Is/Is Not: No. 2 in a series
NS November 26th, 2007
As promised, a second entry in my Is/Is Not series. The first was on Feminism. This one is on Breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is:
- Natural
- Beautiful
- Best for the baby
- A bonding experience
- Often difficult (in the beginning)
- Sometimes painful (in the beginning)
- More portable and convenient than bottles and formula
- Free
- Empowering
- Biologically awe-inspiring
- Environmentally friendly
- A public health issue that deserves more attention and respect from the medical community
- 90% more likely to happen if you have unwavering support from your partner and/or family
- One of the most rewarding things I have ever done
Breastfeeding is not:
- Weird
- Gross
- Silly
- Sexual
- Embarrassing
- Something that has to be done in private, like it’s a dirty little secret
- Similar in any way, shape or form to someone urinating, vomiting, defecating or masturbating in public
- Only for hippies and sanctimonious know-it-alls
- Overrated — it really is that important to a baby’s health
- Automatically critical of formula feeding
- Only for stay-at-home moms — plenty of working women breastfeed successfully
- A debate that should divide women
Would you add anything to either list? (Please keep it respectful and intelligent)
- Health and Fitness , Is/Is Not
- Comments(7)
It *is* the way babys’ and toddlers’ immune systems are designed to function. Their immune systems are *not* designed to be stand-alone systems until a child is several (3-4) years old, and instead rely on the mother’s immune system to pass antibodies to the baby/child through breastmilk.
There’s a part of me (a very unscientific part) that wonders if the rise in allergies/asthma etc is in any part due to the decline in breastfeeding. My thinking is that perhaps if a baby/toddler’s immune system is forced to fend for itself at too early an age, it learns to be “over zealous” and overreact when it perceives a threat, which could develop into allergies (which are actually defensive reactions against things that don’t really need defending against). Whaddya think?
Only for hippies? Haha… never heard that stereotype before.
Oooh it so bugs me when people think of it as sexual, as if the purpose of breasts are sexual and not for the feeding of infants. Especially when it goes on past a year of age, is when people are most critical of that. When I tell people the worldwide average age of weaning is four, they are usually disgusted… why? Why don’t people step back and really think for themselves instead of mindlessly accepting our cultural norms? So something I personally would add to the list is that it’s not just for infants.
Brilliant (standing up, clapping)
I is also, so I’m told, the best way to loose all that extra weight gained during pregnancy… I’m certainly going to give it a pop, all that sterilising bottles sounds like a load of bollocks, something to avoid unless I’m forcing Mr BC, at gunpoint, to do night feeds
.
Cheers
BC
PS, actually I don’t think I’ll have to force him at gunpoint. He’s a sweetie.
*Strawberry, I do think that’s very possible. A huge decline in breastfeeding and an increase in processed food that doesn’t give us the nutrients we need to build strong, healthy immune systems are vey likely to play a significant role in the allergy problem. Interesting stuff.
*Chloe, you’re right, it is absolutely not just for infants. I would’ve happily gone on nursing TNC for much longer if she hadn’t self-weaned at 17 months.
*Siobhan, thanks for the vote of support!
*BC, I’m so pleased that you’re committed to giving breastfeeding a chance to work for you and your baby. It might be tough in the beginning but if you stick it out, you will be soooo glad you did as the convenience and closeness it brings is fantastic! And if you get tired of getting up in the night for feeds, just remember that a) you can always just pop the baby into bed with you and then you barely have to wake up to stick a boob in its mouth (I did this so often and it saved my sanity and sleep!) and b) yes, you will be the chief nighttime parent for probably the first year but after being pregnant, giving birth and breastfeeding continuously for at least that long, you can sit back and relax with a glass of vino and let your hubby be Superdad during the tantrumy toddler years.
I have nothing to add, but it’s a great list. One which should be printed out and given to parents on the day they leave hospital with their babies.
Great List- You’re so great at articulating these things!
All i could think of to add was
“is not”- Figure destroying
“is” a lifesaver when you’re on a plane