When a mother has her new child, she faces a tough decision: breastfeed or formula feed? Perhaps a combination of both? Many mothers have reservations about breastfeeding because of the time commitment and concerns over producing enough milk, but also fear that formula feeding could impact their baby's health. Are these fears warranted, or is formula feeding a safe and effective alternative to the natural method?
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There are no "risks" to breastfeeding-give me a break-our babies deserve it!
Why would our bodies be equipped to nourish a baby if it wasn't the BEST way?
- rara
December 8, 2008 3:35PM
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Women are being made to feel guilty about not breast feeding their little ones, and "scared". I don't think her point is to say there are substantial risks... she's just pointing out that it's not 100% pure. Her point is those same people making those feel guilty talk about the chemicals in formula when breast milk also contains contaminates. That's not to say breast milk is not best. It's just stating that people understand the data and all the research.
Breast milk is not free of contaminants and it's not 100% pure. Why???? Because man has done disastrous things to our environment . Your argument is like saying why would anyone be apposed to eating an apple. Apples are natural. However, we humans use a boat load of pesticides on those apples. Yes, chemicals. I'm sure there are those that would argue to only eat organic apples and that non-organic apples can be harmful. The simple truth is that even the natural has risks. They may be small, but they're there because we don't live in the garden of eden anymore. To think that your breast milk can't be contaminated is just misleading. That is why mothers are told not to drink alcohol or take certain medications when feeding. We can pass bad things to our babies that way. Nothing is fool proof.
I'm not advocating formula over breast milk. But the scare tactics of those that try to force breast feeding on the public has become obnoxious and borderline fanatical. This author is just showing that the data being used in these scare tactics has a lot of holes. She points to studies in her own articles.
Should we try to breast feed - of course. But to say we are harming our children by not doing so is extremely misleading and harmful. We live in a day and age where we depend a lot on substitutes - vitamins, eye glasses, heck even disposable diapers... just because they aren't natural, doesn't mean they're bad for you.
- EBHLive June 28, 2009 3:41PM
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All Choices Entail Risks and Benefits
- From Joan B Wolf PhD
By Joan B. Wolf, PhD - Texas A&M University
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Where is the evidence?
Joan Wolf said:
"[B]reastfeeding also has costs, such as the labor value of women’s nursing and the potentially negative impact of breastfeeding on family dynamics, women’s career trajectories, and women’s emotional and physical health."
This statement implies that:
* Breastfeeding is more labour-intensive than artificial formula.
* Breastfeeding could have a negative impact on family dynamics.
* Breastfeeding could have a negative impact on women's career trajectories.
* Breastfeeding could have a negative impact on women's emotional health.
* Breastfeeding could have a negative impact on women's physical health.
Where is the evidence for any of these astounding claims about breastfeeding?
- Michael Glass
September 20, 2008 1:32AM
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Who are we to judge?
All of these things are likely true in a great many cases, but even if we had the "evidence" Mr. Glass seeks, it would not justify the government's position. If, for example, reliable studies showed that in four cases out of five, breastfeeding had no negative impacts in any of these areas, why should we deny one-fifth of families the freedom to make the best choice for themselves? The point is that we should not presume to decide what's best and then spend taxpayer money insisting that all families conform to our conclusions. Instead, we should all individual families to make choices based on their own situations.
- Scardanelli September 21, 2008 7:10PM
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It is up to the expert to supply the evidence
I have asked for the evidence that breastfeeding is more labor-intensive than artificial feeding that it could have a negative impact on the physical, emoitional health of women, that it could have a negative impact on family dynamics and women's career trajectories. This has nothing to do with the rights and wrongs of women's choice. This has everything to do with supplying the evidence. The ball is in her court.
- Michael Glass
September 21, 2008 11:35PM
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Wolf is attempting to change the question
This debate is not about the government spending money. Wolf inserted her opinions about the ad campaign into a debate concerning whether formula feeding harms babies. This is also not a debate about whether the government should legally prevent the sale or purchase of formula.
- JDmama
September 22, 2008 11:14AM
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putting out this type of propaganda can be damaging to moms and babies
I agree with Michael. There is no evidence for Joan Wolf's wild assertions. Putting out this propaganda as truth can be damaging to moms and babies. What if a mom who can breastfeed decides not to because she thinks it will have negative impacts on her? What will really happen is there will be negative impacts for her baby, who at the very least would have a much stronger immune system with breast milk. As a matter of fact, I found the opposite to be true for all of the above points.
- Santa Cruz Mom
September 24, 2008 1:47PM
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Formulas are more toxic than breastmilk
A few of the risks parents should consider regarding formula.
Hexane is used in the extraction of oils from algae. The oil is then used as an ingredient in infant formula. Hexane residue is found in the formula. Hexane is neurotoxic even at 'trace' levels and infants are particularly vulnerable.
http://www.cornucopia.org/replacing-mother-infant-formula-report /
Bisphenol-A (BPA), a potent endocrine disruptor, leaches out of plastic baby bottles at levels shown to cause harm.
http://www.sailhome.org/Concerns/BodyBurden/Burdens/Bisphenol-A.html #migrates
Also, liquid formulas are generally packaged in containers lined with BPA.
http://www.ewg.org/reports/infantformula
Infant formulas are typically made with soy which is allergenic, mimics estrogen, and increases the level of glutamate. Excess glutamate impairs a baby's nervous system and can contribute to developmental delays. It can lead to juvenile obesity. It can lead to sudden infant death (SIDS).
http://www.sailhome.org/Concerns/Excitotoxins.html #formulas
If a mother truly has no option but to use formula, she will be wise to learn as much as possible about the toxins she exposes her child to and how to responsibly minimize them.
(In spite of the toxins passed through breastmilk due to mother's toxic body burden, natural breastmilk is still the superior source. Dr. Wolf's suggestions that formulas are on par in health reeks with the conflicted influence of formula manufacturers.)
- toxouts
October 8, 2008 11:43AM
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