Is breast feeding wrong?

Question

I was at a breast feeding class and when I came out a woman told me that if I decided to breast feed that I was sick in the head for letting a child suck on my breast and she also added that I would be molesting my baby and should have my children taken away! I have 3 other children but never breastfed them. I have always heard people say how good it is for the baby to breast feed,and now that I wan't to give it a try every one is being so hateful. Any advice or comments will be appreciated.

Answer 1

This "woman" who said that to you is the one who is obviously sick in the head. Breast feeding is a natural process. Ask any sane mother who is not sick like that woman who told you these foolish lies.

Human Milk's Nutritional Benefits
Human milk, the best food for babies, contains the right amount of nutrients, in the right proportions, for the growing baby. A living, biological fluid, it contains many unique components. For example, lactoferrin provides optimal absorption of iron and protects the gut from harmful bacteria; lipases assist in digestion of fats; and special growth factors and hormones contribute to optimal growth and development. Mother's own milk changes during a feeding from thirst-quenching to hunger-satisfying, and comes in a variety of flavors as mother's diet varies. Its composition changes as the baby grows to meet baby's changing nutritional needs. It serves as the nutritional model for artificial baby milks, but none of these can match it.

While most people are aware that human milk provides excellent nutrition, many people are unaware of breastfeeding's other health benefits for babies.

Breastfeeding and the Immune System
Human milk is baby's first immunization. It provides antibodies which protect baby from many common respiratory and intestinal diseases, and also contains living immune cells. First milk, colostrum, is packed with components which increase immunity and protect the newborn's intestines. Artificially fed babies have higher rates of middle ear infections, pneumonia, and cases of gastroenteritis (stomach flu). Breastfeeding as an infant also provides protection from developing immune system cancers such as lymphoma, bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and celiac sprue, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, all of which are related to immune system function. And breastfed babies generally mount a more effective response to childhood immunizations. In all these cases, benefits begin immediately, and increase with increasing duration of breastfeeding.

Babies from families with a tendency to allergic diseases particularly benefit from breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding, especially if it continues for at least six months, provides protection against allergies, asthma, and eczema.

Infant Growth and Development
New growth charts from the World Health Organization confirm that breastfed infants grow differently from formula fed babies. Breastfed infants grow faster initially, then slow down as they approach their first birthday.(This can sometimes be interpreted as "dropping off the growth curve," but really represents normal growth.) People artificially fed as infants go on to have a higher risk of obesity as adults.

More and more research is showing that breastfeeding leads to optimal brain development. While there are behavioral aspects to this, the milk is important, too. One study of premature babies who were tube-fed breast milk or artificial milk, but were never breastfed directly, showed that the babies who received no breast milk had IQS 8 points lower on average than those who received breast milk. Human milk has special ingredients like DHA (docosohexaenoic acid) and AA (arachidonic acid) which contribute to brain and retinal development. And all breastfed babies tend to spend a lot of their time in the "quiet alert" state which is most conducive to learning.

Answer 2

I am sorry that you had such a bad encounter. This person was way out of line and really misinformed.
Breastfeeding is absolutely the best thing you could do for your child. Every woman should try to breastfeed. There is a few exceptions of course. Some women do not feel comfortable with their bodies because they were sexually abused or parented to believe their bodies were bad. These women should not breastfeed because they don't want to feel badly about themselves especially because you want to be your best, mentally, for your child.
There have been many studies done suggesting breast feeding is the best thing for your baby for a number of reasons. Mother's milk has the right mixture of nutrients and rich, fatty compounds that are extremely important for healthy brain growth in a child. Children who were breastfed tended to score higher on I.Q. tests than bottle fed children. No man make concoction could replace what nature has provided mothers. The child also, has an advantage concerning their health because part of the mother's immune system is passed to the child through the milk. This allows the child to successfully fight illness more efficiently. The physical closeness that happens when feeding allows the child to become bonded to the mother more easily. Providing a child an emotional center that is solid creates a child who is confident and has a superior ability to deal with stress. Breastfeeding is also, thought to provide some protection against breast cancer.
If you can breastfeed, you should try to. An ideal period of time to feed is for a year or longer if you can. The child gets maximum benefit from a year of feeding. Who cares what others think. You must be strong and do what is best for you and your child - to hell with everyone in the outside world. Your child deserves the very best, always.

Answer 3

Ok - first of all that lady should have minded her own business. You are the mom!! Breast milk is a wonderful way for your baby to get the best nourishment and is a great experience you will always cherish. It may not be for everyone and some people have a really hard time getting it to work and end up having happy healthy formula fed babies - like your other 3! Give it a try and see if you want to do it. It is best for your baby and will save you a ton of money!!! You will not be doing anything wrong - that is for sure. Most of the mothers I know and have been around lately have breastfed, or at least given it a try. Do research and decide for yourself. Don't pay attention to what anyone else says!!

