The Today Show and Breastfeeding (right now)

[mrsfrenchy]

The today show just said that in a few minutes they're going to be talking about a new article that may dispute the fact that breastmilk is superior nutrition for infants.

I'm interested to see what they're going to say. I thought you guys might want to watch too.

[eli's mama]

OOH, thanks for the heads up. this should be interesting.

[PatioGardener]

Woah - I was away from computer/TV all weekend, so I must have missed this earth shattering study - or perhaps the Today Show has realized that brestmilk is not superior, it is normal?

Either way please post back with any information for those of us who are out of the loop. Thanks!

[mamayarn]

Here is the article they are discussing:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/29710422/

They had the author on and the tone of the interview was better than the article, however I still found myself talking to the television...

The gist of the interview was that breastfeeding is not magic and that "they" shouldn't make you feel bad for not breastfeeding, but the author breastfed and liked it. That somehow comes off less awful than it was, though. :

[mrsfrenchy]

well it wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be. it bugged me that their medical expert said that they AAP guidelines were for "up to a year" and not "at least a year" They also left out several reasons about the "theory" about why breastfeeding is better. They talked about the immune system benefits and such, but totally left out that it is much easier to digest than formula, reduces the risk of allergies, changes as the baby gets older, etc.

I thought they were going to be claiming that formula was better than breastmilk.

I'm so torn on the societal pressure they were referring to. One one hand, I think we put mothers against eachother too much in our society based on FF vs BF, SAHM vs WOHM, etc and its just silly that there is so much division.
On the other hand, i feel that BFing is so much better that of course there should be pressure to do so! ::sigh::

edit: i just read the article and its ridiculous--breastfeeding is keeping us down, didn't you know? that's why we haven't conquered the world yet!

[AnnDS]

Go with your gut

I just watched the "Today" show segment and then read the article that was also on the MSNBC site.

My husband says you can usually find some sort of 'proof' to back up almost any opinion you have.

Some people who were not breastfed will be healthy, smart, 'fine.' But of those babies and kids I know who were plagued with multiple (we're talking MULTIPLE) ear infections, or who desperately need braces, or a friend in her 50s who is battling diabetes and whose own sister is currently being diagnosed with RA.... I can't help but wonder about what their health picture would have looked like had they been breastfed.

In my gut I wanted and needed to breastfeed my children. I am forever grateful that it went well. I doubt I'll ever regret breastfeeding them. Seven years sinced I last nursed a child, I still look back on it with fond memories.

I did like the last line of the article...the author recognized that it's not all about 'medicine' for the baby.

[mommylovesra]

I saw this and the doctor gushing that formula is wonderful sends the wrong message. Formula is a necessary substitute sometimes but it is hardly "wonderful" I don't think the parents from China who bought contaminated formula would say it was wonderful. I also don't like how they never bother to mention the medical benefits for mom. They just say that it is a good bonding experience. It seems a doctor would want to get the word out there about how breastfeeding can lower you rate of getting breast cancer etc.

It is just the same old mainstream nonsense that formula is just a good as breastmilk.

[jillmamma]

More benefits to the mom that they forgot...reduction in risk to breast and ovarian cancers, many women can delay return of AF for quite awhile, and less money and time spent on food for the baby. I also hate how they talked about it being "such a huge time commitment". Come on! Like it takes MORE time to latch a kid on and feed than to sterilize bottle, prepare formula, feed, wash bottle?? If mom is the one still feeding the baby, I don't see how any time is saved using formula. Then they mention how people in the workplace my look askance if you take lunch time to go pump or nurse your child at the table. Instead of encouraging those attitudes, more work should be done to help with those challenges and change those attitudes! : Of course a mom should not be looked down upon if they gave a great effort and things did not work out for whatever reason, but rather than saying formula is just as good, perhaps more can be done to help those women and support them in their endeavors to nurse future children.

