Contentious Issues #1 - Breastfeeding

Firstly, I should say that I despair over why breastfeeding is contentious. I cannot understand why there is a debate about breast milk vs. replacement formula.

Surely it is obvious that human babies should be fed human milk, in the same way that other species are fed their mother's milk - unless there are stores out there, somewhere, selling formula milk to other mammals?! Which would be very weird.

But that's the whole point really, isn't it? How have we been brainwashed into believing formula is the normal, better way to feed our precious new children? How many calves do you see being fed human milk?

And don't even get me started on non-milk replacement formulas, such as soy. Bleurgh.

If a mother cannot breastfeed for physical or medical reasons (globally a small percentage) then the best alternative is donated human breast milk. In years gone by this would have been donated directly by a Wet Nurse. Why has this practice, certainly in the western world, died out?

My theory is that the two World Wars were largely contributory, as women were required to take the places in the workforce vacated by men needed in the armed forces. This meant that there were too many nursing young children for the established practice of wet nursing to cope, plus those women were needed in the workforce too.

Now, of course, once companies got involved and became established as the people to go to for baby formula, they sure as heck didn't want to lose their profitable business when the last World War ended and many women returned to their previous normal roles within the family home.

I know that there will be people reading this who will have decided that I must be a militant feminist vegan (and what's wrong with being these things?) but I'm not.

What I am is a woman concerned that we are being conned into feeding our children substandard food when they most need the best nutrition, just so that some company can turn a profit.

At this point I feel the need to add that the focus on breasts as purely for sexual purposes, whether in the popular press, media or film, does not help new mothers trying to establish breastfeeding. 

Many women that I know have said how they have received 'funny' looks, snide comments and even entire diatribes whilst breastfeeding in public. These are not women who physically expose themselves more than absolutely necessary to enable their baby to feed, yet complete strangers have felt that they have had the right to question and even attack (verbally) what they are doing.

Breast milk is the most nutritious food available for babies so why is it that nursing mothers receive so little support to enable them to carry out this important role?

How have we, as a society, managed to reach the point where, in the 1960s (and possibly 1970s, too), women were injected with hormone suppressants as soon as their babies were delivered to prevent lactation commencing? I mean, even on the surface that reads as something being done purely to boost the profits of companies selling replacement formula, which if that was the case is so outrageous as to be beyond belief - especially as it would appear that it was condoned and supported by the medical establishment.

The worst, most awful thing about it all is that women regularly attack other women about breastfeeding. I cannot count the amount of times I have read the statement: 'Women have a right to choice as to whether or not they breastfeed'. Many people that I know find it difficult to discuss the subject - some react with a certain squeamishness, others as though a taboo topic has been brought up. Yet more become militant and aggressive, accusing me of being thoughtless and uncaring towards those who have priorities in their lives over and above raising their children.

What about choice for babies? Shouldn't they be receiving the best most nutritious food available to them? It is medically proven that breast milk contains not only nutrition but also antibodies giving a young child great protection against many diseases and illnesses.

Maybe now is the time, when there is so much pressure on new mothers to return to the workplace before they, or their child are ready to be separated, to reconsider the importance of breast milk and breastfeeding in the development and growth of healthy human beings?

Maybe now is the time to provide the extra support that can make the difference between depressing failure and success?

Maybe now is the time to re-create the role of Wet Nurses in our society?

Human Milk for Human Babies

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a1009803/milk-banking