Breastfeeding is an
interesting topic because it is the one thing that associates us with the fact
we are simply just a mammal like all others and just trying to feed our young.
However, the choice to start the long road of trying to nurse your child or
give into the manufactured way of feeding your offspring is one topic many
people seem to think they should choose for you. Is one “better” than the
other? This topic is important to
me because the pendulum swings drastically form one end of the spectrum to the
other. When I was a born, my young mother, uninformed and pressed by doctors
opted for the route of formula for my primary nutrition. Now, I have my first
little one much, much later than my mother had me and feeding him formula would
only happen over my dead body. Why?
For me it’s level of
education, time and just plan personal preference in comparison to my mother.
I’ve studied early childhood and know that antibodies, hormones and complex
chains of nutrients are passed through breast milk. In addition, my career
allows me opportunities to feed my son or express. Finally, I just want to. My
mother was not as lucky to have these opportunities presented to her when I was
born. Having me in high school meant no college for her and being a working mom
with two children probably didn’t allow her the time either. So why when I had
my baby did she push me so hard to use formula?
Cultures persuade mothers to do one or the other, but in developing
countries breast milk helps to supply Vitamin A which lowers a child’s risk of
dying from common diseases and zinc which protects from diarrhea and
respiratory problems (Business insider). Exclusively breastfeeding an infant
for six months increases the child’s rate of survival 6 times. I cannot say it
is a marketing ploy to get mothers to use formula over her own breast milk, all
I can say is that education about the benefits of both options is necessary for
a new mother to feel prepared to make the first important decision of her child’s
life.
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