[mrsfrenchy]

i also felt like their points about nursing at the table with business men were totally irrelevant. if you are a WOH is highly unlikely that you'll be BFing your LO on your lunch break--and if you are, its not going to be at a business lunch.
Just as you likely won't take your 6 month old to work everyday, you're not going to be feeding them at business meetings either--and if you are, that's quite a family-friendly business and I want in!

I exclusively pumped for 5 months and just preparing and washing bottles alone (not including the actual pumping) was a PITA. The bottles don't magically go away if I decide to become a FF--the work just increases. I'm so glad to be nursing again because its so *simple* I won't run out. I don't have to worry "am i taking enough bottles" when we go out. The whole idea that breastfeeding is so difficult and inconvient is crazy to me. Maybe in the beginning, and with things like biting. But we're not strapped to the couch, you know?

I was disappointed about them leaving out health benefits for mom too, especially since the focus of the article was on the inconvience to moms despite the "non-benefit" of breastmilk--at least they could have pointed out the pros for mom too.

I also wish they would have reminded everyone a great reason to nurse: its FREE!!!! this is seriously what sold my DH on nursing and would be his biggest complaint if i weaned her. i know its not the most important reason, but it really is a seller.

[karina5]

Originally Posted by mommylovesra

I saw this and the doctor gushing that formula is wonderful sends the wrong message. Formula is a necessary substitute sometimes but it is hardly "wonderful" I don't think the parents from China who bought contaminated formula would say it was wonderful. I also don't like how they never bother to mention the medical benefits for mom. They just say that it is a good bonding experience. It seems a doctor would want to get the word out there about how breastfeeding can lower you rate of getting breast cancer etc.

It is just the same old mainstream nonsense that formula is just a good as breastmilk.

ACtually the mainstreamers are the ones who are competing with each other about bf'ing being best and being very judgmental about women who don't BF.

It's very classist actually.

And I do think that BF'ing is best, and natural, and all that. But the article/Today show segment was not really about formula being just as good as breastmilk.

[karina5]

Originally Posted by mrsfrenchy

i also felt like their points about nursing at the table with business men were totally irrelevant. if you are a WOH is highly unlikely that you'll be BFing your LO on your lunch break--and if you are, its not going to be at a business lunch.
Just as you likely won't take your 6 month old to work everyday, you're not going to be feeding them at business meetings either--and if you are, that's quite a family-friendly business and I want in!

I exclusively pumped for 5 months and just preparing and washing bottles alone (not including the actual pumping) was a PITA. The bottles don't magically go away if I decide to become a FF--the work just increases. I'm so glad to be nursing again because its so *simple* I won't run out. I don't have to worry "am i taking enough bottles" when we go out. The whole idea that breastfeeding is so difficult and inconvient is crazy to me. Maybe in the beginning, and with things like biting. But we're not strapped to the couch, you know?

I was disappointed about them leaving out health benefits for mom too, especially since the focus of the article was on the inconvience to moms despite the "non-benefit" of breastmilk--at least they could have pointed out the pros for mom too.

I also wish they would have reminded everyone a great reason to nurse: its FREE!!!! this is seriously what sold my DH on nursing and would be his biggest complaint if i weaned her. i know its not the most important reason, but it really is a seller.

:

[kiara7]

Where they talking about that article in the Atlantic???

I don't understand - just because someone wrote an article with their PERSONAL, not PROFESSIONAL opinions - they're going around calling it God's given truth?????

[mommylovesra]

Originally Posted by karina5

ACtually the mainstreamers are the ones who are competing with each other about bf'ing being best and being very judgmental about women who don't BF.

It's very classist actually.

And I do think that BF'ing is best, and natural, and all that. But the article/Today show segment was not really about formula being just as good as breastmilk.

