Ugh, does she realize the protection from before the birth only lasts about 3 months?
And that nutritionist she's been talking to...yeah, I bet she's SO much more experienced and edcuated than the many, many people who conducted the research and made the conclusions about breastmilk being best.
This is just ridiculous. Why would we move on from something that has such immense benefits for mother and child? She listed 3, but there are so many more.
Why would we want women to debate whether formula is on par with breastmilk when we know it's not?
And the may doesn't mean it's not proven. It means that breastfeeding does lower the chances of illness and allergy, but that it doesn't always prevent them because other factors such as environment and heredity play a role as well.
Here, I wrote her a letter....
I read your article about breastfeeding and was very unimpressed, disgusted, and confused.
I have to wonder what credentials your nutritionist friend has to challenge what is commonly accepted by the medical community and why it is she thinks her own experience is the norm. Are the children half-starving because their mother's milk is not nutritious? Or is it due to low supply, latch problems, or perhaps an inadeuqate feeding schedule? You didn't specify that in your article.
As for baby's having protective antibodies before birth, this is very true. However, that protection only lasts about three months--whereas the protection from breastfeeding lasts as long as the nursing relationship continues and even a few months thereafter. Why should we encourage women not to breastfeed, because the baby will be protected for three months from the antibodies from the placenta--when we could encourage them to breastfeed as long as possible, so that the baby will be protected for many more months?
You stated only 3 of the benefits of breastfeeding for the child. There are many more. You also failed to mention any of the benefits for the mother, such as the reduced risk of cancer. Moreover, you seem to think that "may" means that these are theories, not proven facts. The truth is that breastfeeding does significantly decrease the risks of a baby developing allergies, ear infections, and other ailments. However, the reason it doesn't always prevent them is because other factors such as environment and heredity play a part.
Why would we want women to debate rather formula is on par with breastmilk, when all evidence suggests it's not? It doesn't have the same digestive properties of breastmilk, and if it did, it wouldn't take babies so much longer to digest formula--nor would their poop smell so terrible after a formula bottle but not after a nursing session. It doesn't have the same antibodies, or overall, breastfed babies in general wouldn't be healthier, as all medical research has proven. Formula fed babies are more likely to be obese, and some research suggestions breastfeeding can raise IQ. Why would we want to move on from something that is clearly a much healthier and less expensive alternative, just as it is, to anything presently manufactured by mankind?
You claim the benefits of breastfeeding taper off after 4-6 months; however, there is a significant amount of research out there that proves breastfeeding even into toddlerhood has benefits for both mother and child--as well as to suggest that children were designed to be nursed until age two. My son has been nursing for 14 months. In his first year he had a mild cold that resulted in a short visit to the clinic, but no medication or treatment other than to have his nose squeegeed. Last month, he had a stomach virus that lasted about a week and resulted in a visit to the ER. He has no allergies. Could he just be a very healthy baby with great genes and a wonderful environment? Sure, but it's doubtful considering we live in a huge city, and there's a history of many illnesses and allergies in our families. If the benefits of breastfeeding only last 4-6 months, it makes me wonder why it is that he's had so few ailments in so many months of life. Something in the water, perhaps? According to you it's probably not my antibodies, so I have to wonder what it is that makes my child so fit. It can't be what he's eating, since he's breastfeeding, and you say that has nothing to do with it. Gee. I'm really stumped.
Besides the anonymous nutritionist you mentioned in your article, what are your sources? Are these just your own musings, thoughts that are logical to you? Do you have any research, any medical proof to back these claims up? Obviously your own experience is very valid, and there will always be women for whom breastfeeding doesn't work out. There are very real obstacles to overcome to carry on a successful nursing relationship, and women do need to be educated about them. However, no one will attempt to overcome those hurdles if misinformation such as "formula is just as good" is being handed out, and then the children will not receive the benefits of breastfeeding that medical science has proven exist. Could you please send me a copy of your bibliography for the article so that I can read for myself the sources of your claims?
Comparing breastfeeding to high death rates during child birth really doesn't help the situation at all and is quite a ridiculous comparison, considering high death rates while natural are of course unhealthy. New technology has lowered that number and improved the quality of healthcare. However, for all of our medical advancements, while we have managed to make birthing safer, we have not yet managed to manipulate cow milk to make it better than or even as good as natural breastmilk. I really don't see the point of making this comparison at all. Why compare the most healthy form of nourishing an infant to death? The pain of breastfeedng is nothing like the pain of childbirth, and the outcome of what was once natural childbirth is not nearly as desirable as the outcome of a nursing relationship that has received support, information, and guidance from the experienced.
I am awaiting your response and am eager to read the research, studies, and medical facts upon which you have based these claims. Being educated about such issues is, to me, part of being a good parent, so I am always interested in reading any new information about this subject.
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: So, I guess I shouldn't be surprised by he next quote....
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