Article- formula pretty much just as good?

[Mandynee22]

I hope this hasn't been posted before. It is from 2006.
http://www.stats.org/stories/breast_..._jun_20_06.htm
Is it just me being sensitive or does this pretty much say that breastfeeding isn't all that much better than formula?
What I get out of it is that breastfeeding may save you a few ear infections but it also hurts the ecomony by not allowing mothers to work and pressures moms needlessly.
PLEASE!!! Tell me if I'm crazy!

[lactationmom]

Yeah, this is a really crappy article. I can bet, if you follow the trail, it was funded in part by someone who works in the formula industry or the writer is off-setting guilt for formula-feeding her own children!

Whatever! What a load of crap article.

[Nisupulla]

This is a pretty good rebuttal:

http://goodenoughmummy.typepad.com/g...rg_breast.html

[FreeThinkinMama]

Originally Posted by lactationmom

Yeah, this is a really crappy article. I can bet, if you follow the trail, it was funded in part by someone who works in the formula industry or the writer is off-setting guilt for formula-feeding her own children!

Whatever! What a load of crap article.

Then one could argue that articles written about all the benefits of breastfeeding could be written by breastfeeding moms with superiority complexes.

I have to agree with some of the points this article makes. Breastmilk is best, no one is saying that it's not. That's why I'm bf'ing my baby. But some people make it seem like it's magic or something, like feeding your baby breastmilk will make them a genius, they'll never get sick, and they'll be skinny and babies who are fed formula are going to be retarded, sick constantly, and overweight. I think the point the article is making is not that breastmilk isn't all that much better than formula, just that comparing formula to ciggarettes and alcohol or poison isn't backed up by scientific facts and that some babies really do need formula to survive. I've had two babies who lost too much weight and one who was hospitalized from dehydration because of my stubborn drive to bf and I blame that on all this propoganda out there against formula, it just goes too far and makes some moms so determined to bf from the guilt trip that lactivists put out there that it can actually impact their own health or their babies health. When my second baby started getting sick like my first I didn't hesitate to supplement with formula when I couldn't pump enough bm to keep him healthy. I refuse to feel guilty for that or listen to any more of this nonsense about how formula is all bad. If it wasn't for formula some babies would literally die.

[Benji'sMom]

While absenteeism has a financial cost, not holding a job has an even larger one – and nursing exclusively for six months typically means that the mother cannot hold down a full-time job. Women need to sleep more, eat more, and find the time to nurse or pump. While parenting and working can be brutal, adding nursing to the list is five hours a day that women just don’t have. With only twelve weeks of leave guaranteed by the government – and that leave is unpaid – few women who intend to work can maintain a commitment to breastfeeding. And even the most religious breast-feeders would be loathe to say they have more time for the rest of the family when they are required to devote so much time and energy to the infant.

Nursing mothers need to sleep more?? Well, I don't sleep more or eat more than anyone else. Yesterday my baby was up from Midnight till about 3:30 AM. and so was I. Then I didn't have time for breakfast. And I have a full time job and an older child to take care of. I HATE how this article makes it sound like if you are taking time to feed the infant, the rest of the family necessarily suffers. Even if you were formula feeding, it would take TIME, unless they are suggesting you just prop the bottle while you fall asleep.

[laurdsed]

Thanks for posting those links. It's interesting to see the criticism of breastfeeding out there where people are trying to be intelligent, instead of just saying something dumb like, "It'll ruin my figure."

I appreciate your posting the rebuttal, Nisupulla. She did a good job.

Laurel

[Benji'sMom]

Originally Posted by FreeThinkinMama

If it wasn't for formula some babies would literally die.

And if it weren't for breastmilk some babies would literally die. But this article makes it sound like that's a total exageration and the health benefits of BM are only minor and inconsequential. Obviously if you can't pump enough BM you need to suppliment with formula rather than let the baby starve to death. But the article is addressing how much good does exclusive BM really do, and making it sound like it has only small benefits. THAT's the issue.

[BCFD]

Drug addicts obviously should not nurse; but even smokers and drinkers ought to consider the impact (and quantity) of their use on their babies.

And for some women the milk simply isn’t there despite conscientious efforts. This can lead to either health problems for the baby who isn’t getting enough calories, or paying $4-$10 per ounce for donated milk (if it’s available). For a five-month old baby downing about 30 ounces a day, that’s one pretty little college fund gone in human milk.

I have been saying this for years. Unfortunately, not all moms are middle class soccer moms that drive around in Hummers (or mini-vans in my case! ) I am a fost/adopt parent and some of the things I have seen would shock you so bad that it would scar you for life (and trust me, I have lost sleep!) I think this article definitely holds some truth even though everybody knows that breastmilk is ultimately best if it's available.