Why are people so opinionated over breast feeding?

Question

When I asked the midwife the pros and cons, I was informed fewer infections for the baby, bonding and weight loss for reduced risk of breast/ovarian cancer for mother.
The intelligence aspect is apparently a myth.

In my opinion from these facts, you are doing no harm to the baby; besides perhaps letting it get a cold and strengthening it's immune system that way. The risks to yourself are your own business and really negligible, smoking, sunbathing, fizzy pop, many foods put you at risk of cancer also ... you can't live in a protective bubble.

It's a while off yet, but, I do not want to breast feed, the thought of it seems wrong. I would not do it in public (or indeed in front of anyone), which would be very restrictive. I'd consider a pump, but I am not a cow. The feeding would be shared between my husband and myself. Formula is very advanced. The one and only thing making me reconsider is the judgement, which to me seems ill educated and unfounded.

Explanations welcome.

When I say wrong, I mean, the idea of me doing it doesn't sit right. It feels wrong for me.

I do not think breast-feeding is wrong, if you can then do. I do appreciate the positive aspects as I do for formula.

I just feel people shouldn't be so judgemental when the consequences aren't significantly endangering to the health and safety of the baby/mother.

The reasoning behind the judgement is intriguing.

Answer 1

Until you have to make formula at 2 am, you will never appreciate the beauty of breast feeding. You wake up lay them next to you and just rest. No bottles to make, no mixing, no sitting up in a rocking chair.

It is easier and will help you bond with the baby. As for in public, a baby blanket over you and the baby is extremely modest. I would not show off my wife in public and I am very okay with her breast feeding that way.

Answer 2

Welcome to parenthood -- you may as well learn now that everyone has an opinion about how you should raise your child. I strongly believe that all mothers have to make the right decisions for themselves and that let them be the best mother they can be to their children.

I am 100 percent pro-breastfeeding. I nursed my son until he was 14 months old. I did it for all the reasons many other people have said here regarding the health benefits for him. What I learned by doing it is that it creates an incredible bond between the two of you (I just don't think there is a more amazing feeling in the world than your child suckling at your breast and gazing into their eyes -- I think I missed nursing more than he did when I stopped) and that it is so much easier than formula feeding. No bottles to make, heat up, clean or stuff to lug around everywhere. The food was always right there and ready -- I believe that we got a lot more sleep as a result and this also made me a better mom. I too thought that I would be embarrassed nursing in public but in the end I found that it is not as revealing as you might imagine and I felt comfort nourishing my child wherever necessary.

It is also the most natural thing in the world. We have breasts to feed our children and its what women have been doing for centuries before someone figured out they could market convenient products for feeding babies (they used to water-down sweetened condensed milk for formula -- I doubt mothers would do that today).

And a supportive partner will have plenty of opportunities to bond with your baby. Our son, now 27 months, can't get enough of his Daddy despite the fact that Daddy never gave him a bottle (he did everything else except give birth!)

You need to do what is right for you, however, the way you ask the question makes me feel like you think breastfeeding is the right thing but that you want someone to tell you it is okay to go with formula.

Formula is not an equal substitute for breastmilk. They are constantly finding new benefits to breastmilk and it is impossible to replicate that -- although the formula companies do spend a lot of advertising for their products. Does it mean that formula is bad? No, it does not. Does it mean that mothers who use formula are bad? No, it does not.

My recommendation to you, however, is to give breastfeeding a try -- you may find that your ideas about it will change once you have.

Answer 3

I wouldn't say I'm opinionated in the sense that I think breastfeeding is the only way to go. I definitely believe that breast is the best choice and should be at least considered for every child, but in the end it's the mother's choice. After my son weaned at 15 months I spent lots of time still answering breastfeeding questions, keeping up on the latest studies and still supporting any friends that needed assitance or were asking questions (I can't even count how many times I'answered the question "but what about when they get teeth?"). My daughter is nearly 1 and we are still breastfeeding. I'm just as active in supporting and promoting breastfeeding as I was after my son weaned and probably will continue to be for years to come. It's something close to my heart and would like to look into being involved somehow with La Leche League, or being a lactaction consultant or something similar. However, I also always support moms who choose to formula feed, for whatever reason. It is their baby and their choice. I just want to get the information and education out there before the choice is made. (Oh, and for what it's worth, I'm pro-choice as well. All about the choice!)

