feeding, then don't read this.


There are so many things that I'm an advocate for anymore. Home birthing, Unassisted Birthing, Breastfeeding, Not Vaccinating, Not Circumcising. There are *reasons* for me being so opinionated about them.

Sure sure, all of the bottle feeding women in America are going to say that this happened in China and could *never* happen here, right? Wrong. Because formula is MANUFACTURED and has to go through a long process of purification and preservation, WHY would it be exempt from this type of problem?

This is why women need to stop being so lazy, selfish, or viewing breasts as sexual objects only. Babies deserve to be breastfed. It is their right in life, from the womb. Yes yes, I know I know....there are women out there who truly *cannot* breastfeed. Really ladies, this is less than 2% of the population. Somehow ( insert sarcasm ) I manage to come across the entire 2% every year. It's shocking just how many women "cannot" breastfeed. :-/ Seriously?

And I've heard everything from "I want my breasts to be for my husband only", to "I am a Christian woman, and breastfeeding is indecent", to "My husband won't allow me to because it's gross", to "This is MY body, and it's too much work to breastfeed". Yeah, great reasons. If your husband doesn't want you breastfeeding because it's deemed "gross" or "inappropriate" by him...then he's got some issues to work through on his own. You don't deprive your baby of his/her essential right from birth, simply because your husband/partner has a distorted view of breastfeeding. And the selfish reasons? Why have children if that's how you're going to view breastfeeding? Motherhood is supposed to be selfless. Nothing less than that. Is it hard? Absolutely!

And there are reasons why breastfeeding comes harder to some women than others. Epidurals in birth can absolutely positively inhibit a good breastfeeding relationship. Drugs during childbirth can absolutely inhibit a good breastfeeding relationship. You're not just drugging yourself, you're drugging baby too. Cesareans can *ABSOLUTELY* inhibit a good breastfeeding relationship, because of the amount of narcotics given to mom, as well as the hour + baby spends in the nursery while mom is in recovery. It's very rare that a cesarean mom is able to breastfeed within the first hour of the baby's life, losing out on so much vital skin-to-skin contact. Women also think it's okay to give the baby a bottle to be able to have a family member feed so mom can sleep. This can create nipple confusion, as well as decrease your milk supply. Babies should be ( and deserve to be ) exclusively breastfed for at LEAST the first 6-8 months, and then continued to be breastfed even after you start solids. Many world organizations recommend babies to be breastfed until at least age 2. Babies are LITERALLY BORN TO BREASTFEED. This isn't an opinion, this is a fact. I absolutely LOVE the saying "My baby is a bottle baby. Some just don't take to it." :sigh: Poor babies. :(

Here are some great facts about breastfeeding vs. formula feeding:

* Recent studies show that babies who are exclusively breastfed for 6 months are less likely to develop ear infections, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses. They may also be less likely to develop childhood obesity.

* Breastfeeding provides the baby with vital immunities against illness and childhood diseases.

* Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

* Breastfeeding is literally the perfect food for the baby's tummy. The tummy is able to break down breastmilk and digest without problems.

* Breastfeeding provides foremilk and hindmilk. Two consistencies to aid in hydration and nutrition. Formula only has one consistency.

* Breastfeeding mothers have increased self-esteem.

* Breastfeeding saves the family budget hundreds of dollars.

* Breastfeeding saves on health care costs.

* SIDS is seen less with breastfed babies.




Facts about Formula:

* Formula has no antibodies to pass to the baby

* Formula often produces gas and constipation in the baby

* Formula does NOT match the complexity of breastmilk. With formula, the baby will have the same exact taste at every single feeding. Breastfed babies have the taste of the food that mom eats, changing with every single feeding.

* Formula is harder for the baby's tummy to break down, since it is not human milk.

* Bottles have to be sterilized in between feedings. Breasts are always ready

* Formula is EXPENSIVE. Breastmilk is free.

* Bottle feeding does not exercise and condition the baby's jaw, as breastfeeding does.

* Formula fed babies are often overfed because the bottle continues to flow, and babies at a young age to not yet have the ability to refuse food when full.

* Obesity is more common amongst formula fed babies



Okay, rant over. I'm so sad for the 4 families in China who lost their babies over contaminated formula. I pray that they will find peace.

I also pray that maybe this will be a wake up call for formula feeding parents.