"Study: Breast-feeding would save lives, money"

[sunnygir1]

Duh. Why is this so hard for people/institutions to get? It is THE MOST NATURAL way to feed a baby, and the stuff has been formulated by our bodies for the express purpose of the survival of the species.

"The pediatrics academy says babies should be given a chance to start breast-feeding immediately after birth. Bartick said that often doesn't happen, and at many hospitals newborns are offered formula even when their mothers intend to breast-feed.

""Hospital practices need to change to be more in line with evidence-based care," Bartick said. "We really shouldn't be blaming mothers for this.""
http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/us_m...g_savings.html

I just can't believe this last quote. Is it possible that they really don't get it?

[boobs4milk]

breastfeeding IS a public health issue. my lifestyle choices include my choice of lovers and how i spend my cash, not how i feed my baby!

[sunnygir1]

ITA that it is a public health issue, and it is ridiculous that drs and nurses have to be told/convinced to support women in bfing.

[listipton]

It's also interesting that a cost analysis was only done on 10 common illnesses. Imagine how much more money is REALLY saved.....
I hope this article opens some eyes and minds. I know that when I was pregnant with dd, I showed my husband the cost of formula vs the cost of bfing and it changed his opinion completely based on that alone.

[dioramamama]

Serious business, to be sure, but this made me laugh: http://www.theonion.com/articles/bre...s-money,17222/

[listipton]

Originally Posted by dioramamama

Serious business, to be sure, but this made me laugh: http://www.theonion.com/articles/bre...s-money,17222/

[mamaw/two]

It makes me think that it's actually the formula feeding causing deaths and costing millions, of course that's not politically correct to say it that way. I wish that our society had the idea that nursing a baby the norm, not "the best".

[Ambishop19]

Originally Posted by mamaw/two

It makes me think that it's actually the formula feeding causing deaths and costing millions, of course that's not politically correct to say it that way. I wish that our society had the idea that nursing a baby the norm, not "the best".

ITA! Our society needs to be more breastfeeding friendly so it is seen as the norm. That would include a lot of things- paid maternity leave, more laws protecting the right to breastfeed in public, more acceptance of breastfeeding in public, more medical professionals getting trained in breastfeeding support, etc.

[mamaw/two]

Originally Posted by Ambishop19

ITA! Our society needs to be more breastfeeding friendly so it is seen as the norm. That would include a lot of things- paid maternity leave, more laws protecting the right to breastfeed in public, more acceptance of breastfeeding in public, more medical professionals getting trained in breastfeeding support, etc.

I couldn't agree more!!