2 Formula Fed America

Friday, April 30, 2010

Anyone who knows me know that I'm a huge supporter of breastfeeding, and I do peer counseling for new moms (my own daughter self-weaned at nearly 3 years old!) and host a breastfeeding support group locally.  My three sisters and I were all breastfed babies, so it's what I grew up with and always had the expectation of.  My mom was a peer breastfeeding counselor for under-privileged mothers, and my aunt was mentored by Martha Sears to be a La Leche League leader, so I have a great foundation and appreciation for breastfeeding, as well as a phenomenal support group.  I found this really interesting, and I can't wait to see this documentary when it comes to my town.

http://www.formulafedamerica.com/
 The lack of breastfeeding in America has turned in to a public health crisis. The rising statistics of childhood illnesses preventable by the act of breastfeeding are staggering as is the price tag of healthcare that goes along with it. Infant Formula or Artificial Baby Milk is a relatively new invention, originally intended for babies who could not breastfeed or mothers who did not have any milk and donor human milk is not available. Why than, are we ignoring our natural biological function of breastfeeding almost completely? Why are doctors, who more often than not agree that breastmilk is far superior to infant formula, so quick to prescribe it when a mother experiences difficulty in breastfeeding? Why do we continue to sexualize the breast and stigmatize what it is actually intended for? Why aren't there more widely available human milk banks where a mother can go to get that precious liquid gold for her baby if she cannot provide instead of free cans of formula in our mailboxes? If infant feeding is a choice, why aren't we making an informed one? This documentary will provide an insightful look in to our culture's attitude towards the breastfeeding mother and it's acceptance of infant formula. With change we can be come a Breastfeeding America.

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2 comments:

Unknown said...

I completely agree! My son is almost 2 and still breastfeeding. I was raised to believe that breastfeeding is what you do, no matter what. My mother is a registered nurse lactation consultant and very involved in the breastfeeding community. She was one of the founders of the baby friendly initiative. My son was born premature and I read somewhere that formula can actually cause preemies to get brain infections. That is really scary! My son has never had formula. Thank you for posting this. It is nice to find a fellow mom who is like me.

Becca said...

I breast fed for 4 months but then had to go back to work and my work isnt somewhere that i could pump. I tried to breast feed at night but it was hard and my milk dried up quickly. America's poverty level where a 2 person working household is to blame for the lack of breastfeeding not peoples choices. I wish i could have stayed home and breastfed but it just wasnt possible.

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