Great column in the NY Times

[HappyHappyMommy]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/23/opinion/23kristof.html?hp

and more information at:

http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/the-breastfeeding-movement-in-rural-niger/

[ElliesMomma]

his point that instinct to nurse has gone away is interesting. i have often wondered if -- by not breastfeeding -- people will lose the ability to breastfeed. it would make sense biologically, right? use it or lose it. 

but, the not breastfeeding is at most only a half dozen or so generations old. i would think that the formula manufacturers have a lot to do with the misinformation.

i myself have come such a long way, from my first time mothering and hoping i could breastfeed, experiencing problems, almost giving up, but persevering. and to now, five years later, i guess i'm a breastfeeding expert. and it was all just so simple! put the baby to your breast. duh! really, just like all other MAMMALS do. in fact, it's what defines us as mammals.

you're right, great article.

[BreastsTheMovie]

That is a great column.  

As to the loosing the instinct to breastfeed, I'm not so sure I agree women have lost it.  It's a very interesting theory, use it or loose it but my experience with nature and instincts has been that while instincts may lie dormant because of various situations, they never go away.  Thus I think the instinct to breastfeed will always be there regardless of what we do.  After all, we still see little new born babies trying to pull themselves up to their mother's breasts if given the chance.  

I think the author does nail this issue on the head when he brings up sexualization and formula as those two really go hand-in-hand. I believe the problems with breastfeeding really center around our culture's views of breasts and breastfeeding.  I see formula simply as an industry that capitalized on that and the fascination with new "technologies" and industrialization of everything - though I don't want to get into a discussion of that point.  

Also I really like how ElliesMomma said, "it was all just so simple! put the baby to your breast. duh! " 

[JudiAU]

I actually found the article really depressing.