That is exactly what it is about. If you go back and watch Natalie Morales stops herself short from actually saying "formula is just as good". I don't judge women who through lack of support or circumstances beyond their control have to use formula but I do judge doctors who say things on national TV like "formula is wonderful". It sends the wrong message and makes it seem like breastfeeding is not worth the extra effort. I read the article too and the author is basically even says at one point I was formula fed and I turned out okay the same old argument that formula is just as good

[karina5]

Originally Posted by mommylovesra

That is exactly what it is about. If you go back and watch Natalie Morales stops herself short from actually saying "formula is just as good". I don't judge women who through lack of support or circumstances beyond their control have to use formula but I do judge doctors who say things on national TV like "formula is wonderful". It sends the wrong message and makes it seem like breastfeeding is not worth the extra effort. I read the article too and the author is basically even says at one point I was formula fed and I turned out okay the same old argument that formula is just as good

I must have missed that. What I got from it is that possibly bf'ing is overrated, and that women shouldn't judge women who - for whatever reason - don't bf. (That is where the classist element comes in..I see classism rear it's ugly head waaaay too often when it comes to BF'ing issues).

I mean, I really *do* think that BF'ing is best, and so yeah, it bugs me to hear that BF'ing is discouraged, and I HATE the "I turned out ok so formula is just as good" argument.

I'm just trying to be objective! :-)

[spughy]

I just wish that people could tell it like it really is - that money matters more than kids. I didn't see the show but I'm guessing they skirted that issue obliquely. That's why the US has no federally-funded year-long maternity leave, why mothers feel pressured to be "productive" and go back to work, why formula is so widely accepted. It works from both ends - formula companies place profits over ethical practises, and government and often parents see women breastfeeding as women NOT making money and subsequently not paying taxes and buying things. (As opposed to employing women who are not the parents, making money WHILE feeding children formula - money which they then subsequently pay taxes on and buy stuff with.) If children and children's health and wellbeing were truly more important in American* culture, this discussion wouldn't even happen. But breastfeeding doesn't generate a lot of economic movement, so it's looked down upon by all the good capitalists. It SAVES money all over the place, but in these economic times, saving is considered in poor taste and virtually antisocial. Ya gotta SPEND, you know, to get the economy moving again. : One thing you can spend money on is formula. And daycare, or a nanny to stuff formula into your kid. You'll be doing the nation a service.

*Canadian culture is almost as bad, but it's mitigated somewhat by our maternity leave policies; nevertheless, our breastfeeding rates aren't what they should be.

ETA: I meant to make the point that trying to make the breastfeeding issue "classist" misses the real point that for low-income people, their role as money-earners supercedes their role as parents in the views of the general population. That's just wrong, and basically sets up the idea that's bought into by nearly everyone that you have to be able to AFFORD it to be a "good" parent, and that includes breastfeeding. Promoting the idea that formula is just as good so if you can't afford to take time off work to breastfeed or you have to have a crap job that makes pumping impossible, people shouldn't look down on you just furthers the idea that YOU making money and not relying on others in your community to support you while you do the right thing for your child is somehow better for you and your child. That also makes for a whole heap-o-shame attached to welfare and welfare-like programs that damages everyone involved. Argh. Sorry for the rant.

[Narn]

I understand that it isn't fair to stop being friends with someone who FF or to be snobby about breastfeeding. But I didn't like the tone of this article at all. And some things just didn't make sense.

I don't understand the comment about being exposed for the millionth time to nurse. I don't need to expose much flesh to nurse.

I didn't understand the nursing mom in a robe in the middle of the day comment. One of the great things about nursing is that you are never stuck at home because of food. A nursing mom can be away from home forever and always have her milk on her. I never felt stuck in the home because of nursing.

I also don't understand the reference to this circle of friends that make FF the exception. Around my neighborhood, it's BF mothers who are the exception. It's BF that is strange to everyone and criticized.

Where is this wonderful OB that cares about BF?? My OB never even mentioned it. And don't even get me started on the ignorance of my pediatrician!!

If someone is upset because they are made to feel bad about their decision to FF their baby, a great article on that could be written. But this article was just awful. I must admit, I couldn't even finish the whole thing, I was just annoyed.

[AislinCarys]

Ok.


First of all, I had problems with low-supply. Huge problems. We got there in the end (it took 6 months), with a lot of hard work, loads of great support from DH, LC and friends. And I did have to supplement until then. We were lucky enough to get donated milk, but I am aware that it is very unusual were I live, and that not all mums would be comfortable about it.

