OK, here I go on another one of my rants . . .
Did you happen to read the article in The Atlantic this month?
Or see the author on the Today show
"The Case Against Breastfeeding" by Hanna Rosin.
Yes, just the title gets my blood boiling.
The kicker of this article is that the writer, with no medical background, claims that there is NO significant research-based evidence to back up the recommendations that breast milk has serious health benefits for moms and babies.
Her article skims the literature and completely ignores the 2005 statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics which supports the value of breastfeeding. The policy references over 200 articles which meet scientific standards for accuracy and was rigorously reviewed by the medical sections for breastfeeding and nutrition.
Of course, I am pro-breastfeeding . . . duh . . . I'm a lactation nurse. And I have also reviewed the research and believe there is no doubt that human milk is the perfect nutrition for human babies.
But I also know how hard it can be to breastfeed.
We don't live in a breastfeeding culture.
- Mom's often don't have the support system to help them through initial hurdles because their moms or friends didn't breastfeed
- Very few hospitals in the US abide by the World Health Organizations Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and inappropriately give and promote formula even when it is the mothers choice to breastfeed
- We have inadequate maternity leave and paid time off for women in this country! It is extremely difficult for moms to return to work in as little as 6 weeks and continue to exclusively breastfeed for the recommended 6 months!!
We should tell the news outlets like the Atlantic and the Today show that we don't want breastfeeding to be another issue that divides women!!
We need to stop debating the benefits of breastfeeding and start supporting the changes needed in health care and the workplace so women can have the choices and options they need to design their own mode of parenting!
Check out http://www.momsrising.org/
Ellie is telling me I need to relax, take a deep breath and do some yoga with her!! 
1 comment:
Oh! What can we do. It steams me too! The media loves to be contrary - just go get viewers and it ends up validating the nut-jobs !
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