Answer 4

the female mammery organs(breast) is considered as a sex organ, (by society) and babies are not nice enough to get hungry only at home they are hungry in public and private, and must be fed. The people that want to ban breast feeding in public are not thinking about the baby's right be fed, 'they' can't handle the excitement. So they figure everyone else surely feels the same way. Humans are the only species that have a problem with breast feeding, mothers milk is the there for the baby, and society has managed to make a woman ashamed of this to.If a woman chooses not to breast feed her child, I'd hope it would be for a more inportant reason than "the Public"
That's just sad, and it's the child that is the real victim

Answer 5

This is one of those subjects that will always evoke very strong opinions. It all comes down to personal choice.

From my point of view, I was always determined to breastfeed; not just because of the advantages for baby and me, but also for convenience (no heating up bottles and carting stuff around) and also the cost - there is no way that I could have afforded to formula feed my baby.

However, I can understand why some mothers choose to bottle feed. Some may have low confidence, others prefer to maintain their independence. As you say, it also gives the father the chance to bond with baby, and modern day formula is almost as nutritional as breastmilk anyway.

I am at a loss to understand why you say that the thought of breastfeeding seems wrong? - after all, this is what breasts are designed for and it's one of the most natural things in the world.

My baby was bottlefed while we were in hospital (I was very poorly after the birth) but was exclusively breastfed within a month once we got home. I would say that my baby was sick less, slept better and was generally more content when he was breastfed - all babies are different though.

Discuss it with your partner, your midwife, other mums and mums-to-be. Research everything online. Ultimately, it's your choice.

Good luck with the babe!
Kitten

Answer 6

The choice to breastfeed or not is a personal decision that should be made by the mother. It is not something that should be judged by others and people should realize that some women don't breastfeed because they can't for whatever reason.

With that said, Personally, I hve breastfed my first child and am now pregnant with twins. I plan to breastfeed them. I have used formula as a supplement for about a week due to having to return to work without having had enough milk stored up... I can say with certainty that having used formula definately made me realize that it was not for me. One thing that I noticed with my daughter was that she was more fussy, gassy, and likely to be constipated when using formula... Basically, this is because it is heavier and digests differently in the body. In terms if illness, I think you are underestimating the number and severity of colds, ear infections, and increase instances of asthma when formula is used. My daughter breastfed and did not have an ear infection or cold for the first 18 months of her life! My nephew did not breastfeed and he is litterally sick all of the time.. You know the constant runny nose and endless trips to the doctor, that is my nephew!

I was a formula fed kid and definately turned out fine, but I was constantly in the Doctor's office for ear infections and eventually at the ripe old age of 4 had surgery because of it as well as tubes in the ears... Not exactly a little cold...

Finally, I am really glad that formula is around and that there are better formulas to choose from. Like I stated before, how you feed your child is up to you and having options is important. Also, there are women who are unable to breasfeed and babies who are unable to do so... I am sure that with twins I will need to consider a formula supplement at some point regardless of my choice not too... As a mother you do what you think is right for your baby and his/her health. It is not my place to judge someone else for thier choice especially since why they made tht choice is something that is not my buisness!

Good luck to you and make sure you decide on how to feed your baby based on your view of what is most healthful for them and not just what looks good.

Answer 7

You should do what's right for you and not by what others think.

I'm currently 36 weeks pregnant with my second child. After my son was born we decided to formula feed him. My son never got sick or ever had an infection until he was well off the bottle. He has been well advanced for his age in all areas.

When I have my little girl I will be bottle feeding her as well. Reguardless of whether you decide to bottle feed or breast feed you will never make everyone happy. Do you know that some people can't stand to see a mother breastfeeding and they think it's wrong when you do?

If you don't want to breast feed then don't. It's your decision as well as your husbands and no one elses.

Answer 8

I think I'm so opinionated about breastfeeding because the child isn't making the choice, the mother is.

The mother makes the decision, sometimes without educating themselves on the risks/benefits of nursing. Some women don't have the support they need to continue nursing--and that makes me really sad. Someone else mentioned the formula companies marketing--that really gets my goat. I know what goes into my milk, I don't have to trust a package from a factory.

It's almost a no brainer to me. Whether you believe that we are mammals that for millions of years have nursed our babies, allowing evolution to develope the perfect food for them; or if you believe that God made you a woman with breasts to breastfeed. God didn't make a mistake when he made you lactate--did he?

When you consider the health benefits to the baby, it's jaw-dropping that people CHOOSE to formula feed. I'm not talking about those who have tried and can't nurse, I'm talking about the women who don't try or who just won't.

