Heya guys.
It has been a while sense I posted/commented, but just had to share what I heard on the news.

While my parents were watching the news a story about baby formula and breastfeeding came up. I don't know the full details, but there is a hospital(or hospitals) that are holding baby formula under lock and key and strongly encouraging breastfeeding. Mothers are allowed to feed their baby fomula only after they "give a stern lesson on breastfeeding." which is a direct quote from the news itself.

Personally, I feel this is a bit controlling. From what I've seen/heard there are many mothers out there who have people breathing down the back of their necks for not breastfeeding, even if it is for medical reasons. Now these mothers have the hospitals all up in their faces. I understand and feel it is good to promote breastfeeding, but if they choose not to breastfeed that is their choice.
I hope that they are going to be guilt tripped the entire time they are there. : (

What are your thoughts on this?

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The Velociraptor Club: We bite people's heads off so you don't have to.

I've always said that if I ever had a baby (nonononononono!) my husband would be the one feeding it. I enjoy sleep far too much to give it up to feed someone/thing in the middle of the night. And I like my breasts just the way they are, so I would be pissed if someone tried to tell me I had to breast feed. My body, my choice. In all things.

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"I've been around the world and found that only stupid people are breeding..."
Harvey Danger, Flagpole Sitta

I don't think I could ever handle something hanging from my chest. Just the thought of it makes me feel violated. :<

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The Velociraptor Club: We bite people's heads off so you don't have to.

Check out this link for what women used to feel their babies in lieu of formula:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 817AAWa7EL

And check out the answer from the BF guru talking about all the diseases that these generations have incurred from this type of feeding.

Today's kids just look unhealthier and fatter than ever. No one knows yet how long their generation will live and how many diseases they will incur. A few years of breastfeeding is not going to make up for a sedentary and overeating lifestyle.

Ha. You'd think medical people would be more aware... I mean a new mother with HIV can't breast feed... there's all kinds of situations where people can't. Another reason I don't want kids; people think it's ok to tell you what to do!

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I'm a velociraptor.

Tumblr: http://accidental-photography.tumblr.com/

Breast milk contains antibodies, natural antibiotics, stimulants of healthy gut flora and a number of compounds that haven't been replicated yet and that, in all studies done, are better for babies than formula. It gives them protection against illness, helps their gut develop their good flora, prevents harmful bacteria from colonizing them, and the sucking of the breast helps them establish when they are full. Babies fed by bottle get much more milk in each suck and will have more problems to know when to stop feeding, as the "message" from the brain takes about 10 minutes to let them know they are full. This results in more calories taken (and lots more!), bringing on problems like obesity, diabetes, poor control of food intake, etc. I agree that it is, in the end, the mother's decision. However, I also agree that it is a good idea to ensure she gets all the information and that breastfeeding for at least 6 months is promoted by health authorities.

What I don't support is the "breastfeeding police" and using coercion and pressure to try to push mothers to breastfeed. There are a number of mothers who just can't do it for different reasons.

Aurynne,
Wow, I did not know all that!

I fully agree with you. Informing the mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding is good, but policing them is a big NO.

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The Velociraptor Club: We bite people's heads off so you don't have to.

I have a friend who had planned all along to use formula. She later told me that the midwife and other women who helped her give birth had guilted her into breast feeding. She lasted a couple of weeks and went to formula. It just sucks that women are made to feel like criminals for this decision.

I think when a mother is worried about her baby's health but at the same time feels grossed out by the thought of it dangling on her breast, she can still pump and use the bottle. My mom did that. I think dictating to women how they should feed, give birth etc only initiates postpartum depression, secondary tokophobia and stress disorders.

I have a friend who was really put off by the breastfeeding brigade when she had her first kid. They were very insistent about her breastfeeding every four hours and would come in during the night to wake her and the baby up for feedings. Of course, she wasn't getting much sleep anyway so getting woken up was not welcome. Because it was her first kid, she didn't really know what to do.

But when she had her second kid, she told the lactation consultant exactly what she would and would not do, including having someone wake her and her kid up for feedings.

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Lactation Consultant and Assistant Kickball Coach of the "Cass is a horrible person...and she's also ugly!" club.