Rewrite

[alaria_lyon]

I have rewritten the crappy advice given to me by the pediatrician's office. I have tried to be diplomatic while still promoting breastfeeding. Please let me know what you think...

Comments

[tifarae]

As someone who wanted to breastfeed and had to handle my son rejecting the act and then found exclusive pumping during an illness too much, I have a little different take on things now. But I found your writeup very diplomatic without making me feel like I'm doing something wrong - which some of the literature does

[alaria_lyon]

While I don't have a problem offending people who choose to formula feed for idiotic or selfish reasons, I really didn't want to offend those who are forced to for a variety of reasons and really wish they were nursing

[vickyunleashed]

Babies who spend too much time with a bottle in their mouth may start to use the bottle as a security object, which makes weaning from the bottle more difficult. Breastfeeding has never been popular in my family. We may have been "tokenly" breastfed for a couple of weeks. Interestingly, when my sister gave birth in 1970 and 1976, her doctor advised against it, offering that formula was best

[alaria_lyon]

Well, the issue isn't degrees and careers, it's health. Dental issues as children and adults, allergies, asthma, obesity, diabetes, even cancer, are all higher in children who are formula fed (or in the case of breast cancer, women who didn't breastfeed). Fabulous parents can and do formula feed, for a variety of reasons. Fabulous parents also feed their kids processed and fast food and their kids become productive citizens who hold graduate degrees and more-than-decent career positions. Doesn't mean it is good for their health or the health of the nation

[vickyunleashed]

I have severe asthma and allergies -- as does one of my nephews and several other family members. It would be interesting to know how we might have faired had we been breastfed.

I'm envious, in a good way, that you're so close to your mother. Arlene is golden.

You bring up an interesting point about how Matty might have faired well due to your two years of breastfeeding. That seems like some good evidence in favor of feeding a child the natural way.

My point was that some of us did not receive that extra option of breastfeeding... but we do the best we can with what we have.

As I stated before, I'm not a mother; therefore, it's not fair for me to offer more than a sideline observation.

You're a great mother. Every human should wish to have such an informed mother as you.

[alaria_lyon]

Oh, I get your point. I didn't receive that extra option either. But back when we were kids, our parents were told that formula is better. Now we know better. And when we know better, we should do better. Doctors should not still be telling their patients that formula is as good or better than breastfeeding. Even the formula companies are required to put on their product that breast is best.