I read an article in New Scientist a couple of weeks ago, and it just might
change your mind. I'll see if I can find the mag, so I can give you the
issue details. Very interesting reading on why formula companies will
never
be able to make artificial breastmilk as good as the real thing... not
anywhere near as good without using GM crops, which is something many
people
just wouldnt buy for their children. (I try not to knowingly buy GM)
Breastfeeding isnt better... it's normal. Breastfed children arent
smarter.
They're just normal. This is the message that many do no t want to promote
for fear of rocking the boat and upsetting big business. (You should see
what's happening in the phillipines where many, many babies are dying
because of ruthless promotion of formula to women who cannot afford to
feed
it properly or have access to clean enough water)
Having said that, not all women can breast feed, and in our society it's
not
practicle to hire a wetnurse (unless you're made of money) and there arent
the milk banks in many hospitals, and no community milkbanks that I know
of
either. This, despite the world health organisation say that if a mother
cannot feed her child breastmilk, that the second best thing is milk from
another human, with artificial breastmilk as a last resort. It is a sad
world where women have little choice, knowledge, or control of what they
feed their baby. Still, my mother was bottle fed, as my grandmother was
told
that artificial breast milk was best. It was seen as liberating, as in
that
culture you simply DIDNT feed in public... except that you could bottle
feed
in public, so it gave women more freedom. We dont live in that society
anymore.
I think it's fabulous that Carolyne is almost ready to be back to
exclusively breastfeeding. I know that lots of men would rather formula
feed
in hopes of more sleep, however it just isnt so. Research shows that when
a
baby is formula fed even just one feed at night, even by the husband, the
mother will get an average of 45 minutes less sleep per night.
Anyway, that's enough soap box for me. I admire the work of advocates for
breastfeeding as long as they do not behave in a fanatical manner. That's
actually written into the ABA guidelines - no fanatical behaviour allowed!
Always respect a mothers right to choose what's right for her and her
baby.
Educate, not dictate, and always sup****t fellow mothers. That's why women
who feed artificial BM are always more than welcome to join the club, and
if
they did choose to relactate we'd help them do that too. At the end of the
day, you just want a healthy baby, and if you have to use artificial milk
to
do this, then so be it.
Good luck Carolyne,
Hugs,
Jade.
"Ellen" <kmetz98@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:c8c23429-a01d-4d16-b472-6f509f763e9f@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Well, this debate will go on until the end of time. The bottom line
> is, you just do what is right for YOU. It is always funny to me when
> I hear that "studies show that BF is better". Because it's not
> formula companies doing the studies, it's BF advocates. No one can
> ever convince me that one or the other is "better". I nursed my DD
> and tried unsuccessfully to nurse the boys, and they all turned out
> fine. I have friends who nursed for years and they have the sickest
> kids I have ever met. As long as the babies are healthy, who cares
> which way they eat? There is nothing "dreaded" about either one!
>
> Ellen
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