Had to chime in here. As a lactation consultant I’ve taught thousands of women to breastfeed. I’m appalled but not surprised at the U.S. trying to block the resolution endorsing breast feeding.
What they are attempting to spin that breastfeeding is a personal choice and mother’s should make up their minds. (Interesting that’s the only reproductive area they respect a woman’s right to choose . ) It’s quite easy to get sucked into that conversation. However, what is happening for the most part is not a matter of choice.
First, let’s address the naysayer’s concerns. I get it that mothers should not be shamed into breastfeeding and that everyone can’t or doesn’t want to breastfeed. That is fine, I believe first and foremost that every woman’s decision is respected. But what is really happening is that women are not making choices based on INFORMED consent. There is a VERY big difference.
There are situations in which breastfeeding is more difficult (but certainly not impossible) to establish (prematurity, low birth weight, diabetes, nipple anomalies or surgeries etc.) The vast majority of women do not fall into these categories.
For most women the ability to breastfeed depends on adequate help and support especially in the early days.
First a primer on how breast milk production is established. All women have early milk “colostrum” at birth. After the mother’s milk “comes in” on day 1-4 usually, milk production is dependent upon milk removal.
The main things that are detrimental to the establishment of breastfeeding are mother baby separation and using formula before establishing a good milk supply. Formula should only be used in the early days if there is a true medical reason to do so.
Women are given much false information about breastfeeding. Just a few:
Formula is equivalent to breast milk. Not even close. Breast milk is a dynamic food that changes to meet the baby’s needs and provides antibodies to help prevent illness.
“I’m going back to work I want to use bottles.” That’s fine just wait 3 or 4 weeks before introducing bottles to be sure breastfeeding is well established. Baby’s frequently reject the breast when bottles are introduced before breastfeeding is established.
“My baby is crying, he’s not getting full, i need to use formula.” All babies cry, newborns cry and fuss to open their lungs. They also fuss to be sure they are getting on the breast frequently which is essential to establish a good milk supply. Babies go through frequent growth spurts which require more frequent feedings to bump up mom’s supply. Growth, weight gain and output are better indicators of “getting enough.”
“I wasn’t producing enough milk, I could only pump out 2 ounces! “ Babies remove milk better than any pump and if your baby is growing and thriving your baby is probably getting enough. You could switch to a different pump or settings and your milk output might be completely different.
“My baby won’t latch I had to use formula”. All women need to be taught hand expression of breast milk. For newborns a dose of patience is warranted as full term, healthy newborns have reserves of at least a day. Babies that don’t initially latch can still be fed by spoon, cup or syringe until they learn to latch.
Formula companies send free samples of formula to every pregnant mother.
This is so that when their newborn is “cluster feeding” at night to help mom produce milk, she will reach for the formula. Baby will then be full/sleepy and not remove milk so mom will have less supply. Mother is now convinced that her baby was starving and continues with the formula which further decreases her milk supply.
Although not for everyone, breastfeeding can be a beautiful part of life. It is the biological norm for humans. I certainly want to see laws and practices in place that help enable women who want to breastfeed accomplish this goal.