Answer 4

If breastfeeding your baby is a crime and disgusting then it is just as well that advance man invented the bottle isn't it. And all those that find breastfeeding to be a bad thing are welcome to use the bottle. I think the idea of a bottle first came about for those that couldn't feed for some reason or another, or maybe for a way to feed babies that had lost their mother. But I have no idea when it became the preferred alternative when breasts have everything on tap ready to drink and at the right temperature with everything your baby needs. I breast feed all three of my kids and of course if you mention it to them now they are pretty grossed out by the thought of it, but then that is normal for teenagers. I don't much like women who feel the need to expose the whole of their boobs when feeding as their is just no need for that. And of course if you cannot feed for some reason then the bottle is fine, but for goodness sake don't let the opinion of some demented loony make you change your mind about what you want to do. If the world blew up tomorrow and only a few were left with no tins of formula, babies would be pretty darn glad that their mums were breastfeeding them.

Answer 5

Don't listen to them. It's your CHOICE on how you want to feed your child. Many pro's to breast feeding you loose your baby weight faster. Con's in the beginning your nipples may get sore. If you want to go for it. Just remember what you eat the baby eats and drinks. I fed both of my boys from the breast. Son #1 ate for 8mo. Son #2 was much more difficult. He had colic and allergies to certain foods I ate. So sadly I could only feed him for 4 mo. Its the best thing for them,even if you can only do it for a short time. It's also helpful with the financial side. FREE MILK. My advice tell that lady she's nuts, where do these people come from. I believe God gave us breast for a reason other than for pleasing a partner. You need to try, its little weird at first but once you get the hang of it it's much easier than filling and washing bottles. The middle of the night feeding is a breeze. Get up,pull out and the baby is happily eating.

Answer 6

Breast feeding and formula feeding is never wrong.They have formula that is equal to a mothers breast milk now.I see nothing wrong with a baby being breast fed.I think the only difference between breast fed and bottle fed babies is that the bond between mom and baby is much stronger then the bond between bottled fed baby and mom.This person who told you that letting a baby suck on your breast would be child molesting is a person who see`s the breast as a sexual plessure thing and not what the breast was really intended for.I never breast fed my kids but I wish I would hear someone make a stupid statement like what was made to you.If you have the time to breast feed and want to breast feed then do it.

Answer 7

Breasts main purpose was not to satisfy men. They are made to feed the baby you had. Once upon a time formula wasn't an option. You are NOT molesting your baby by breastfeeding. That woman thinks that her breasts are purely sexual and nothing more. She is ignorant and nosy for even putting that comment out there. Don't listen to her or anyone else, Breast milk is best for baby because it is specially designed for a human baby. Cows milk (most formulas are made from) is made from a milk designed for calf's. That is why we can't give straight cows milk to a new born. Sorry it just upsets me to hear about people having a problem with what nature intended. It is so sad that society has begun to see breasts as only sexual and nursing as sickening.

Answer 8

There is nothing wrong with breast feeding, its perfectly natural and normal. I had my baby at 28 weeks and had to pump the milk and give it in a bottle. if you are uncomfortable actually breastfeeding you could always do that. Or pump milk to take when you are out in public and breast feed in the privacy of your own home. But if you want to breastfeed then do it. I am missing out on that bonding time due to my sons prematurity. And I wish SO much that I would have been able to breastfeed.

Answer 9

I wonder what she would have done a hundred years ago? Wet nurses who nursed babies who's mothers couldn't nurse them or had died in childbirth were very valued. Bottle feeding has only been popular in the last 50 years or so, out of all of those thousands of years of nursing (it still isn't too popular with any other mammals): } . It is a very bonding experience. It is a good idea especially if there are allergies in the family history. It is important that you remember to eat reasonably healthy, avoiding foods that aggravate allergies or have ingredients that wouldn't be good for you either. Mother's milk gives the baby additional antibodies to protect him/her from illness. The mother produces natural excretions while nursing that calms her, (which I found lessened the 'after baby blues' that we can struggle with especially if we don't or can't get enough exercise.) If you worry about what others think it might make it harder for you to nurse..so don't worry. She was in the wrong wing of the hospital and was really headed over to the psych ward for a very healthy counseling session which we all hope helped her a lot (for her sake and ours). Read more about nursing and find some advocates to support you! Nursing is normal, she wasn't.

Answer 10

Okay... this is just down right crazy. You should have asked that women how babies survived in the beginning when there were no bottles or formulas. I've breastfed both my babies and enjoyed it. It was a wonderful bonding time with them. There is NO better food for an infant than breast milk! It is designed for an infant human body, unlike cows milk which is in todays top formulas. I have nothing against woman who decide not to breastfeed, but for someone to put breastfeeding down with an excuse that sick has to be insane. Breastfeeding is by no means easy either. It is work at first, but well worth it. I hope you give it a shot and that it works for you. Good luck and the next time you see that woman, I would tell her she is mentally ill.

Answer 11

Oh come on...I have never heard of such a thing. She's the perv. I have actually been confronted in the opposite way. When I was bottle feeding my son a lady told me that formula was disgusting and I should be ashamed of bottle feeding my son. I told her that after my masectomy (I was lying) I was unable to nurse ...shut her right up. You do what you can...Congratulations & good luck with the baby. Any more breast feeding questions contact La Leche League.