Second, I live in a place were breastfeeding is the norm - at least on paper (you are expected to breastfeed).

However, I do "judge" mums who formula-feed. I am much too aware that most of them didn't try very hard, thought it was a hassle, and started giving top-up bottles within a week or so. My personal pet peeve is the "I didn't have enough milk, he cried at night from hunger, so we had to give him a bottle", when the baby is a porker who was gaining very well already before the first bottle. : Or the "Oh, I couldn't cope with feeding every 3 hours, I fed her every 4 hours. You do know that your baby empties your breast in 10 min, so there's no use in feeding longer." :

It doesn't help that society is pro-breast-feeding, it just makes the mums who "fail" (and there are many, as there is a lack of support for any detailed breastfeeding advice, except "Feed on demand") much more defensive. Mums "fail," get depressed about it, get defensive, and aggressively pass on their breastfeeding/formula advice to other mothers, who as a result are more likely to "fail".

Although, there is "classist" element in it, I doubt it has much to do with work (pumping at work is very supported here, although very few mums I know of have tried it). The mums who are most likely to give formula and go back to work are middle class women, particularly in high positions, because child care costs are quite high you generally need a high income for it to matter, and in that case you often need it to pay the mortgage. "Poor" (don't have a better word for it, don't want to offend anybody - I mean, we are definitely poor, at least money-wise) people are just less likely to have a good diet themselves, less likely to get good medical care (an economical choice - as in "I choose to smoke 2 packs a day and go out drinking twice a week, but we can't afford to take our child to the doctor"), good ante-natal care (lack of info maybe, or lack of care, as ante-natal care is free), and less likely to educate themselves.

[jillc512]

Urgh, her take on the research was the thing that bugged me the most:
1. who is funding the research?
2. as she said herself, researchers take out a whole host of factors to try to make the most accurate comparison, and breastfeeding STILL comes out ahead (even if it's just a little bit sometimes)
3. the difference between BF and FF is sometimes just a little different, but it's for about a MILLION different things! (cancer, diabetes, obesity, infections, RA, etc.)
3. exclusively breastfed babies are VERY hard to find! Most of the research studies I've read are comparing babies who are breastfed exclusively for 3 MONTHS vs. babies who weren't. How big would the differences be if they were able to compare babies who were BF for a year? Or 2? What about studies on the health of 2nd-generation BF babies compared to 2nd-gen FF babies? Do the benefits accumulate?
4. who makes money off research that says breastfeeding is better?
5. what about the fact that most hospitals in the US make it very difficult for breastfeeding mothers to do it right? For example, jaundice rates are higher in breastfed infants. That might be because newborn jaundice offers some sort of protection later in life, as some research suggests. OR, it might be that sky-high drug use in labor and poor breastfeeding management in the hospital result in babies who don't nurse enough to properly clear the bilirubin from their system. (One study showed that, in babies who were breastfed at least 9 times in the first 24 hours of life, there were 0 cases of exaggerated jaundice.)
6. What effect does CIO have on benefits of breastfeeding? It's pretty clear that there is a dose-response effect going on here -- CIO, early intro to solids, feeding on a schedule all have the effect of LESS breastmilk going into the baby! What about that? Huh? HUH????

[MaryJaneLouise]

Originally Posted by kiara7

Where they talking about that article in the Atlantic???

I don't understand - just because someone wrote an article with their PERSONAL, not PROFESSIONAL opinions - they're going around calling it God's given truth?????

Exactly. This was an op-ed piece -written to be inflammatory and to navel-gaze at her and her upper crust New York City peers. Newflash -- you are not a medical scientist, you are a journalist, and upper middle class NYers are not the center of the universe.

[kriket]

I still don't understand why people who can BF (and do) write articles like this. Its real simple

mammals - breastfeed

I'm grateful for formula and modern science allowing babies with differences to be able to have full bellies when mamas milk could be poison. Or allowing men and non BMoms to feed their babies but the average "Liam and Emma" as she put it, need BM.