Breastfeed: Don’t let them change your mind!

According to statistics in recent years the number of mothers who are breastfeeding in USA decreased. In “Why primiparous mothers do not breastfeed in the United States: a national survey” is stated , “[I]n 1998, only 64% of US mothers were breastfeeding at hospital discharge and 29% at 6 mo post-partum”( 1308). This is very sad because the importance of breastfeeding is high. Breast milk has antibodies that increase the immunity of children. This can not be reproduced and added to formula milk. According to a survey conducted in Ghana, 16% of neonatal deaths could be prevented if the children were breastfed within 4 hours after their birth (London,102). Also, “Several recent studies have found better cognitive development among breastfed children… [longer breastfeeding led to ] greater … gains in the cognitive development ”(Population reports, 12). This happens because the formula milk is artificial and may not even contain the same necessary nutrients and in the right amount as breast milk. For example, on any Similac and Infamil’s formula products we can read that the DHA and ARA brain fats (discovered in breast milk) that affect the brain development of children were added just recently. In addition, Gunilla Eklung and Agneta Oskarsson  have done research on the cadmium levels in different kinds of milk. They found that infant formula has high levels of cadmium, which has a toxic effect on organisms due to an accumulation in kidneys and can lead to tubular dysfunction and the intoxication of the nervous system. In other words, breast milk is more beneficial and healthier for infants than artificial formula. For this reason, the woman has to be economically and psychologically stimulated to breastfeed.

Most of us know about these benefits of breastfeeding, but even so choose to give formula to our children. Why does it happen? I think women are pushed to give up this idea because they are not helped. The government cares more about the economy than about the growing of a healthier future generation. So, while there are so many advertisements to stimulate woman to breastfeed, nothing really is done to help a woman to do that. Therefore, she doesn’t have a choice. In United States, a woman after delivery is expected to come back to work as soon as possible. The new born care and breastfeeding is not an excuse. If a woman uses this as an excuse she could be fired. It is a real discrimination going on, isn’t it? The economical problem pushes a woman to take the decision of formula feeding. For instance, I lost my job because I was taking 3 breaks during my work period to express milk, so I could feed my child with breast milk. A woman has to struggle to benefit her child. Married woman often find financial and emotional support for her husband, but single mothers do not have this. In my country, a woman after delivery has a break of at least 6 months before she starts to work. During this time she is supported financially by government. It is an example of care about a woman as an symbol of new life

Another point that has to be taken into account is that the companies that produce formula are giving the hospitals their products for free to feed newborns. At delivery, even if a mother said that she is going to breastfeed her baby, in the nursery the child is fed with formula from the bottle. It is a hard experience for a mom to change the child’s habit after coming back home. It took me about 3 days. I had to resist my baby’s cry and keep him a little hungry, so he will give up his laziness and start to suck the milk from breast. Many of my friends just gave up after one or two tries. The hospital nurseries have to change their habits in attending the patients so the rate of breastfeeding women will increase. The strategies these companies use to make their money are terrible. They think more about money than about the number of unhealthy or less intelligent children.

Obviously, the defenders of government would point to WIC( Woman, Infants, and Children) program and Medicaid that provides a pregnant woman and an infant child with food and health insurance. I single mother has to pay the rent of about $600 along with eating food provided by WIC of $20 value during 10 days. Moreover, if she doesn’t have a house to live in, her children will be taken away from her. Therefore, she doesn’t have another choice than go to work and feed her child with formula which is also provided by WIC program. Moreover, the hospital nursery does its job very good that for a mother that is so tired after delivery is hard to deal with the influence they had on feeding habit of child. It is a great challenge. Even if women are encouraged by so many survey to breastfeed their child, they have to face a high economical and psychological barriers to do so. And this great gift nature gave us, possibility to breastfeed and has our children healthy and happy, is spent on nothing.

Consequently, the government should do something to help raise a new generation of healthy and more intelligent people. In the hospitals the breastfeeding has to be encouraged and not discouraged. Also, a woman after delivery has to have a flexible schedule, so she can be able to express her milk or go for a ride to breastfeed her child. Also, companies should be aware about the future of the world and that this future is in hand of women. Women are always mothers, a wives, a sisters, and  daughters, so men should take special care of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

“Breastfeeding Is Best.” Population Reports 33.4 (June 2006): 12-13. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 17 July 2009 <http://ezproxy.uno.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=24235830&site=ehost-live&scope=site>.

 

Eklund, Gunilla, and Agneta Oskarsson.. “Exposure of cadmium from infant formulas and weaning foods.” Food Additives & Contaminants 16.12 (Dec. 1999): 509-519. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 17 July 2009 <http://ezproxy.uno.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=5513666&site=ehost-live&scope=site>.

 

London, S. “Starting Breast-feeding Soon After Birth Lowers Infants’ Risk of Neonatal Death.” International Family Planning Perspectives 32.2 (June 2006): 102-102. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 17 July 2009 <http://ezproxy.uno.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=21644658&site=ehost-live&scope=site>.

 

Taylor, J. S., P. M. Risica, and H. J. Cabral. “Why primiparous mothers do not breastfeed in the United States: a national survey.” Acta Paediatrica 92.11 (Nov. 2003): 1308-1313. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 17 July 2009 <http://ezproxy.uno.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=11759260&site=ehost-live&scope=site>.