Breastfeeding Problems

[Irulan]

This breast-only and you're-a-horrible-unfit-mother-if-you-don't mentality seem to be symptomatic of highly educated women. I've seen it and attachment parenting take hold of some of my friends and find it terrifying.

You get my agreement there, for sure ( don't get me going on attachment parenting....) However, I do think there is a real range between just giving up, giving it a reasonable try, and the at all costs approach.

[Tuckervill]

The scientific evidence for the benefits of breastfeeding is tenuous, at best.

Yeah, only thousands of years of human development.

Karen

[Biciclista]

no, millions of years! lol

[ilima]

Yeah, only thousands of years of human development.

Karen

Uh, yeah, and I wonder how many children born failed to reach their first birthday, on average, over the course of human existence. I'm wager quite a lot.

Evolution is very, very messy. The fact that humans exist is not indicative that maternal milk is significantly better for early childhood development than formula.

That's like saying we evolved ears to hold our glasses a la Dr. Pangloss.

[Crankin]

I know that not all breast feeding moms are "Nazis" about it, but it does seem to be the prevalent attitude. I know quite a bit about attachment theory in the psychological literature, and the "attachment parenting" thing is somewhat of a perverted version of what attachment theory really is. I doubt Bowlby and Ainsworth meant that parents had to sleep with their kids until they were 3 or 4 years old. My cousin's wife did this and it just caused a huge wedge in the family.
I know that breast milk is nutritionally superior; it still didn't make me want to nurse. Soy formula worked well and they both switched to regular milk at one year, when they started using a cup.
Oh yes, and my kids were on "schedules," too.
It's all a choice and it's good that everyone can give Limewave advice. But, even after almost 27 years, I can still feel the superiority vibes that were thrown my way.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well 30 years ago I got to feel all the negative vibes thrown MY way simply because I wanted to breastfeed and countless people tried to make me feel guilty and selfish about it. It was AWFUL- many people tried to make me feel like a BAD MOTHER because I wouldn't feed formula bottles.

Sheesh, people. There are clueless thoughtless types everywhere, on both sides of the issue. Let's not throw around gross generalizations about entire groups of people.

Remember Eleanor Roosevelt's advice:
"No one can make you feel inferior without your permission."

[Crankin]

I agree, Lisa. Especially, since this debate has absolutely no relevance in my life now . But, I did want to give my opinion and I waited until someone else voiced the "opposite" view, since I was too chicken to say how I felt.

[limewave]

I do have to admit, I feel a lot of pressure from other women to breastfeed--and to breastfeed only. I don't understand why, if you choose to use formula, that you are made to feel like a porriah?

My sister-in-law has commented several times about my dd's frequent ear infections and how she's positive it's because she was formula-fed. I have yet to point out the fact that both of her children have severe allergies . . . its not like they are super-healthy. And once I took DD off of dairy, her ears cleared right up.

ANYWAYS, moving on, I have decided to do both bf and formula feeding. DH works a ton, it's not unusual for the kiddos to only see him on Sunday's. Most evenings and Saturdays it's just me and the kids. I felt like I was spending all of my time nursing and not having any time for DD.

I nurse when DD is away at preschool and one of the late night feedings. DD can help give DS a bottle around dinner time when she gets home. And DH can also participate with one of the night or morning feedings.

I feel like this has been the best for our family. Taking care of baby is more of a family endeavor where everyone can participate yet DS still gets the benefit and intimacy of BF.