The Boob vs. the Bottle

[133724]

Mom, you’re entering a social minefield. Feeding formula to an infant is liable to get you lectured by total strangers. That’s because scientific studies have piled up like cordwood recently, all attesting to the same thing: Breast milk is awesome stuff.

The evidence is convincing: Mother’s milk provides a child with immunoglobulin IgA, which protects against infection. It contains DHA, a lipid associated with improved mental development - which may be why breast-fed kids tend to score higher than bottle-fed ones on IQ tests. Breast-feeding has also been correlated with lower rates of allergies, obesity, diabetes, and a host of other conditions. Scientists don’t fully understand how the heck breast milk does all this, but hey, it was designed by evolution - the ultimate quality-assurance program. You can’t argue with Mother Nature. “It’s an absolutely remarkable food,” gushes Mary Marine, a liaison for the La Leche League of Northern California and Hawaii.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.02/start.html?pg=8

[LiberalVoice]

1. If they bottled it...

...i'd drink it. :)

[truthisfreedom]

2. And the delivery system can't be beat.

Pretty much all plusses for the recipient.

[bananas]

3. I thought this was about Bush's battle with booze. nt

[Somawas]

11. What battle? I thought that Bush had already conceded that one lost.

nt

[Bhaisahab]

4. NOT LBN

but thanks!

[Judi Lynn]

5. Absolutely not LBN. Doesn't meet the requirements.

Original poster should review rules:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x87249

[depakid]

6. It's only been around million of years!

However, the deceptive marketing schemes that companies use to promote their fomulas- and the growing backlash against them are much more recent developments.

[annabanana]

7. La Leche is "latest breaking"?. . . . n/t

[rucky]

8. In other news...

Cavemen discover that fire is useful for warmth.

[POAS]

10. "I'm not 100% in love with your tone right now" n/t

[NoSunWithoutShadow]

14. LOL! "Someone got up on the wrong side of the rock this morning"

[POAS]

17. .../

:eyes:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

9. People often wonder...

Why straight men have a breast fixation. It's easy: There is this big thing, early on in life, that means food and love.

What's to figure out? ;-)

[bleedingheart]

12. The headline at first made me thing of Shrub...and his alcohol problems

but then I realize it is about breastfeeding.

[booksenkatz]

13. As someone who is adamantly pro-BF

I find it very tiresome to see those of us who are pro-BF constantly portrayed as harpies. Jesus. I would never in a million years walk up to a stranger and lecture her on this, or any, issue. Nor would I lecture a friend or family member. Now, if someone asks my opinion about BF, that's different, and I will give my opinion in as kind a manner as I possibly can. Oh, I'm sure that's not true for everyone on my side of the issue. There are assholes on both sides -- the pro-bottle crowd has plenty, believe me, and they weren't afraid to walk up to me and scold me about my BF, EVEN THOUGH I NEVER DID IT IN PUBLIC. I always kept it private, yet I was still lectured. Even now, 4 years later, I have some family members that still make jokes about it whenever I see them.

A news brief with this inflammatory tone doesn't help matters.

[happyslug]

15. I am amazed at the number of mothers with young children who do NOT breast Feed.

I have women come into my office to discuss custody of their children who are one year old or less. I tactfully ask them if there are breast-feeding for breast feeding is a factor when it comes to Custody (Even if so call "breast pumps" fathers are NOT as good at breast feeding as mothers). Thus breast-feeding is a factor in custody cases of young children. The vast majority of young mothers are NOT breast-Feeding in my area (and among my clients). I do try to encourage breast-feeding (While trying not to sound like some pervert, I have to be careful). I always point out I ask about breast-feeding ONLY do to the fact Breast-Feeding is a factor in any custody case involving young children who are being Breast-feed. The research i have read indicate the benefits of breast-feeding, but the vast majority of the young mothers who come into my office are NOT breast-feeding (I would say only one out of 20).

Thus I must agree with the author of the piece, are the benefits derived from Breast-Feeding or is the fact the higher your income the more likely you will breast-feed? (i.e. the advantages are tied in with higher income NOT than breast-feeding). Is the advantage just having the ability to spend more time with Mommy do to Mommy being able to breast-feed while working for her employer permits such breast feeding (this includes Mommy being able take off work for a year of more so she can breast feed at home? An ability permitted do to her and the father of her child's higher income). Income seems to be the bigger factor than breast-feeding in most of the "advantages" mentioned in the article (i.e. higher IQ, lower levels of diabetes etc).

[ShortnFiery]

16. It's a personal choice.

I respectfully suggest that it is really none of your business. Some women have seizures or other medical reason why they cannot breast feed (medication will pass through). Some women honestly try because they receive so much DAMN pressure from those lovers of breast feeding. Some women do not produce enough breast milk to sustain the baby's health. But the ole' gestapo of "only breast" no supplements sometimes causes the mother to have emotional break down and the baby to be malnourished.

IMO, the *la leche gestapo* needs to back off because, the last I checked, it's still A CHOICE. :shrug:

If you really want women to breast feed, get the information out there, but it is none of your business to inquire about, perhaps very personal reasons why your neighbor or co-worker CHOOSES (it's still our choice) to bottle feed. :-)

[AwakeAtLast]

18. Thank you!

I am one of those women who was not able to breast feed. We still are not sure why, but boy, did I ever have to constantly explain why I wasn't! And on top of that, I had to endure the many tales of how it was such a wonderful bonding experience for them and on how much I was missing out. Yeah, I got it, I'm supposed to, but I can't, and I already feel guilty enough. I did not need to be made to feel so bad about it, that's for sure. At least I tried! Evidently that wasn't good enough.

Needless to say, my child is a very happy, bright, and rarely sick child. She is consistently 1 1/2 years ahead in cognitive benchmarks. Can't believe I lost sleep over it!

Thanks again! :hi:

[ShortnFiery]

19. You're most welcome.

;)

"Oh it's my Mom, who bottle fed all us kids, calling on my cel phone! Let's do a conference call with my older brother, mechanical engineer (IQ in the Ozone)? ... I'll put it on speakerphone for ya doc."

Signed, Cave-Woman :rofl:

[happyslug]

20. It is my business if I am representing them in a Custody case.

Custody involves the best interest of the Child, including the child's need for milk (Either from a bottle or from the child's mother). Thus to best represent the mother I need to know if she is breast feeding the child. I do NOT ask her to show me HOW she is doing it (I do NOT need to know) but if I am to represent her in her custody case I need to know how long can the child be away from her on a PHYSICAL basis. Bottle feeding permit longer visitations with Father, while breast feeding cuts back on the time a father can have the child away from the child's mother. My comment was how FEW of my clients breast feed, not any comment on whether they should breast feed or not.

If my client is NOT breast feeding I do NOT mention it except to say it is a factor in any custody case involving young children. Why they do not breast feed is unimportant to me, I do not need to know (Except if it has something to do with the custody case, for example seizures etc). My comment was simple, most of my clients (Who tend to be low income) tend NOT to breast feed, which is what the article also points out (i.e. as income goes up, breast-feeding rates goes up).