The ABQ Dunkaroos

16 year old solves 350 year old mathematics mystery.

So the real outrage isn’t that some mothers measure their nursing experience in years. It’s that most mothers don’t get the support and nods of approval from their circles—family, community, the health-care system, media—that would help them to relax into a very ordinary nursing relationship of whatever length they choose.

Great, great read.  A lot of comments about breastfeeding, in my experience, reveal more about the commenters’ personal hangups, and less about what’s “right” or “wrong” about breastfeeding. I used quotation marks because its not a right/wrong issue, imho, and to frame it as such demeans the value of breastfeeding and breastmilk.

Now that I’m a mom, my perception of the breastmilk vs. formula debate has sharpened a LOT. How can women genuinely advocate for something that’s really not something they chose?  I’m talking about every single mom that had trouble breastfeeding (i.e. all of the moms) or plain had to quit to go back to work.  The sad truth is that a lot of women stop breastfeeding long before they or the baby are ready for a variety of reasons, and the stigma against public and/or prolonged nursing shows the lack of overall support that makes it easier to switch to formula.  Combined with the surface level “breast is best” pressure and you have another damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation for mothers trying to do best for their kids. 

I’ve said before that my decision to become a SAHM was mainly economic—childcare costs swallowed up a ridiculous amount of my pay.  Being able to stay at home to nurse our second baby was a major factor as well.  However, I know women who had to go back to work and would likely choose to be a SAHM if the option were available to them.  Considering the economic benefits of breastfeeding, both to the immediate family (saved $ on formula and lower healthcare costs from healthier baby) and in general (more healthy, happy babies= prosperous future we ALL benefit from), it really is pathetic misogynistic shortsighted infuriating unfortunate that breastfeeding mothers (and mothers in general, come to think of it) don’t receive the worship support we deserve.