When my son was born I struggled with the idea of breastfeeding, I knew that benefits of breastfeeding but in opinion today’s society does not welcome the idea of it. It seems as if it’s almost taboo to breastfeed your baby in public with people looking and or saying something negative about it. Babies want to eat when they get hungry and we can always time it so you’re in the privacy or your own home. Needless to say I ended up breastfeeding for the first month, and then we switched to formula. I will say this; if I ever have another baby I will not allow society’s views dictate my choice to breastfeed my baby.
As I conducted my research about breastfeeding I found so many articles about the benefits of breastfeeding. One country in particular intrigued me; a mother from the UK said they are allowed to stay out of work for 6 months so most women stop after 6 months if they have to return to work. Another mother from Mexico said women with low income or little education breastfeed because they don’t have the money to buy formula. She also said women with more money and education only breastfeed for a few months because they have the means to buy healthy food. This was a little confusing to me because all the articles I’ve read talked about good it is for the baby to have breast milk.
Overall my views are that we created to have the ability to breastfeed so if must be good for our children. This information might help impact my future work by helping me provide parents with information on the health benefits of breastfeeding as well as the a bonding experience for both mother and child.
* I found that the oldest "child" on record to be breastfeed was age 17! I don't think I could go that long*
Hi Cherish. I found your blog about breastfeeding to be very interesting. I considered breastfeeding my daughter, but because of complications during the delivery I did not have the energy to do so. She was in the NICU and I had a fever, so she could not use my milk anyway. I know of the health benefits to breastfeeding. I do not think that it is wrong for women to breastfeed in public, but I do think that women should use the cover ups that were made for breastfeeding. I know that I am a woman and babies are hungry when they are hungry but I also believe that women can cover up. I bought the covering when I was going to breastfeed because I believe that even though it is natural there should be some sort of decency about it.
ReplyDeleteCherish,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog this week. I also chose breastfeeding because I believe it’s so important and am currently nursing. I think it is sad how society has put a label on nursing like you mentioned. I always say and believe it should be okay to do it in public as long as you are respectful about it. Since it can make some people uncomfortable just use a nursing cover. I am pro breastfeeding and admire how you realize society kept you from doing it with your son and would do it differently next time. There are so many benefits to breastfeeding it is also surprising to me that more women do not do it but I understand completely if you are unable. It is interesting that in the UK they get 6 months off then a lot of women stop because of returning to work. As a working mom, I know it is hard to continue to breastfeed. Every break I have is consumed with pumping. I can not believe the oldest child on record to breastfeed was 17! Wow that is long time! What country was this in?
-Staci