The statistical research pro-breastfeeding is astounding. We go on and on about options, and opinions, and lifestyle choices, but the scientific evidence doesn't lie. It's true, you can make any decision you want, but there are risks to selecting to formula feed. Show me the peer-reviewed, accepted scientific evidence that proves that formula is better, go ahead.

It seems SO FUNNY to me that we're feeding our human babies milk that was made for cow babies. I've never heard of a cow being fed human milk. Cracks me up.

Yes, yes, it's a choice a woman makes, but it effects the long term health of the baby and her mother. People are so opinionated because the baby can be hurt. The baby doesn't choose formula, the mom does.

Even if the mom, despite all the incontrovertible evidence to the contrary, chooses to formula feed, it's not just the baby's health that is harmed. YOUR risk of breast and ovarian cancers are reduced by at least 20-30% by breastfeeding, sometimes more. The longer you nurse and the more children you nurse the lower your risk of cancer? Come on! That's easy!

Then again, I'm also a cheapskate--a couple grand in formula or free nursing? I'd rather buy myself some new clothes (and with the weight I've lost nursing, I'm going to have to!)

Maybe I'm also so opinionated because I love the bond that I have with my breastfed sons. I loved seeing them grow and thrive off of my milk. I wish that other women could know the same feeling. My 10 week old's chubby arms and legs--I did that!

Answer 9

I agree with you. I tried breast feeding but I had some physical problems with my first child so I did nit even try with the second. I feel like breast feeding mothers feel that you are not as good of a mother if you are giving them formula. For me bottle feeding was absolutely the best decision because it was less stressful and I was a happier mommy all around. I finally got to the point that i did not care what other thought of my feeding preference and did what was right for Me and my family. Oh, one of the great breast feeding moms that thought badly of me has more sickly children than I do. Mine are completely healthy.

Answer 10

My guess is that your midwife was just throwing out a few answers. She just chose a few off of the top of her head that she thought might appeal to you. I thought I knew a lot about breastfeeding, but now that I've been doing it, I really get it. Lots of formula moms say that they are bonded with their babies, and I believe them. Breastfeeding is a different relationship. Breastfeeding requires that you sit and pay attention to your baby, rather than hand the bottle off or prop it while baby lays in the carseat. I could go on and on. My point is that the breastfeeding relationship cannot be duplicated with a plastic bottle, cold nipple and powdered milk. After all, what would you rather drink? Freshly squeezed juice or Tang?

Another thought: bottlefeeding moms of the 1950s thought that the formula they used was very advanced. I might consider it advanced when they can make formula that doesn't cause tiny tears in baby's intestines.

You're right that the risk to mothers is the mother's business alone, however, the risks of formula feeding are real to mother and baby, and they should be considered. Formula is a phamacuetical product, and every pharmacuetical product has risks and benefits. I have a friend who has done some consulting for a formula plant, and he is now pro-breastfeeding, even though he has no children. Your discomfort is not unusual, but it's easy to change. Just observe mothers nursing their children. Go to support groups during pregnancy and see how cool breastfeeding is.

Formula has immune consequences, not breastfeeding. By breastfeeding, a mother passes her immunities to her child. Formula is dead, and the immunoglobulins that survive processing are specific to cows anyway.

As for judgement, you'll find that no matter what you choose, and it doesn't end with feeding! You have to educate yourself (preferably not with phony educational material that quotes biased research and is distributed by formula companies) and make your own decision. The only uneducated opinion is one derived from that skewed research. Carnation even admits that its marketing practices are unethical, but they must advertise aggressively in order to compete.

Last thought: (are you still with me?) If you're at all concerned with the environment, and we all should be, then consider the manufacturing, packaging, transportation, bottles, washing, refrigeration and sterilization involved with formula. Not very kind to Mother Earth.

Answer 11

I guess the real question is, do you want to give your child something that can just "keep them alive" or do you want to give them the absolute best?

Honestly, it makes no difference to me personally whether you breastfeed or not. If you don't care whether you kid gets sick or not, that's your own issue to deal with. And if you don't think it's worth trying to prevent breast and other reproductive cancers in your daughter (if you have one), then I suppose you are the one who has to live with the decision. Sure, some formula-fed kids grow up healthy. Lots of them do. But then, look at the rates of diabetes, obesity, allergies, and reproductive cancers out there. You don't have to look far to find out that breastfeeding reduces those risks and that the rise of those diseases correlates with the rise of formula-feeding in America. Just Google it. That is, if you're open to learning more rather than just passing your OWN judgement on breastfeeders.

"Breastfeeding may not be the right choice for every parent, but it is the best choice for every child." -- Amy Spangler