Comments on: Monday Musings: Why Do So Many Women Living in Poverty Not Breastfeed??

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:56:45 +0000

I think Cilla’s point was a very good one–breastfeeding is impossible if you have to work in a situation that isn’t conducive to pumping/milk storage. I’m an attorney at a big law firm, so I can pump in my private, locked office, and store my milk in any of the communal refrigerators (or the special refrigerator in the “mother’s room”). I can take as many breaks as I need to for pumping (and some days, I need to pump 5 times to get enough milk for the next day). I couldn’t have it ANY better, but pumping is still a challenge. In fact, all the other moms I know at the firm switched to formula at 7 months or younger, because they thought it was too much trouble! So imagine if the working mom is a waitress, or a janitor, or a bus driver–how in the heck would she pump? Of course this doesn’t explain the whole problem, but I think it’s part of the puzzle. We will not see higher breastfeeding rates in the poor U.S. population until we make the workplace extremely breastfeeding-friendly.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:50:10 +0000

Hi! I’m from SEAsia and still breastfeeding my 17th month old. I live in the 3rd world and we are the major market of the multinational formula companies. We have various formulas – 0-6mos; 6-12mos; 1-3years; 4-7years. Then another set of formula for pregnant moms, nursing moms, older folks, etc. etc. the list goes on. This video is an eye-opener. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNYDPKQOVUE

By: Cathy

Cathy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:05:49 +0000

Gosh, which questions to help you answer…..hmmm…it seems that everyone has an opinion on the nutrition part and what they are putting in their carts….which in my case, some of the statements were true. I don’t know that I ever did a bunch of sugar, however, I did do lots of Ramen Noodles, canned food because I just didn’t have the appliances to keep refrigerated food at one time. In my younger years, sugar was pretty common, that was probably lack of education, but even more so, a lack of care. I looked at it this way, I wanted to eat what I liked, I wasn’t going to make my kid eat something that I didn’t like. As far as the not breastfeeding part, well, there are a lot of factors. There are many reasons that women, no matter what their financial situation decide not to breastfeed, or don’t breastfeed for the entire year. I have never breastfed up to the first year. Shortly after each of my children, I had to go back to work. It seemed that breast pumps just didn’t keep my milk supply up. I have a really hard time with breast pumps and usually end up hand expressing when I do have to pump…which takes a rather long time when you only have a 30 minute lunch break. In today’s world, at least I can speak for the American culture, there are just lots of women out there that for some reason or another don’t understand the bonding that comes from breastfeeding. Or maybe they do, and they don’t desire that. I also know that the support system in the U.s. for smaller towns is almost nonexistent. I can go to my WIC office and ask for assistance with breastfeeding….which by the way was never offered before. However, other lactation consultants are no where nearby. I have known lots of women who gave up because of the pain or the frustration of it. And, despite the ease that I find in breastfeeding in the early months, some women just don’t see it as a convenience. To them, it is easier to get up and make a bottle then to stuggle with breastfeeding. We live in such a different time and world than it used to be. Breastfeeding used to be pretty much the only option. It’s just not that way anymore. The average American family eats out MORE than once a week….we Americans seem to really be in a hurry I suppose and want everything to be done and over now….I don’t know if this answered a thing you wanted to know….I ramble a lot, sorry….

Cathy’s last blog post..Giving it to God

By: Melodie

Melodie — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:32:34 +0000

I love all the input and everyone has given! Great discussion here.

@Bonnie – You hit the nail on the head with your comment about food marketing and the medical and health fields who enable food companies to advertise misleading info to consumers who, if they see “fortified with 7 essential nutrients” think “this must be good for me” regardless of the amount of sugar, salt or fat in the product. As far as your thought about addicts wanting to get back to their habit – I’m sure it is true for some and not for others – just as most things are, but I have a story to share.
My friend’s sister is a street nurse who was working with a pregnant women who said she was really excited whenever she got pregnant because she suddenly had new veins in her belly to inject into. Yikes hey?

Melodie’s last blog post..Monday Musings: Why Do So Many Women Living in Poverty Not Breastfeed??

By: TheFeministBreeder

TheFeministBreeder — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:09:27 +0000

@ Emily Jones - I picture it something like this. Breastfeeding moms look like pushy snobs to the uneducated formula feeders, so they "buck the trend" by formula feeding. I cannot tell you how many online communities I've been a part of where poverty-line-level women bitch, bitch, bitch about the snotty breasfeeding "Nazis." They don't even want to hear how breastfeeding is better. They (honest to god) will say "yeah, well I bet my formula-fed baby can kick your breastfed baby's ass." Super classy. You gotta hang out on Ivillage.... these comments can be seen in every single playgroup as soon as breastfeeding comes up. I grew up in what you could call total white-trash, and none ONE member of my entire family (who all live on food stamps, btw) would ever consider breastfeeding because "those yuppies" do that, according to them. And if WIC is paying for the formula, then why bother? TheFeministBreeder’s last blog post..Slow Economy = Fast Expiration Date?

By: TheFeministBreeder

TheFeministBreeder — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:53:25 +0000

I wrote about the info in this article a few months ago in one of my many “Formula Sux!” rants. Some horrifying information about how many babies have died from formula feeding in Botswana….

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....01204.html

TheFeministBreeder’s last blog post..Slow Economy = Fast Expiration Date?

By: madabutterfly

madabutterfly — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:34:21 +0000

Hi im from England and the mother of two girls that i breastfeed for 15 months despite much discouragement from all around me. Im currently training to be a breastfeeding support worker and yes the research shows that women from poor backgrounds especially young and of limited education dont breastfed. As you said the question is WHY? It seems many things have a role in this. Some feel that breastfeeding is repulsive, they worry about how they will feed the baby in public, others simply dont know how to and are given little if no help to do do. Lack of education it seems is the biggest problem breastfeeding is normal for mom to do yet clever advertising has convinced moms that formula milk is just as good and no education is given as to the serious risks with giving formula. Until more help, education, money and resources is given by our governments to help once again the it is the poor that suffer. Whats really sad is America the country that claims to be educated and foremost in the world for health has still not adopted the WHO code unlike Britain. This would mean that companies would not be allowed to advertise any food or milk aimed at babies less than 6 months or for any free samples to be given to moms or health care workers. Also that the risks of formula be clearly given and that exclusive breastfeeding be recommended.

Im sure if your government adopted this into their law it would help with the breastfeeding rates.