Why do people only think breastfeeding is only good for a while?

Question

I've seen all sorts of answers about
"at least give your baby colostrum..."
"at least do it for 6 weeks"
"at least do it for a few months"

or "Why are you still feeding your baby at six months?? Quit once they have teeth...!"


There is no point at which your child does not benefit from your breastmilk, so why do people still tell themselves differently?

Maya- it's actually quite beneficial to breastfeed when you are diabetic- you need much less insulin. I'm not sure where you heard that, but you're quite mistaken. Also, I'd LOVE to see a link on that study that you say supposedly shows that there's no significant health benefit from breast milk after 12 months...

Here's a link to facts about how breastfeeding beyond 12 months is actually beneficial to children and to their mothers...


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArVYoSmUsMznF_CnaXYZS.Xt
y6IX?qid=20070508084059AAJCTzf&show=7#profile-info-SjyLCUpyaa

Sorry about that link, here it is:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html

http://parenting.ivillage.com/tp/tpweaning/0,,3x5j,00.html

Answer 1

Lack of education.
Willful ignorance.

I was only 19 when our daughter was born. I knew NOTHING about breastfeeding at the time. But I knew with every fiber of my being that it was the right thing to do. Perhaps I have a stronger maternal instinct than moms who dont even consider bf-ing? I dont know. We had a lot of trouble the first month. I had an over-abundant supply, and a jaundiced baby who fell asleep every couple of seconds while feeding. I'd spend an hour feeding her, get a few mintues break, and have to feed again. Thank God I had my mom by my side telling me I could do it. After that first month, piece of cake. My point is, even without education on the subject, I still felt it was the right thing to do. Its too bad that all mothers dont have that instinct. After a few months of bf-ing, I learned a lot more about it, and became even more proud of myself for what I was doing. Its a wonderful feeling. Unfortunately, I was misinformed by her pediatrician that she needed to be off the breast by a year old. I know better now, but at the time, had no resources telling me the guy was wrong. I do think that America has made a lot of progress, however. In my grandmothers day, breastfeeding was taboo. She still tried desperatly to nurse despite how "weird" it was, but she had blocked ducts or something and no one knew how to solve her problem. She was of course devastated. It makes me a bit sad that so many women take their abilty to breastfeed for granted. There it is... free.. built in... wonderful... and they scorn it, or write it off as unnecessary or inconvenient, when there are other women out there who are trying desperatly to breastfeed, and are not able, for whatever reasons. Us americans are the only "freaks" who think of breastfeeding as a choice, and that its only ok to do for a limited period of time. Its a shame.

Answer 2

Society continues to make up things to say so that women who choose not to breastfeed don't feel bad.

* This is not meant for the women who try and can't breastfeed. This is meant for the selfish women who'd rather put their self first rather than their baby. *

For thousands of years, mothers have breastfed their babies because that is what moms are supposed to do. It is the best thing for the mom and the baby. The benefits of breastfeeding don't magically stop at 2 weeks or 6 months. Breastmilk continues to be the best source of nutrition for babies.

Because we live in a world where many mothers work now I understand that it is difficult sometimes to breast feed your baby, but not impossible. Buy a pump and and give up some free time, give up a little rest, give up the ability to drink, give up having sexy cleavage, and give up the other things that don't matter so that you can do whats best for your baby.

Motherhood isn't always a walk in the park... sometimes it takes effort and selflessness. If you're not up for that, you should have thought about that before you brought a baby into the world.

Even with all the hardwork, having a baby is totally worth it!

Answer 3

Not likely but if your baby does get really fussy after the nursing session right after you eat it then you might try cutting it out of your diet and then seeing what happens. The whole "You can't eat ******* while breastfeeding!" is generally a myth. Usually stuff like dairy needs to be cut out of your diet if your baby gets colicky and you're breastfeeding. It almost makes your milk "hypoallergenic" but most babies nurse fine no matter what mom eats or drinks. I drink coffee every day and my son doesn't seem affected at all. I drank a cup of coffee every day while I was pregnant too. :-D I love chips and salsa too! The only thing that I won't drink is mountain dew because I drank one once and then breastfed right away and my son cried for 2 hours. It probably had nothing to do with the mountain dew but I never loved that stuff THAT much anyway. lol

Answer 4

People say this because they've heard those claims thrown around a lot by the older generations. Women in the 50's or 60's were told that formula was high tech, while breastfeeding was backwards and for poor people. When facts come out and show the health benefits of breastmilk, they try to minimize them. Others just want to convince themselves of this to avoid guilt for weaning too early.

Answer 5

Quite honestly it is more so western thinking. My aunt's neighbor was breastfeeding her 2 year old and 6 year old at the same time, not both at the same time, but still breastfeeding both children. In Europe it is more natural to see a woman breastfeeding an older baby. In our western culture people just seem too rushed when it comes to babies.

My son was only breastfed for 1 day while in hospital, I had to go back on meds after delivery that wouldn't allow me to breastfeed, but I still agree with what you are saying.

Answer 6

Think about it this way, the child was breastfed. I personally wish my first breastfed longer, and am now breastfeeding my second so far, past 12 months (plan to nurse until he no longer NEEDS to- which he will decide, not me). But I am thankful that breastfeeding is becoming the norm, vice formula. So even if a woman will only breastfeed 6 months, she still breastfed and that is taking one step further in my book!

Answer 7

This society looks at breastfeeding as an odd occurrence. Most other countries have mothers that breastfeed toddlers but in the US it is frowned upon. It is just a society thing. I want to breast feed my daughter until she is ready to give it up but my husband thinks that I should start to wean her at 6 months, 12 at the VERY latest. Different views, same country.

Answer 8

I have no idea. Parents today are so far removed from our primal parenting instincts its embarassing.

we let the children wean themselves where i come from!

i find it a bit mind boggeling, as everyone has a different idea of the time frame when breastmilk either turns to water and is "no longer beneficial", or the child is randomly "too old." But then, they go and give thir human babies the breastmilk of a whole different species.

Breastmilk has been proven to help cancer patients, why wouldn't it be good for a toddler?

Oh yeah, the teeth thing... What do people think babies would drink before there were bottles? Baby teeth are MILK teeth and the natural age of human weaning begins when they LOSE their milk teeth, usually between ages 4-7 YEARS! We just teach our babies manners!
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/nursing-manners.html

Answer 9

I so wish i could have breat fed my baby. It helps them by protectin againt any viruses, colds, infections better than formula. Your giving your child some of your antibiotics that your body is making that has spent years and years protecting your body. It will help your child fight off infectins a lil easier.

Like i said i wish i could, I fell like i let my child down after a week, she couldnt latch on properly cause my nipples didnt form the way they were suppose to. I cried. My husband told me it wasnt my fault.
I wish i could breastfeed my 2 nd one thats on the way, but i know i wont be able to.

As your baby ages, your milk changes to provide the needs for your childs growing body.

Answer 10

Most people believe what the media tells them. How can something synthetic be just as good as the real thing? It can't. People need to do their own research if they want true unbiased answers. Which is more nutritious- an apple created from chemicals in a lab or one picked off of a tree?