As I watched the news this morning I have to say I was annoyed and very disappointed. I might even have to admit I was a bit angry. I think that Mayor Bloomberg and NYC hospitals are taking things to far.
Here is a quote I read on MSN online this morning…
“Through “Latch On NYC,” 27 of 40 New York City hospitals will promote breast-feeding among new moms — to the extent of “locking up” baby formula and documenting a “medical reason” for all bottles dispensed. No new moms will be denied formula if that’s what they want — but moms will get a mini-lecture on the benefits of breast-feeding along with each bottle of formula.” The campaign will go in effect on Sept. 3.
Don’t get me wrong, I support breastfeeding and believe it has many benefits. With that being said breastfeeding is NOT a necessity. A child can thrive and can be 100% healthy if they are bottle fed formula.
get ear, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections
reduce stress level & post partum depression - Personally this is far from true. I think the stress of trying to breastfeed in the beginning can actually sometimes be a contributing factor of both.
All of the above can be very true but I believe in real life all of it is very dependent on a mother’s/family’s overall lifestyle and circumstances. What a mother puts into her own body, subjects her child to, and feeds her child after breastfeeding is no longer the primary means of nutrition are far more of a contribution to a child’s long term health. Plenty of bottle fed children never develop any of the above or aren’t any more likely than a breastfed baby to develop them. I say that with great confidence as I have seen the health of many mothers and babies around me.
For example, lets compare.
Mother A) a mother who breastfed her baby for an entire year. While breastfeeding or even after primarily breastfeeding for an entire year, this same mother typically feeds herself and her family a unhealthy diet.
Mother B) A mother strictly bottle feeds her child for the first year. When food is introduced she eats and feeds her child a healthy diet.
Which one is more likely to develop diabetes or become obese? I can bet you a million dollars the child of mother B is far more likely to develop diabetes or become obese. I realize there is so much more that has to be taken into consideration.
My point here is a mother has a right to choose what is best for her and her baby. Pressuring mother’s to breastfeed is a mistake. I truly believe it will backfire. Do I think its important to make sure a mother’s has been educated about breastfeeding, absolutely. Every mother should have the all the information possible regarding both breastfeeding and bottle feeding in order to make the best decision for her and her baby. A simple piece of reading material or even a electable video will do just fine.
To go as far as locking formula up, needing a medical reason to give formula, and giving a mini lecture to a mother every time she receives a bottle for her baby in the hospital is just asinine. It seems almost borderline bullying. I can tell you one thing. As a mother who has bottlefed, breastfed, and had to strictly pump, if I lived in NYC i would have my next baby out of the area or at home. In talking to other mothers around me who have striclt breastfed their children, they to agree with me. Mothers have enough pressure on them to make the right decisions for themselves and their family. This campaign is unnecessary and will backfire.
Linking up to Shell’s
I think it’s just going to make people mad, not really get more to try breastfeeding. I bf all my kids but I think that it’s a personal decision. I know I would have been mad if I’d gotten a lecture every time that I needed a disposable diaper for my child, being told I need to use cloth.
So many decisions we have to make as moms. It’s hard enough, without all the lectures and opinions being forced on us.
Shell recently posted..Pour Your Heart Out: Peace and Strength
Shell I couldn’t agree with you more.
Bfing was something I wasn’t interested in with my first two children. My last 2 children I gave it everything I had. It was hard for me, I tried every piece of advice given to me. I felt pressure and extreme guilt. I do believe it contributed to my PPD. With that said, I support and encourage every mother to try bfing if they are interested. It’s their own personal choice. No mother should ever feel they HAVE to do anything as long as their choices keep their child healthy & thriving. Pressuring mothers can very well cause more harm than good.
Modern Style Mama recently posted..Breastfeeding is a Choice and Needs To Remain That Way
Not so sure I agree with the lecture (of course I am flashing back to the 4am lecture I got in the hospital with my first ..that she was down body weight and if that continued they were going to give her a bottle… No duh! My milk wasn’t in yet).
Which raises my point that knowledge is so sorely lacking making it hard for women, but we don’t need to lecture them. Just help and support them.
Visiting from pyho
Struggling recently posted..Can I say I’m sorry? Do I want to?
I agree knowledge is everything. Making sure mothers have all the information (correct information) to make the best possible choice for themselves is very important! lecture after lecture is unnecessary. Thank you so much for your input. Im sorry you had to deal with such a uneducated staff member. That is definitely a great point. Both mother and medical staff need to be properly educated. In your situation a mother could have introduce a bottle too soon, making bfing more difficult. I could understand it there were other factors. As my son was a preemie, had breathing problems, and low sugar. He struggled, got tired out, and lost more weight in the hospital than a typical baby. Knowledge and support is key!
I completely agree with you. It’s a mother’s choice and lifestyle has to be taken into account. I nearly went crazy trying to breastfeed exclusively, thinking I was a terribly unfit parent if I ever gave my son formula. And it’s because of groups and campaigns like these. Looking back, I know I could have given him formula, saved myself some sanity, and all of us would have been better off. Mothers need education (not coercion) and support after their choice is made. Thank you for standing up for this!
Melissa recently posted..Because I’m not stupid. That’s why.
I completely agree with this and furthermore, am saddened that as a society we seem to look down upon those that have made the choice not to breastfeed their children. We are letting the government control what we feed our children, how we feed them, etc. and it just isn’t their place. Great post.